Flanger effect when recording

[jouls]

Ok so i got a Behringer djx 750 dj mixer and im using its output and am trying to record it with audacity, but all the time there is a flanger effect on the sound, on the mixer the effects are switched off, the cd players have no flanger effect, but somewhere it is picked up and i cant record it, im using rca to 1/8" cable converter to plug it into the pc's mix in slot, i am using the computers integrated sound card, it is superb with any mic that you plug it in, plays back 32 bit float 96hz? or khz sound quality with no problem , but it cant record what comes from the mixer, any ideas why it might be happening.

[jouls]

ive also just plugged in the output straight from the cd player to the pc and there still is flanger effect so its either the program or the cd player, taking that if the cd player is plugged into the mixer and out from the mixer into the monitors there is no flanger , i think its the programs, i tried with audacity and with few other free recording programs.

[steve]

i am using the computers integrated sound card, it is superb with any mic that you plug it in,

The signal from a mixer, or from a CD player is about 1000 x more powerful than a microphone signal. If you are plugging the mixer (or CD player) into a microphone input it is unlikely to work well.

[jouls]

i am using the computers integrated sound card, it is superb with any mic that you plug it in,

The signal from a mixer, or from a CD player is about 1000 x more powerful than a microphone signal. If you are plugging the mixer (or CD player) into a microphone input it is unlikely to work well.

So how can i record what comes out from the mixer with the pc? I heard of people do it. Was it not done with Audacity or something ?

[steve]

Some PCs have a "Line-in" connector.
Often on desktop/tower PCs there is a microphone input (often colour coded pink) and a separate line-in connector (often colour coded light blue).
Some laptop PCs have a dual function input socket that may be used with either a mono microphone or stereo line level signals, but many (most?) PC laptops have only a microphone input.

Microphone inputs are totally unsuitable for connecting a mixing desk, CD player, tape player or other line-level devices.

If your computer does not have a line-level input you could use an external USB sound card.
Although my laptop PC has a dual function mic/line input, the quality is pretty poor, so I use a Behringer UCA 202 (about $30 US) external sound card to connect my mixing desk to the laptop. (I also use the UCA 202 to connect the laptop to my hi-fi for good quality audio playback).

Another issue to be careful of when connecting a mixing desk to your computer is to avoid "feedback loops" where the audio output from the computer gets fed back into the audio input via the mixer. I don't think this is your problem as you say that the problem also occurs when connecting the CD player directly to the computer without the mixing desk.

[jouls]

Some PCs have a "Line-in" connector.
Often on desktop/tower PCs there is a microphone input (often colour coded pink) and a separate line-in connector (often colour coded light blue).
Some laptop PCs have a dual function input socket that may be used with either a mono microphone or stereo line level signals, but many (most?) PC laptops have only a microphone input.

Microphone inputs are totally unsuitable for connecting a mixing desk, CD player, tape player or other line-level devices.

If your computer does not have a line-level input you could use an external USB sound card.
Although my laptop PC has a dual function mic/line input, the quality is pretty poor, so I use a Behringer UCA 202 (about $30 US) external sound card to connect my mixing desk to the laptop. (I also use the UCA 202 to connect the laptop to my hi-fi for good quality audio playback).

Another issue to be careful of when connecting a mixing desk to your computer is to avoid "feedback loops" where the audio output from the computer gets fed back into the audio input via the mixer. I don't think this is your problem as you say that the problem also occurs when connecting the CD player directly to the computer without the mixing desk.

Steve, Thanks so much mate, the sound quality is nicer now, the bass isnt overpowering the whole thing, but there still is the stupid flanger effect in the background, as you said i connected the mixer to the line in at the back of the PC rather then the mic in at the front. Any idea why that might be happening.

[steve]

The only thing that I can think of in Audacity that might cause this sort of problem is if you have "Software Playthrough" enabled. The setting is somewhere in Preferences but I can't remember exactly where. "Edit menu > Preferences". Software Playthrough should be disabled.

By the way, I'd highly recommend upgrading to Audacity 1.3.12 (Audacity 1.2.6 is now very old and has not been updated or maintained for years). http://audacityteam.org/download/

[jouls]

If its to any help, this is what i mean by flanger effect : http://www10.zippyshare.com/v/19745089/file.html


at about 3 or 4 sec in you can hear the bass just disappear.

and also that option is disabled, will i try 1.3 or does it not work on win xp ?

[kozikowski]

Odd distortion several seconds into a recording can be caused by Windows conferencing services..

Windows Enhanced Sound
http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 79&start=0

But that usually doesn't happen until Vista or Win7. I don't think XP had that.

Koz

[steve]

It looks like the signal going into the sound card is still much too "hot" (too high a level) for the audio input. Try turning down the output from your mixing desk (turn up the speakers/headphone volume if necessary). If you record a bit too quiet you can always increase the volume after it has been recorded. As a general guide to the peak recording level, aim for about -6 dB (half the height of the audio track).

What sort of sound card do you have?
Is there a "control panel/mixer" of some sort for the sound card in the sys tray (near the Desktop "Time/Date"). If there is, check to see if there are any "effect" settings, "automatic gain" (AGC) settings, "Noise Reduction" or "Echo Cancellation" settings, "Equalization" settings, "Environmental" settings, or anything along those lines. Disable ALL sound card effects and enhancements.