Recording separate vocals left/right channels

Special Interest Groups Recording Techniques
1

Hi guys,

Being unfamiliar with sound recording, I was hoping to accomplish the following:

-record one vocal track, microphone-to-computer input, set it as playing back through the left channel
-record a second vocal track, microphone-to-computer input, set it as playing back through the right channel

  • and end up having them both as being the one track.

So basically, the end result would be one vocal track that I recorded myself, with two different tracks coming through the left and the right channels.

Can such a thing be done with Audacity? Are there how-tos lying around that I haven’t been able to find so far?

Thanks!

2

Yes, but I think you’re working too hard. Audacity has techniques to play a stereo or mono track into your headphones at the same time recording your live voice. In post production, you can put any of the sounds on any track you want. I’m looking for instructions how to do that because they’re involved and a pain to type them out each time.

Which type of computer do you have? If you aren’t in Audacity 1.3.12, you probably should be. All the good multi-track tools are in Audacity 1.3. You can install Audacity 1.2 and 1.3, but only use one at a time.

still looking.

Koz

3

OK - 1.3.12 is now officially updated and running on my PC. What next, Obi-Wan?

4

Have you got to where you can record your own voice or instrument straight and then play it back? I need to split this up into basic recording, and then fancy-pants recording.

Koz

5

Yep, just a simple direct line in.

6

<<<Yep, just a simple direct line in.>>>

Probably not. Are you working on a Windows Laptop? Most Windows laptops are configured for a mono microphone connection, not a high level, stereo Line-In connection.

But if you got it to work, that’s what’s important. Create a simple, short first track for testing and Export as WAV. Five or ten seconds is good.

Audacity > Edit > Preferences > Recording. Turn off Software Playthrough, Turn on Overdubbing. OK.

Restart Audacity.

Open your first test track. Does it play OK? Plug your headphones into the computer so you don’t get odd feedback.

This is where OB1 is going to start falling over. I’ve only done this once before. Press record and your voice should go down onto a new track (below the first one) at the exact same time the old track is playing into your headphones. Stop at the end.

You can have about a million problems at this step, so I’m going to stop and see how it goes.

Koz

7

Thanks Koz! I’ll let you know how it works.