I have recently installed Audacity 2.1.2 and am having a problem with recording.
When I insert a backingtrack , and record my voice to sing with the track, I should normally spoken, see 2 tracks. One with the backingtrack and one
with my voice. However, when I press “record”, I don’t see a new track with only my voice, but a mixture of backingtrack with my voice “hidden” in the new
track.
I really have no idea of what I do wrong re settings.
I so hope someone knows how to fix this.
Ensure that you select your microphone as the recording device in the device toolbar and not “sound mapper” or “stereo mix” or “what u hear”.
Thank you for responding. Everything seems to be selected correctly regarding the recording device etc. But the problem remains.
As a test I inserted a backingtrack (so just music), and I pressed “record” , without using the microphone or having the mic. turned on. What happened
is that the backingtrack was being “recorded” just as well. I have used Audacity for quite some time in the past, and did not have this problem.
However, this is happening since I have a new mixer: Alesis Multimix 4 USB FX 4-kanaals mixer + USB audio interface
Is it possible that my new mixer causes the problem?
Since I have this mixer it hasn’t been possible to record anything.
Hope to receive a new response. Thank you !
Yes that’s possible, though it’s likely to be just a setting somewhere.
In Audacity, click on “Help > Audio device info”, wait for the info to appear, then copy and paste all of it into your reply.
I need to see it all, so you’ll need to scroll down as you select.
Default recording device number: 1
Default playback device number: 3
==============================
Device ID: 0
Device name: Microsoft-geluidstoewijzing - Input
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0,090000
Low Playback Latency: 0,090000
High Recording Latency: 0,180000
High Playback Latency: 0,180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 1
Device name: Lijn (USB Audio CODEC )
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0,090000
Low Playback Latency: 0,090000
High Recording Latency: 0,180000
High Playback Latency: 0,180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 2
Device name: Microsoft-geluidstoewijzing - Output
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0,090000
Low Playback Latency: 0,090000
High Recording Latency: 0,180000
High Playback Latency: 0,180000
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
176400
192000
352800
384000
==============================
Device ID: 4
Device name: Primair stuurprogramma voor opnemen van geluid
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0,120000
Low Playback Latency: 0,000000
High Recording Latency: 0,240000
High Playback Latency: 0,000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 5
Device name: Lijn (USB Audio CODEC )
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0,120000
Low Playback Latency: 0,000000
High Recording Latency: 0,240000
High Playback Latency: 0,000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 6
Device name: Primair geluidsstuurprogramma
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0,000000
Low Playback Latency: 0,120000
High Recording Latency: 0,000000
High Playback Latency: 0,240000
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
==============================
Device ID: 7
Device name: Lijn (USB Audio CODEC )
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0,000000
Low Playback Latency: 0,120000
High Recording Latency: 0,000000
High Playback Latency: 0,240000
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
==============================
Device ID: 8
Device name: Lijn (USB Audio CODEC )
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0,000000
Low Playback Latency: 0,003000
High Recording Latency: 0,000000
High Playback Latency: 0,010000
Supported Rates:
48000
==============================
Device ID: 9
Device name: Lijn (USB Audio CODEC ) (loopback)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0,003000
Low Playback Latency: 0,000000
High Recording Latency: 0,010000
High Playback Latency: 0,000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 10
Device name: Lijn (USB Audio CODEC )
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0,003000
Low Playback Latency: 0,000000
High Recording Latency: 0,010000
High Playback Latency: 0,000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Selected recording device: 10 - Lijn (USB Audio CODEC )
Selected playback device: 8 - Lijn (USB Audio CODEC )
Supported Rates:
48000
==============================
Available mixers:
==============================
Available recording sources:
0 - Master
==============================
Available playback volumes:
0 - PCM
==============================
Recording volume is native
Playback volume is native
Does your computer have a built-in sound card? Have you disabled it?
Yes I do have a built in soundcard, but also have disabled it !
Sure hope the problem can be found. I really like(d) working with Audacity, but ever since the new mixer it is impossible.
According to the shop where I bought the mixer, it is compatible with Audacity. But now I am beginning to wonder.
p.s. sorry for the late response from me, but that is due to our different timezones:-)
According to the Multimix4 USB Quick Start there is no control to decide whether the recording sent to the computer also carries the playback from the computer. In the absence of such a control the Audacity playback will be sent back to Audacity and re-recorded.
Do you hear only your mic in the headphones output of the mixer? If so, and you re-enable the built-in sound device, do you have a blue line-in input on the computer to which you could connect the headphones output of the mixer?
Gale
Thank you for your response.
I was really beginning to doubt whether my mixer was compatible with Audacity, and I decided to return it to the (internet)shop, and ordered
another mixer, which should definately be compatible. I hope to receive it tomorrow, and hope even more that I will have no problems this time.
In the past I never had such problems with Audacity. If I should have the same problems again, I hope I can feel free to ask for your help again. But I
hope it won’t be necessary.
Thanks again !!!
Of course you can. And when you become an experienced user of Audacity I hope you will feel free to drop in and pass on some of that experience to other users 
USB mixers don’t always have a way to prevent playback being sent back over USB to the computer.
So it isn’t a question of “compatible with Audacity”, jojo, but compatible with any recording software if you want to overdub.
