1.2.6 and two sound cards

[earthshaker]

Is it possible to make Audacity record 4 simultaneous tracks from two standard sound cards?
I tried to make it work with just two separate inputs 1 from each card, every time I tried the second track it used the same source as the first, I couldn't get it to do what I wanted.
I am considering a new soundcard with multiple inputs, but that will be a way off in the future.
If I can do what I need with what I have to work with point me in the right direction please, if this requires some computer wizardry on my part that is ok.
Thanks, Ryan

[kozikowski]

<<<Is it possible to make Audacity record 4 simultaneous tracks from two standard sound cards?>>>

Audacity will record up to 16 tracks of audio from any one sound device. The joke is that you can't connect 8 turntables and get 16 tracks.

If you can find driver software that makes your two sound card appear to the system as one device (certainly possible) then Audacity would be good to go.

Koz

[steve]

It is possible with Linux, as described in this article:
http://quicktoots.linuxaudio.org/toots/el-cheapo/

[kozikowski]

<<<Further, a basic level of experience in using a soldering iron and the vacum is needed to perform the hardware modifications explained.>>>

So this is a snap for anyone with the skills to build and program their own computer which is why the process appears in a Linux forum. Since you're changing the electrical operating characteristics of both sound cards, you'll also want the skills to troubleshoot it if something doesn't go quite right. If you mis-solder that coaxial cable, which is the thickness of a refill for a good quality ball-point pen, it will kill both sound cards.

Koz

[steve]

Quite so koz. And multi-layer circuit boards (commonly used in computer hardware) are a lot more tricky to work on than single layer boards. I disagree with the author of that article in one respect, in that I prefer to use quite a hot soldering iron and use it quickly. It's easy to destroy component due to excessive heat.

I thought it was a good article though, as it shows the hardware and software issues that are involved.

[earthshaker]

Well I don't run Linux...yet, from what I gathered so far, what I want to do simply can't be done. I glanced at the article, I have been playing with standard thru-hole electronics for over 20 years. Surface mount technology is not anything I want to get into, one reason is my eyes are 20 years older, and don't work as good anymore, another reason is by the time I buy the necessary tools to work on surface mount components, I could easily buy one or more multi channel "pro" grade cards
if there was a software fix that was low cost to make the computer see both cards as one virtual card, I would try that.
I am running win2kpro, on a 1.8gHz machine.
Thanks for the replies however!
R

[steve]

Well I don't run Linux...yet

"yet" It's well worth having a look at. A good way to try it out is by booting up a "Live CD" - this will run Linux directly from the CD without the need to install anything on your computer. There is obviously a performance hit running Linux like this, but it is still usable (with a few features unavailable) and is a good way to check if your hardware is supported. I would recommend "Simlpy Mepis" (based on Debian) or "Mint" (based on Ubuntu) as good distributions (versions) for a first time user.
You don't need to be a geek to use Linux (these days) as most stuff works straight out of the box (it arguably suffers less compatibility problems than Vista). If you are a bit of a geek, there is a huge amount of great audio (and other) projects that are in fairly early stages of development but are showing a huge amount of potential. Most of the "main line" stuff is now well developed and pretty well bug free.

Surface mount technology is not anything I want to get into, one reason is my eyes are 20 years older, and don't work as good anymore, another reason is by the time I buy the necessary tools to work on surface mount components, I could easily buy one or more multi channel "pro" grade cards

The crystal that is involved in the modification is usually a through hole component, but multi channel "pro" grade cards will offer other benefits over this "El-Cheapo" alternative, such as better sound quality.

if there was a software fix that was low cost to make the computer see both cards as one virtual card, I would try that.

On Windows, you may be able to run multiple cheap sound cards in "Krystal Audio Engine" (free) or "Reaper" (low cost). You can then export the recordings as WAV files and import them into Audacity for editing (though you may get a certain amount of drift due to inaccuracies in the clock frequencies).

[earthshaker]

On Windows, you may be able to run multiple cheap sound cards in "Krystal Audio Engine" (free) or "Reaper" (low cost). You can then export the recordings as WAV files and import them into Audacity for editing (though you may get a certain amount of drift due to inaccuracies in the clock frequencies).

Funny you should mention Krystal, I tried it just after I posted my last post, and , well it worked, sort of, I recorded a two channel "mono" on the VIA (built in audio card), while recording a true stereo signal, from my soundblaster card, now I just need to find out how to record from each channel (L,R) separately, in Krystal, working on it as I type (well kind of)

I would recommend "Simlpy Mepis" (based on Debian) or "Mint" (based on Ubuntu) as good distributions (versions) for a first time user.

I have heard good things about Ubuntu, some other interests I have can utilize applications that work under it.
And of course there applications that only work under Linux, I have caught my eye, can't think of any examples, however.