Audacity Forum

<<<Most USB audio interfaces and possibly ALL mixers have 1/4" jack inputs as well as XLR inputs.>>>

True, but that's only going to work with the microphones you haven't bought yet, not your headset.

<<<You just need an additional cable to connect the output of the mixer to the line input of the PC.>>>

If you have one. Deskside machines do tend to have all the conections, but most Windows laptops don't. They're missing Line-In.

<<<I've forgotton the simplest way though! USB mics of course. Just buy 2 of em and bingo! Your in business. The cheapest way too.
Forget the other ways i mentioned - this is the cheapest and easiest way to go! >>>

Audacity will only recognize one sound device at a time. That would be one USB microphone.

I know I make it sound like an engineering exercise, but by far the simplest way to go using the equipment you have right now, is the two computer method. If you decide that's a complete disaster and too complicated and time consuming, then come back and read this thread.

Koz

kozikowski wrote:
Deskside machines do tend to have all the conections, but most Windows laptops don't. They're missing Line-In.

A lot do.

kozikowski wrote: Audacity will only recognize one sound device at a time. That would be one USB microphone.

I didn't realise Audacity had this limitation. You got me there.
May I be so bold as to suggest n-track(can use multiple input devices) then, or is this frowned upon here
Hey, if you are on a mac, even Garageband does this!

Anyway, I'm sticking to the mixer and 2 mics idea. Under $100 investment I'd say.

<<<Anyway, I'm sticking to the mixer and 2 mics idea. Under $100 investment I'd say.>>>

See:

<<<Trying to start podcasting on the dead cheap.>>>

First sentence, first posting.

<<<May I be so bold as to suggest n-track(can use multiple input devices) then, or is this frowned upon here
Hey, if you are on a mac, even Garageband does this!>>>

We're totally open to other techniques and ideas. Depending on background, we sometimes answer questions that have nothing whatsoever to do with Audacity. We do warn people that we can only go with the question as it is posted. Sometimes there isn't enough information and then the question has to ripple around the earth a couple of times before we get it. The poster gives the impression he is trying to do a two-mic podcast on milk and biscuits money.

If that's not true, now would be a good time to correct us so we can be as helpful as possible.

Koz

Think i'm going to stick with the FREE 2 computers. I have it all networked up so it takes literally under a minute to have both tracks on one audacity.

Just a thought.

1 x http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Mod ... 8&T=Module
1 x http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Mod ... 9&DOY=31m1
2 x http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Mod ... 6&DOY=31m1

Seems like it would work.

<<<Just a thought.>>>

That's an interesting idea. How did they.......

Oh, I see. 2 and 3 are the adapters to get 1 into your computer.

That should work fine on stand alone microphones like a Shure SM58 or a microphone with batteries inside it, like...

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2102927

That wide spot contains the little watch battery to run the microphone electronics.

However, if you use "computer" microphones or headset systems that get their battery from the computer, like in the second illustration here...

http://www.kozco.com/tech/audioconnecto ... ctors.html

...then the computer's battery voltage will not go "backwards" through the mixer and the microphones won't wake up.

Koz