If your computer has a proper stereo line-in meant for recording high level input, and if the mixer has a non-USB output that can be configured to only contain what you are recording, then you can still connect that output to the computer line-in.
If you need more help please tell us the make and model number of your new mixer.
Gale
I do have another mixer now , and I’m afraid I am again having a problem regarding “recording”: but a different problem now.
(My new mixer: Behringer XENYX QX1202USB PA )
-_When I play the musictrack, I cannot “record” my voice. Only a “line” is shown in the new track.
- I can only “record” my voice, without the music._
I am sorry if I bother you again, but I really don’t know how to fix this.
Before I intend to contact the salesman, I thought I first better ask Audacity specialists, because perhaps the problem has to
do with a wrong setting?
Thanks you if anyone responds.
Below I have copied and pasted audio info from Audacity:
Default recording device number: 1
Default playback device number: 3
==============================
Device ID: 0
Device name: Microsoft-geluidstoewijzing - Input
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0,090000
Low Playback Latency: 0,090000
High Recording Latency: 0,180000
High Playback Latency: 0,180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 1
Device name: Microfoon (2- USB Audio CODEC )
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0,090000
Low Playback Latency: 0,090000
High Recording Latency: 0,180000
High Playback Latency: 0,180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 2
Device name: Microsoft-geluidstoewijzing - Output
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0,090000
Low Playback Latency: 0,090000
High Recording Latency: 0,180000
High Playback Latency: 0,180000
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
==============================
Device ID: 3
Device name: Luidsprekers (2- USB Audio CODE
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0,090000
Low Playback Latency: 0,090000
High Recording Latency: 0,180000
High Playback Latency: 0,180000
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
==============================
Device ID: 4
Device name: Primair stuurprogramma voor opnemen van geluid
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0,120000
Low Playback Latency: 0,000000
High Recording Latency: 0,240000
High Playback Latency: 0,000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 5
Device name: Microfoon (2- USB Audio CODEC )
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0,120000
Low Playback Latency: 0,000000
High Recording Latency: 0,240000
High Playback Latency: 0,000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 6
Device name: Primair geluidsstuurprogramma
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0,000000
Low Playback Latency: 0,120000
High Recording Latency: 0,000000
High Playback Latency: 0,240000
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
==============================
Device ID: 7
Device name: Luidsprekers (2- USB Audio CODEC )
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0,000000
Low Playback Latency: 0,120000
High Recording Latency: 0,000000
High Playback Latency: 0,240000
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
==============================
Device ID: 8
Device name: Luidsprekers (2- USB Audio CODEC )
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0,000000
Low Playback Latency: 0,003000
High Recording Latency: 0,000000
High Playback Latency: 0,010000
Supported Rates:
44100
==============================
Device ID: 9
Device name: Luidsprekers (2- USB Audio CODEC ) (loopback)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0,003000
Low Playback Latency: 0,000000
High Recording Latency: 0,010000
High Playback Latency: 0,000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 10
Device name: Microfoon (2- USB Audio CODEC )
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Recording channels: 1
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0,003000
Low Playback Latency: 0,000000
High Recording Latency: 0,010000
High Playback Latency: 0,000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Selected recording device: 10 - Microfoon (2- USB Audio CODEC )
Selected playback device: 3 - Luidsprekers (2- USB Audio CODE
Supported Rates:
44100
==============================
Available mixers:
==============================
Available recording sources:
0 - Master
==============================
Available playback volumes:
==============================
Recording volume is native
Playback volume is emulated
I am using MME as host, but whatever I chose, the problem remains.
When I insert a track, and play, I hear nothing, but when I press the “to main mix” button on the mixer, I do have sound.
However, when I press the “record” button on Audacity, all I see is a (new) track with a “line”, which means no sound is recorded.
I do believe the mic. is connected properly , because, when I speak or blow into the mic. I can hear that sound
through my speakers. For some reason the sound I make, does not get recorded.
Gee it is really getting frustrated for me 
Thanks again for responding, and I hope you will do so again. Perhaps, with what I just told you, you might have an idea
of what I might do wrong.
When you use a Xenyx mixer to overdub you are supposed to also press the “(USB/2-Trk) To Phones” or in your case “(USB/2-Trk) To Phones/CTRL RM” button. This is what they say on the Behringer forums.
If it does not work then you should probably buy a USB interface and connect the analogue outputs of the mixer to the interface.
Gale
Thank you again for replying.
Sorry, but where can I find the option “”(USB/2-Trk) To Phones/CTRL RM" ?
According to the Q1202USB manual I am reading, that mixer has a “(USB/2-Trk) To Phones/CTRL RM” button. It should be above the “To MAIN MIX” button you were using.
Gale
Yesss…in the meantime I found it 
However, I should say that it makes no difference at all.
No recording.
I am also looking via Google, but so far I haven’t found a similar problem. But I don’t intend to give up…yet haha…
The solution must be very close…I think.
The store where I bought this mixer is closed until Tuesday. And if I/we can’t fix it before then, I will contact them.
Funny thing is, when I used (someone elses) Interface recorder (not a mixer) , there was no problem at all with Audacity.
So I believe the problem is not because I now have a extern Interface mixer, with USB connection.
Awaiting for your new response .
Never blow into a microphone. Some microphones can be reduced to trash by doing that.
Voice is good, if if you need something more serious, scratch the grill.
http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/clips/ScratchTest2.wav
Koz