no signal when recording original music

[earlybird]

I run through an M-audio Firewire Solo device and am trying to record guitars and vocals (multiple tracks of each) into my PC. I hear my guitar through headphones plugged into M-audio device, I hear my guitar through my speakers. The problem is that Audacity is not picking up the signal, thusly, it is not recording anything. I have set up Audacity to accept a signal through M-audio S/PDIF and have followed the instructions you provide on internet. FRUSTRATED!!
Running Vista through an HP m7760n---dual core 2.13 gig----2 gig of RAM---32 bit system.
HELP!!! Have spoken to M-audio, they suggested using Audacity as recording software. Have spoken to HP and they could not help.

[earlybird]

Is my question difficult or idiotic? I see several views, but no help yet.....

[steve]

Is my question difficult or idiotic? I see several views, but no help yet.....

Patience is a virtue - I've just finished a 10 hour shift at work and this is the first time I've had chance to read your post.

There are quite a lot of possibilities, so let's run through a few things and see if we can narrow them down a bit.

Is your USB device listed as an available recording device in the Windows Control Panel? See here for details: http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... ng_devices

Have you selected the USB device as the recording device in Audacity? (Edit menu > Preferences > Audio I/O tab)

[earlybird]

It is Firewire and not USB, and, yes it is in the control panel. It has also been configured in Audity. I promise I am not trying to be a smart "A", but please read my original post again. There is a good deal of system/setup info there.

[earlybird]

Audity?!! I apologize. That's Audacity.

[kozikowski]

Has any of this ever worked? Have you ever been able to record audio under any circumstances? Computer style microphone plugged straight into the computer?

<<<I've just finished a 10 hour shift>>>

Yes, have a care. I know dancing semi-naked in front of 200 screaming women seems like it should be fun, but it does start to get old about the sixth or seventh hour.

Do they at least let you take a break every so often? Dry off and have a nice cuppa with a high tipper?

Koz

[earlybird]

I have used Audacity to convert cassette tapes to digital before. I have never been aboe to use it to record my own music through my M-audio device.

[steve]

I run through an M-audio Firewire Solo device and am trying to record guitars and vocals (multiple tracks of each) into my PC

OK, having been to bed, got up and had a nice cup of tea... Firewire.. yes got it now.

So that's "guitars and vocals" into the M-audio firewire solo.... (analogue inputs I presume)

I have set up Audacity to accept a signal through M-audio S/PDIF

S/PDIF is a digital interface (Sony Phillips Digital InterFace - may be co-ax or optical).

So how have you connected your guitar and microphone to the S/PDIF input on the M-audio Firewire Solo?

I know dancing semi-naked in front of 200 screaming women seems like it should be fun, but it does start to get old about the sixth or seventh hour.

Believe me Koz, it's worse than that

[earlybird]

uh....I plugged it into the guitar input.........mic in mic input.

[steve]

uh....I plugged it into the guitar input.........mic in mic input.

That's what I guessed.
You need to set Audacity preferences to record from the analogue inputs of the M-audio, not the digital input.