Hi, I am using the 2.0.4 version. I cannot remember if I obtained the exe.installer or the zip file.
Is it possible to record an electric guitar through the computer’s usb? If possible how do I go about doing it?
Many thanks and best regards
Dominic
Unless you need to stay with 2.0.4 it would be better to update to the latest 2.0.6 version from Audacity ® | Download for Windows.
If your computer doe not have a separate line-in and the recording is too loud connected to the mic input, buy a USB interface with a suitable input for an electric guitar. See Audacity Manual.
Gale
Thanks Gale for the suggestions. I bought a guitar link USB interface but Audacity does not pick up the signal nor do I see the USB interface in the list of input. My PC uses Realtek HD Audio.
Would upgrading to 2.0.6 help?
Dominic
Did you get the Behringer: GUITAR LINK UCG102?
Don’t use Behringer’s ASIO drivers for that because Audacity as shipped does not understand ASIO.
Connect the interface to the computer before launching Audacity. If you connected the interface after launching Audacity, use Transport > Rescan Audio Devices from the Audacity menu bar at the top.
It is always best to have the latest Audacity version but that won’t change the issues noted above.
Gale
Hi Gale,
I don’t know where I have gone wrong, but today I tried to add a guitar solo to a background accompaniment music. I first loaded the mp3 accompaniment track. Before launching Audacity I plugged in the microphone (for guitar solo) and headset. Then I clicked the record button. But the accompaniment track also gets recorded onto my solo track.
I am using the 2.0.6 version now as you recommended, on my Windows 7. I am using Windows wasapi, Speakers Realtek High definition audio for speakers side and Speakers Realtek High Definition audio (loopback) for the mike input. This is the only configuration that allows me to activate a record track. The othertwo drivers, NME and Windows Direct Sound does not seem to work with all the combination that I do for the speaker and mike settings.
Wonder if you could help me on this.
Thanks.
Dominic
So you are not using the Behringer Guitar Link now?
And are you recording the guitar amplifier with the microphone? Where is the microphone plugged into the computer? Is it a USB headset?
That configuration records computer playback, which is why it records your accompaniment.
You need to choose the microphone for recording device. Make sure Transport > Overdub is on (ticked). This plays the accompaniment to the selected Audacity playback device.
Gale
No I did not use the guitar link. The mic and headset are non-usb. They are connected in the mic and headset plugs provided. Overdub is on. Strange, but the only config for the playback is the Realtek HD audio (loopback). There is no mic in the drop down menu. All the others do not work. Even the accompaniment tracks cannot be played. Is there something missing here or something wrong with my sound card? Do I have to download anything?
There is not meant to be - WASAPI is only for recording computer playback in current Audacity releases.
Go through all the steps here Missing features - Audacity Support then restart Audacity and choose MME host and the mic for input device. You won’t be able to hear yourself as you record, but you can listen acoustically with the headset off one ear.
If the Realtek MME host still does not record, make sure you have the correct audio drivers for your computer. See Updating Sound Device Drivers - Audacity Wiki.
If you have Guitar Link though I would use it, if you can make it work without the ASIO drivers.
Gale
Thanks a lot Gale. I will certainly give it a try and let you know.
I went thru the wiki audacity webpage as you suggested and updated my sound driver. It now works but only for microphones plugged into the pink 3.5mm socket.
I tried the usb guitar link it was connected with the input showing as microphone USB audio Codec. But when I started recording there are intermittent truncating of the accompaniment music together with unwanted high pitch sounds. The speed also varies. The input freq is set at 44,100, 16 bit, but I notice that it is only one channel. The microphone input from the 3.5 mm socket shows 2 channels. The USB guitar link that I bought from Amazon is an unknown brand. It is a copy of the Behringer. Don’t know whether the usb equip itself is faulty or incompatible or the usb audio codec should be 2 channel. Where can i get the 2 channel usb audio codec?
Thanks.
Do you mean you have other inputs on the computer that don’t show up in Windows or don’t record?
Or that you can’t play audio to your built-in computer sound device?
Make sure you connect Guitar Link to an empty USB port on the computer. Do not connect it to a USB hub connected to the USB port.
Where - in the Recording tab of Windows Sound?
Go to the Recording tab of Windows Sound, right-click over Guitar Link, choose “Properties” then the “Advanced” tab. On that tab, enable both “Exclusive Mode” checkboxes. In “Default Format” above, choose any “2 channel” format. OK all the windows.
Restart Audacity. Ensure the project rate bottom left is 44100 Hz. In Audacity Device Toolbar, choose the Windows DirectSound host then Guitar Link for playback device and recording device. Set Recording Channels to 2 (stereo). Plug your headphones into Guitar Link.
Choosing DirectSound with the “Exclusive Mode” checkboxes enabled as above should mean that Audacity will request 44100 Hz sample rate directly from Guitar Link. Whatever sample rate is shown in Windows “Default Format” will be ignored. This should help avoid sample rate conflicts. The stereo choice in Default Format will still be respected.
There are a lot of Chinese rip-offs of Behringer products online. You should ignore them unless there are many positive customer reviews.
Gale
**"Gale wrote: Restart Audacity. Ensure the project rate bottom left is 44100 Hz. In Audacity Device Toolbar, choose the Windows DirectSound host then Guitar Link for playback device and recording device. Set Recording Channels to 2 (stereo). Plug your headphones into Guitar Link.
Choosing DirectSound with the “Exclusive Mode” checkboxes enabled as above should mean that Audacity will request 44100 Hz sample rate directly from Guitar Link. Whatever sample rate is shown in Windows “Default Format” will be ignored. This should help avoid sample rate conflicts. The stereo choice in Default Format will still be respected. "**
Hi Gale,
Direct sound did not seem to work. I changed it to MME with speakers USB audio codec and input “microphone” USB audio codec. plugged in my headphones into guitar link, and it works! Of course I can only hear from the headphone.
Many thanks to you Gale for your guidance and patience.
Dominic
OK. DIrectSound with Exclusive Mode enabled “should” have been better if you were getting speed problems, but you don’t have an official Behringer device.
I assume you are getting stereo recording because Windows Default Format for the Guitar Link is stereo. Given you are now using MME I would set Default Format to 44100 Hz stereo if you have not already done so.
When you want to hear audio in your web browser and media players through your normal computer speakers you should either disconnect Guitar Link from the computer or make sure that your speakers are Default Device. You can do that on the “Playback” tab of Windows Sound by right-clicking over the speakers and choose “Set as Default Device”.
Gale