Audacity Forum

The extent of my experience with sound recording is video chats on MSN, so this is entirely new territory for me and I apologise in advance if this is a laughably simple questions, inapporopriately located one, and/or I have not provided enough information to even warrant your assistance. I am using a M-Audio Fast Track Pro Mobile USB Audio/MIDI Interface to to connect my Guitar to my Laptop which uses Windows 7 (yes I downloaded the BETA version). The driver software it came with was not suitable for Windows 7, but I was able to find an update on their website which I promptly downloaded. The software they provided (Live lite 5 and Pro Tools M Powered 7) were also not suitable for windows 7, and due to lack of free downloadable updates I am using Audacity, so hello

According to the online Wiki for Audacity all I should need to do for audacity to recognise my external device is enter into the Devices tab of Preferences, and use the Drop-down Host box to select my device, however, it is not lsited as an option. Baffling indeed! If anybody could offer me any help or insight as to this truely vexing problem I would be most appreciative. Thank you in advance.

Good to see you've done your homework, downloaded the right version of Audacity and posted in the right place

For USB devices, connect the device before you open Audacity.
Don't use USB hubs - connect the device directly to the computer.

Then open Audacity and go to "Edit menu > Preferences > Devices" and see if there is a USB option available as a Recording device.

If there isn't, open the Windows Control Panel and enable the USB device as indicated here: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... trol_Panel

Thank you in advance for any help you can give me. I hope someone can help me with my problem. I have tried just about everything I have read here, and in wiki, but no luck. I am working on a Samsung laptop that runs Windows 7. I have downloaded Audacity 1.3 and can record through the mic on the computer. I am trying to use a digidesign Mbox 2. I am unable to select this device in the preferences. I have tried going to the sound mixer, but when I double click on my little speaker in the task bar I get Device and Applications. There is no wrench to go into the master volume control. I went to the control panel, manage audio devices, and change devices, but it will not allow me to do or change anything. Would the best thing for me to do is get an external audio card or download something else? I do voice overs and Audacity is easy to use, as I don't need a lot of bells and whistles. I just want to be able to record.

Did you check out the link in the previous post?

Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound
or if you're using "Classic View" there's a direct link to "Sound" in the Control Panel,
then click on the "Recording" tab.
You should see something like this:



Is your Mbox 2 listed as a recording device?
Have you enabled "show hidden devices" and "show disconnected devices"?
Can you post a screen shot of what that looks like on your computer?

Can you remind me how to do a screen shot please? I get the screen you are showing, but only has the microphone that says Realtek High Definition Audio Default device...and a picture of an audio card that says stereo mix that says Realtek High Definition Audio. There is nothing else on the screen. When I right click both the Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices...I really appreciate the help

If that's all that is listed, then Windows is not recognising your Mbox.
If Windows does not recognise the Mbox, then it is not available for Audacity to use.

Are you sure that your Mbox is correctly installed?
Do you have the Windows (WDM) drivers installed for the Mbox?

To be honest I don't if the drivers are installed or not. When I received the Mbox it told me to install protools le 7, but pro tools will not open. The only other software CD's that came with the Mbox are translated documents, structure free, pro tools ignition pack 2, and pro tolls method one. I am thinking of getting a new Mbox or calling Microsoft to see if they can help me. It won't matter what software I have if the interface will not work. I tried the Mbox on my desktop computer and it was not recognized there either. Any other suggestions?

I checked for Mbox drivers for WIndows 7 and downloaded then, restarted the computer, but no change.

It may be worth contacting Digidesign/Avid
http://www.avid.com/US/support

Thank you Steve. I will do that.