This is my first question, apologies if it has been answered already. I did spend some time searching questions and FAQs and didn’t see it addressed. I also have extremely poor eyesight, so I may have missed it.
I have Audacity 3.0 (very recently downloaded it). My set-up (for Zoom, until now) has been guitar into TC Helicon Harmony Singer pedal … into Behringer 802 mixer, and into my Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 (which of course, is connected to my PC running windows 10. When I’m on a Zoom, the TC Helicon Harmony Singer pedal works fine with this set-up. When I try to record with Audacity, the Harmony Singer disappears from the mix. Before I came to this forum, I looked at a couple of youtube videos which was suggesting the problem was that I needed to go to my Windows microphone privacy settings to be sure that Windows (which doesn’t automatically see Audacity) sees it and has it enabled. Access to the microphone is “allowed/on” When I scroll way down, I see Audacity Cross Platform Sound Editor, But trying to double/right click on that for options does nothing.
So, I’m at a loss. The Harmony Singer pedal is important to my recording because. … my voice …
Any ideas (aside from voice lessons), would very much appreciated.
If “Harmony Singer” is a stereo effect, part or all of it could disappear if you’re accidentally recording in mono, see here to check … https://youtu.be/59QY0WL3f64?t=16
Thanks Trebor. I looked through those options (with focusrite and mixing board and TC helicon all plugged in) The recording device that is enabled (and active based on the levels moving with everything plugged in) is my Focusrite USB audio. In advanced, what is selected is 2 channel, 24 bit, 441000 Hz (Studio Quality). It seems to be the most robust option of the 4 available.
When I look at Microphone properties (advanced) for the only other active mic, the USB mic, what is selected is 1 channel, 16 big, 480000 Hz (DVD quality). Of the 4 options available, they’re all 1 channel options and it appears the one selected is the most robust.
It looks as thought the TC Helicon Harmony Singer pedal has two outputs: Instrument out and Vocal out. How do you have these hooked up? And why are you using a Focusrite and a mixer?
Hi Jademan, I can answer the first part of your question with certainty. The second part is a bit more “subjective”.
Answer to question # 1:
My setup (for Zoom performances) is:
Microphone (Shure) from mic into “TC Helicon Harmony Singer” Mic (the one on the left)
From guitar (1/4" #1) into “TC Helicon Harmony Singer” into “instrument in”
“TC Helicon Harmony Singer” instrument OUT into 802 mixer channel 2 “line in”
1/4" (2 of 2) OUT of 802 mixer “control room” OUT Left, into Focusrite left channel instrument input
Mic cable 2 (of 2) from “TC Helicon Harmony Singer” OUT into the 802 mixer (channel 1) Mic IN.
Answer to question # 2: as to why I have a mixer AND the Focusrite … well, one of the guys in the Zoom room with me, also performing … is a sound guy. He’s the person I first heard using the TC Helicon, and after he heard me over Zoom, he suggested that I get Audacity (for recording, and for doing sound checks) … and he also suggested that the tighter I could get my sound at the beginning of the signal chain, the better. I’m really a novice at most things gear-related, and he’s the person who informed me that what I was hearing in my headphones (with the harmony pedal, etc.), is NOT what is being heard on the other end of the Zoom … and that this 802 mixer was one way of tweaking the sound. For example, he mentioned that I should turn my bass down (on the mixer) and my treble up (for one). So, that’s the long answer. The short answer is that someone who knows sound (and who is traveling for a couple weeks) suggested I do it. As to why the TC Helicon isn’t working when I record on Audacity … it might be a simple fix, and adapter, I just don’t know. Thanks for your cycles on this.
So we’ve got the first part kind of figured out. Do you have the PAN controls all top center on the mixer ?
Yes I do (when I zoom). I was told by my gearhead buddy that when I record … (while it will work with the pans at dead center), if I want to get more of a stereo or 2-channel mix (I forget what he said), I should pan channel 1 all the way to the left, and channel 2 all the way to the right.
Curious, why didn’t you get a USB mixer instead of the Focusrite ?
Of the 3 “devices” I have (the forcusrite, the 802 mixer and the TC Helicon), the first thing I got to be able to play music over Zoom was the focusrite (upon someone’s suggestion). Then the TC Helicon … and last, the mixer (because of the way the sound was coming across in Zoom).
Do you have any other inputs into the mixer?
If the question is whether I’m inputting anything else into the mixer … no. There is one mic going in, and two 1/4" for the guitar. One in … and the out is out of channel room.
Why are you using the Control Room outputs rather than the Main outputs? Do you have any other connections to the mixer?
No … there are no other connections other than what I’ve described. This is the way my friend told me to set it up.
I don’t see a headphone connector on the TC Helicon. How is that connected?
If I’m understanding the question, my headphones are coming out of (or plugged into) my Focusrirte. Am I misunderstanding this question?
I think you have answered your own question right here. So just for fun, try recording with Audacity with them both at dead center.
If you are going to pan channel 2 all the way to the right, you will need another cable carrying “control room” OUT Right, into Focusrite right channel instrument input.
I think you have answered your own question right here. So just for fun, try recording with Audacity with them both at dead center.
Hi Jademan,
I have tried it both ways (both dead center + 1 left / 1 right … because it was more important (to me) to get the harmony singer to work than to get a 2 channel mix … and it didn’t work. So, I’m not sure that’s it … but … while I have a Zoom performance in less than an hour and don’t want to change my setup at the moment, I’ll keep playing. One thing my friend suggested before he went on the road was taking the Focusrite out of the chain altogether to see if that’s the problem with regard to recording with the TC Helicon / Audacity … by going directly into my computer … but … I haven’t yet tried that because (and this is embarrassing) the only thing plugged into the Focusrite (aside from my headphones) is a 1/4’ for the guitar … (coming out of Control Room out … and I don’t seem to have an input in my computer for a 1/4" guitar cable. So … perhaps I need an adaptor to try this.
At this point, I’m just happy (I think) that you’re not asking me “is it plugged in?”