How do I use two microphones on my laptop to record two different instruments simultaneously (2 separate tracks - a stereo effect)? Besides two mics, do I need some kind of adapter too?
I want to see the two separate tracks on Audacity playing at the same time.
You probably need a mixer which can define one chanel as being the left channel, the other being the right channel.
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May I use an external usb soundcard? Can I use wireless mics?
It seems you have not much knowledge about the setup…
You need a mixer, maybe one like in the attached image, where you assign one microphone (or instrument) to the left channel, and one to the right, using the controls marked in the image.
If youf mixer does not have an USB output for sound, you need a converter (also known as an “external sound card”) from analog sound-out to USB.
If you want to use a wireless microphone, you need a receiver for that microphone to feed its signal into the mixer.
Yes, thank you for sharing with me your expertise.
In summary, the minimum amount of equipment minimum I need:
- Laptop.
- Mixer with an USB output for sound.
- Two wireless microphones.
- Receivers for the microphones to feed their signal into the mixer.
For simple stereo recordings, you can plug two wired microphones into a field recorder. Then transfer the recorded audio file to your computer for editing.
This would avoid the need to buy and lug around a mixer and a laptop computer.
Wrecks0,
Thank you for your suggestion.
Without taking responsibilty, can you recommend a field recorder and wireless microphones? Or give me a lead in the right direction. I am completely new in this field. I really appreciate your help.
Search for a 32-bit float field recorder. You don’t have to set the gain on one. In fact, they don’t even have a gain control.
I do not know of any wireless stereo microphones.
I record with two wired microphones plugged into the field recorder. I also have “extensions” to double the length of the microphone cords. Although, I have only used them once.
Note that “pro” microphones (used with mixers, PA Systems, and audio interfaces) are not interchangeable with computer mics.
Some stand-alone solid state recorders. The Zoom & Tascam units are popular and most of them work with external mics or the built-in mics. Zoom makes 32-bit floating-point recorders & interfaces, but I’m not sure if Audacity can record floating-point. (1)
Some Audio Interfaces. These can be used instead of a USB mixer and there are multi-channel audio interfaces that can record more than 2-channel stereo but you’d likely need different software for multitrack recording.
(1) By default, Audacity works in floating-point internally and you can import floating-bit files, but I don’t know if it can record/capture floating-point from the drivers while recording.