Audacity Forum

Wow! I'm in over my head, but here goes. I'm wanting to use Audacity 1.2 software to record live sounds from my mixer. I believe I have successfully downloaded the software into an HP laptod with Windows XP. The software came with an Ion-Audio turntable (iTTUSB). My mixer is a Beringer product, Xenyx 1222FX. I am connecting the two with a NADY UIC-82 RR, which plugs into the CD/Tape Input - Output jacks on the mixer and the USB port on the PC. I have gone through the installation and set up steps several times, and the program runs, but it's not picking up any sound. Both recording lines just stay flat . . .
The last couple of times I tried it, I was picking up a little "noise" on the top line, which was encouraging (or maybe not). If you can't tell by now, I'm "recording challenged", a complete novice, maybe worse! I would appreciate any help to get this project off the ground.
jj

Assuming you are getting an output from the mixer, (are the columns of green and yellow LEDs lighting up when you sing / play?), there are a couple of things you need to do in the computer:

1. Power up the mixer and plug in the USB cable to the computer before starting Audacity.
2. Click Edit > Preferences > Audio I/O tab. Select USB audio codec as your recording device and your computer's sound card as your playback device.

Another thing to check if there is still no joy: are you sure that you are connecting the correct (Audio In) pair of plugs on the USB interface to the tape output jacks on the mixer? It's very easy to get them the wrong way round.

PO'L

Thanks for your help! May not be getting out put from the mixer. I'm not getting the columns of green and yellow, but I'm not sure the PC is recognizing correctly. On Voice Recording the pull down window lists only the internal card or the NADY UIC-82RR (which is simply the connector from the mixer to the PC). Won't let me type in USB Audio Codec. I'm pretty sure I've got the jcaks plugged in right. They're pretty well marked Input L&R and Output L&R. I'm leary about switching them around??? I've got the NADY connector plugged in to the USB port marked "Digital Media" which would seem right. Plugging in to the other ports doesn't make any difference.
My wife ( the computer whiz) doubts any of this can be done.
jj

bonerpoteet wrote:May not be getting out put from the mixer. I'm not getting the columns of green and yellow

Turn the Trim control for each channel to at least half-way, and the fader at the bottom to near max. Bring up the main mix fader to max, and sing or play. This will tell you if you are getting an output, but will not affect the level of the signal from the CD/Tape Output jack.
Are you sure you don't have the "Mute" buttons pressed for the channels you are using?

You should have the "Input L&R" plugs on the NADY connected to the "CD/Tape Output" on the mixer. You don't really need to connect the other pair.

bonerpoteet wrote:the pull down window lists only the internal card or the NADY UIC-82RR

That's good. The device you should select is the NADY. The fact that it appears in the dropdown means it is being recognised by the computer, and Audacity will take its input from it.

If you still don't get anything after all that, my guess is the problem is with the mixer.

PO'L

Again, thanks for your help! Could be making some progress here, although I'm not sure why. When I fired up Audacity today, and marked "monitor recording, I actually columns (although I've got them set horizontally)of green in the playback monitor window and a pinkish mauve in the recording monitor window, but only on the Left, nothing on the Right . . .
I set the mixer up as you suggested, still nothing. Then switched the NADY Input plugs to the Output on the mixer, still nothing. It would seem I could test the CD/Tape component of the mixer by playing a CD on the PC and channelling it through the NADY to the mixer and it should come out the attached speaker?? Could you suggest a path to get this done? The mixer's not that old, and until now I've never used the CD/Tape component. Again, I'm a novice here and appreciate your patience.
jj

I would like to know how do I make Audacity the main program I use When I download A recordings to listen to it use to open but some how all my audio recordings open now in quick time player. All audio recordings download to QTP instead of Audacity. I want to make it to where all audio recordings download to Audacity. I have windows XP Home Edition.

@ BOBK_FPR
Please don't hijack threads if your question isn't relevant to the subject. It helps everyone if you start a new thread.

To answer your question, in Windows Explorer, right-click on your audio file, click "Open with" and "Choose Program"

PO'L

@ bonerpoteet
Things are getting a little confused here, so let's take one thing at a time:

When you sing / play, do any of the green or yellow LEDs on the right-hand side of the mixer light up? (Ignore the computer and Audacity for the moment). If they do, there is a good chance you are getting an output from the CD/Tape Output. If they don't, turn up all the controls I mentioned above (Trim, Channel fader and Main Mix) to Max, and sing / play. If you still don't get at least one or two of the green LEDs flickering, then there's something wrong.

There is a "Standby" button to the left of where it says "Main Mix". Make sure that it is not pressed in.


Once you are sure you are getting an output, you can look at the Audacity end.

bonerpoteet wrote:When I fired up Audacity today, and marked "monitor recording, I actually columns (although I've got them set horizontally)of green in the playback monitor window and a pinkish mauve in the recording monitor window, but only on the Left, nothing on the Right . . .

Go to Edit > Preferences > Audio I/O and check that Channels are set to 2 (Stereo)

bonerpoteet wrote:It would seem I could test the CD/Tape component of the mixer by playing a CD on the PC and channelling it through the NADY to the mixer and it should come out the attached speaker??

What speaker, and where and how is it attached? Remember, we can't see your setup, and we are depending on your description to paint a picture of it

What you suggest would test the output channel from the PC to the mixer, but not the input.
One thing you can try, if you have a CD or DVD player with Audio Out sockets (of the same type as the CD/Tape Out on the mixer) is to connect the NADY to the CD player, and try to record from that. That will tell you if the NADY / PC / Audacity end of the chain is working.

PO'L

Aah! The LEDs on the mixer! On the way home tonight, it occurred to me that perhaps the sound was going to the amp (speaker) rather than through the CD/Tape Output (this wouldn't seem to be right but worth a try). I have the mixer connected through the Main Out to a Crate Acoustic Amplifier CA6110D. So, I disconnected the amp and yes the LEDs light up when playing. However, they don't light up when I have the amp connected??? Either way, I tried both, I'm not getting any sound at the PC. I also tried switching the Input and Output plugs on the NADY around. Still nothing.
The Standby button is not down, and the Audio I/O is marked 2 (stereo).
I'm still confused -
jj

Now that the Crate has come into the picture, you can do a test to tell you for definite if your CD/Tape output is working.

Unplug the Main Out connectors on the mixer and connect the CD/Tape Output to the CD input on the Crate. You should be able to hear yourself play. (You may need to get a new cable to do this, but it will not be expensive).
If that works, then it leaves the NADY as the weak link in the chain.

One more thing; try using a different USB socket on the computer.

bonerpoteet wrote:I disconnected the amp and yes the LEDs light up when playing. However, they don't light up when I have the amp connected???

Do you have the Main Out of the mixer connected to the two Channel inputs on the crate? They are designed for microphone inputs, not line level, and there may be issues of impedance matching as well. The mixer Main Out should be connected to the Crate CD Input for the best results.

PO'L