Recording problems

[name]

Hey I'm trying to records stuff with Audacity, and when I do, the first track is grand and records fine, but then when I want to record a second track which is say layered over the first, for some reason the first track is recorded as well, except a few milli seconds off, creating a delay-like effect.

The only way I can stop this is by turning off playback when recording, but then I don't know if I'm in time or not as I cant' hear the rest of the tracks.

Audacity used to work for me fine, and recording several tracks was no problem, but now it's just impossible.

Just wondering if anyone knew why and if there was a way to stop it?

[comcon]

What and how are you recording? Thru a microphone? Direct line inputs?

If you mute the first track while playing everthing back... are you still hearing it in the second track?

[monterydaniel]

i'm having the same problem, as time goes on my second track is slightly faster, and i record with the first track playing (in headphones). what's goin on?

[monterydaniel]

bump

[monterydaniel]

bumpity bump?

no one has any advice?

[kozikowski]

<<<first, for some reason the first track is recorded as well>>>

There is a mode on Windows machines where you can record everything going out to the speakers. You can also record individual devices; CD, Line-In, MIDI, etc. If you have output mix and a device selected, you are getting the sound twice, once through each pathway--usually delayed enough to give an echo. It sounds like you need to turn output mix off in the Audacity record path.

There is a web posting that tries to explain this:

http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... trol_Panel

Koz

[kozikowski]

<<<time goes on my second track is slightly faster>>>

If you have progressive speed changes between record and playback, you do not have the same problem as the beginning of this thread. You probably have a poor or broken sound card. I bet if you try this on a completely different Windows machine, it doesn't do that.

Cheap sound cards have very sloppy specifications and they're different between recording and playback. They were never meant to do complex multi-tracking. Usually, if you record a song from a microphone and then burn it to a CD to play in the car, you can't tell that the performance is a different duration than when you sang it. However, when you start to match tracks with the idea of layering performances atop each other, suddenly it matters that record and play aren't the same.

The usual solution to this is get a much better sound card, or other sound device. It doesn't have to be an analog circuit card inside your computer. There are several external USB devices on the market.

Koz

[monterydaniel]

<<<time goes on my second track is slightly faster>>>

If you have progressive speed changes between record and playback, you do not have the same problem as the beginning of this thread. You probably have a poor or broken sound card. I bet if you try this on a completely different Windows machine, it doesn't do that.

Cheap sound cards have very sloppy specifications and they're different between recording and playback. They were never meant to do complex multi-tracking. Usually, if you record a song from a microphone and then burn it to a CD to play in the car, you can't tell that the performance is a different duration than when you sang it. However, when you start to match tracks with the idea of layering performances atop each other, suddenly it matters that record and play aren't the same.

The usual solution to this is get a much better sound card, or other sound device. It doesn't have to be an analog circuit card inside your computer. There are several external USB devices on the market.

Koz

thanks a lot. do you have any recommendations on products? i kinda halfheartedly searched "external usb sound card" on eBay, but i don't know what I'm looking for. As you call tell, I'm definitely a beginner at this whole thing.

[comcon]

What's your budget?

There's also a soundcard thread elsewhere on this forum.

(I'm tired or I'd look it up and post the link)

[waxcylinder]

The two external USB cards that get mentioned a lot on the forum are the Behringer UCA202 and the Edirol UA-1EX. The Behringer is cheaper but the Edirol has more features. I myself use the Edirol.

There is also the Griffin iMic, but I note that we get a reasonable number of posts on the forum with folks who have problems with these.

I also note that ION (makers of the USB turntable) have now produced and recently launched a device called U Record - this appears to be an external USB soundcard with a built-in preamp - useful if you have a TT already but no pre-amp and no soundcard. I used to use an ION TTUSB - the electronics were fine, but the deck was too flimsy so gave too much wow&flutter. But on the basis of the electronics in the TT I would guess that the U Record is ok.

WC