Recording with 3 mics to 3 tracks

[Timo]

I need to record with 3 mics, each to own track, simultaneously.

I understood from other postings that it is possible if I have multichannel USB audio interface. But some posting mentioned that not all multichannel audio interfaces work with Audacity. Can you give more advice what kind of interface I should be looking for and what to avoid?

Most of the audio interfaces have only 2 mic inputs. The cheapest one having three inputs I found was TASCAM US-1641. Would that for example work with Audacity?

Thanks,
Timo

[kozikowski]

Let's say no. There is no "do this and that happens" for multi-channel recording under Audacity.

There are several guesses and suggestions and at least one person who got multi-channel to work using obsolete software.

http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... multitrack
http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... ack#p93214

One of the problems is that Audacity doesn't support ASIO software. Many multi-channel sound cards use ASIO to manage the channels. So whatever you do has to work under Windows sound drivers and those are pretty rare.

There is a magic cliff at two sound channels. More than that and you fall off the earth.

Koz

[kozikowski]

Another problem is the multi-channel audio devices tend to be expensive. None of the elves is going to run out and buy one just to see if it works, and none of the users is going to buy one until they're sure it's going to work on their show. We have a complete cycle.

Oh, and compiling Audacity to work with ASIO software tends to be a one-off computer programming exercise due to licensing restrictions. You can do it for you, but you can't do it for anybody else.

If you do buy a multi-channel and it works, do post back with your findings.

Koz