(Reposted previous message because the formatting has gone weird in the original post - appears to be a glitch in the forum software)
stevethefiddle wrote:default device wrote:I have the computer connected as "Tape 2", i.e. computer output to amp "Tape 2 Input" and amp "Tape 2 Output" to computer "line in".
Ah, now there is a possible problem/confusion there - it depends on what signal routing goes on in the amplifier. Do we know for sure if the amplifier routes the Tape2 input to the Tape2 output?
I assume so, since if I connect the computer's line out to the amp's line in, and set the computer to use it's line out, then it goes to amp and no where else, because that's what "use the line out" means, in English. If . . .
1. the computer were sending the signal somewhere else *in addition* and
2. It wasn't designed by idiots
. . . it would say so, and allow me to control that as well, and it doesn't, so it isn't.
The amp, in the meantime, allows me to switch between source monitor and playback monitor. Source is any source *but* "tape in". "Playback" makes "tape in" the source. Therefore, I set it to playback and it "plays" i.e. sends to the computer that which the computer sent to the amp. When it arrives back at the computer, the computer then does its thing, which is the problem area.
stevethefiddle wrote:default device wrote:There's a line out from the computer to the amp and a line out from the amp to the computer. If "line in" on
the computer really meant "line in" the computer would be recording a signal that left the computer and returned,
Only if the Tape2 input on the amp goes to the Tape2 output. On my amp it doesn't.
I don't see how that's possible. That's the point, to route the source to the recorder. "Tape IN" means that which you want to go to that recorder.
stevethefiddle wrote:If I set on my amplifier the "Recording Source" as Tape2 and the "Playback Source" as Tape2, then:
"Tape2 Out" sends signals from the pre-amp section to the outside world and
"Tape2 In" takes signals from the outside world and plays them through the power amp section,
but "Tape2 In" is isolated from "Tape 2 out".
Again, I don't get it. If you set the recording source as tape2, and tape2's input comes from the computer, then tape2's output is the computer's output.
It goes back to the computer or anywhere you lead the cables to.
stevethefiddle wrote:default device wrote:Let's see, what are we doing? Playing a file from the computer while recording. Whose idea was it to add the
playing file as an input to the recording? Why? Where is it being added and how? Why can't you just turn it off? What is the logical connection between them?
Why would I ever want them to be mixed any way, shape or form? Under any circumstances, for any purpose?
Let's split these questions -
"How" can it happen that a file that is playing is added to the recording mix?
1) If you are recording from "Stereo Mix", then that's what "Stereo Mix" does - it "mixes" ALL sounds that are playing on the computer and sets that mix
(which is in stereo) as the recording source.
But only one sound is being *played.* The other is being *recorded.* The *information* must remain separate or you couldn't record discrete tracks. I'm
guessing what happens is that *the capacity of the digital/analog converter* is being exceeded. It has to convert to play, *and* it has to convert to record,
simultaneously. I don't see that as being the same as clipping, but what do I know. Bottom line, there's no direct control over recording levels. You have
to guess what *all* the tracks are going to add up to, then subtract a dB or three for headroom. IOW you're setting record levels so as to not exceed the
total capacity of the converter, part of which must be dedicated to playback and is therefore unavailable for recording. The simple solution would be to
have separate converters for playback and recording. Separately controllable, of course. That's the point.
stevethefiddle wrote:2) If there is a "loop-back" from the Line out to the Line input on the computer, then the sound that is playing will be recorded,
just like using "Stereo Mix". An example of this would be if you connect the "Line out" from your computer and connect it to "Tape2 In" on the amp, and
connect the "Pre-amp out" of the amplifier to the "Line In" on the computer. Everything that is playing will be recorded.
You mean every time I record an overdub, the original track is re-recorded?
stevethefiddle wrote:"Why" would you ever want it to happen?
1) You want to record something that is playing on Internet radio - how are you going to do it? You need to record "the sounds that are playing on your
computer". That's what "Stereo Mix" does (or a loopback connector)
2) You wanty to record a "software synthesizer" - how are you going to do it? Again you need to record sounds that are playing on your computer.
3) You want to record a midi track that is playing on the computer and your sound card is using a software synth. - exactly the same as above.
Am I making sense?
Not to me, I'm afraid! But I really appreciate your efforts, I must say.
-- ps sorry for the editing but at present I can't see what I'm typing . The "post a reply" window won't scroll past a certain point . Every new letter, tnhe screen jerks down to the end of the reply and then jerks back to the middle of the reply. Is this a test of some sort?
