Can't Record - Also "Error opening Sound Device"

[Paul2121]

Windows7 Acer Aspire Laptop. Audacity installed from EXE file.
According to Behringer, Guitar Link UCG102 compatible with Audacity 2.0.2.
It would be great to have both these products work as advertised, but have spent hours trying to make it happen.
Behringer Guitar Link recognized by Audacity as Input and Output, can play imported MP3 music files through headphones on Behringer OK, but NOT record.
Audio host set to MME, but whether set to WindowsDirectSound makes no difference.
When Input Device set to "Line In(2 BEHRINGER USB WDM AUDIO 2.8.40", Get message "Error while opening sound device. Please check the input device settings and the project sample rate".
Device settings set to 44100 and 16bit.
When Input Device set to "Microsoft Sound Mapper" or 'Stereo Mix "Realtek High Definition", the Record will work... but nothing actually records...
In Control panel, Behringer set to Playback and Record as Default.
Checkmark put in both Exclusive Mode boxes.
Tried installing ASIO-ForAll but realize that it's not compatible with Audacity.
Been through the Audacity FAQs and still can't find help.

[steve]

This is a recently updated FAQ: http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/FAQ: ... und_device

[Paul2121]

Thanks for your quick reply Steve.
I have looked over that link you gave me pretty thoroughly I think, and I still can't make it work. I'm sure it must be a very simple setting somewhere. Others can make Audacity and the Behringer USB device work OK.
Here is a rundown of what I've tried according to that link you gave me. Hopefully you might pick up on something I've missed...

Audacity Reply to FAQ – been to this page many times?
http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/FAQ: ... und_device

Why do I get "Error while opening sound device"?
I never attempted to append record or tried to overdub.

Check Audacity Settings
• Project rate set to 44100 Hz and tried EVERY other rate… Also set to 16bit
• Never enabled Transport > Software Playthrough (on/off) – Even tried with it ON and OFF
• Never turned on Transport > Overdub (on/off) – Even tried with it ON and OFF
• Checked in Device Toolbar that the output and input devices ARE correctly and explicitly selected as DEFAULT.
o On Windows, don't choose "Microsoft Sound Mapper" or "Primary Sound Driver" which point to the current Windows default device; choose the required device by name. Try selecting "Windows Direct Sound" as the "Host" instead of "MME".
o Tried ALL these settings in turn and still no go….

Check operating system settings
• Windows: Go to the system control panel and follow the Wiki instructions for Windows 2000 or XP or Vista or 7 to ensure all available inputs are listed and enabled. Done this…
• Behringer Playback and Record enabled and set to Default. Additionally on Vista or 7, these steps are strongly recommended:
1. In Sound, right-click over or select the recording and playback device in turn, choose "Properties", then the "Advanced" tab
2. Set Default Format to the same sample rate, bit-depth and number of input channels as in Audacity
3. Put a checkmark in both Exclusive Mode boxes (this allows Audacity to directly request the sample rate from the sound device if the "Host" in Device Toolbar is set to "Windows Direct Sound" as above).
Note: Only Playback can be set to 44100 and 16bit and has box for Exclusive Mode.

Just another note: My Behringer GUITAR LINK UCG102 is actually a Chinese Imitation of the UCG102, even though I don't think this is why it doesn't work. Also, I borrowed a friends M-AUDIO FastTrack USB device and it works OK with no problem whatever.

[steve]

Seems like you have been pretty thorough. We need to do some detective work to narrow down the problem.

Windows includes a simple "Sound Recorder" program that records sound from the default recording input device.
If you set the UCG102 as the default recording device in the Windows Sounds Control Panel then open and run the Windows "Sound Recorder", it will try to record from the default recording input. If this does not work, the problem is either with the recording device, the drivers for the recording device, or the set-up in the Windows Sounds Control Panel.

A "Behringer" UCG102 requires no special drivers and will work with the standard Windows drivers.
Optional ASIO drivers are available from Behringer but these do not work with the standard Audacity release.

If recording does not work with "Sound Recorder" and you are using the standard Windows drivers for the device, then this narrows down the problem to hardware (the device itself) or the Windows Sounds settings. If you can't get this to work, then Audacity will not work because it uses the same sound system as Sound Recorder.

If you do get Sound Recorder to work - write down what the settings are. Those settings should work with Audacity so then it is just a matter of configuring Audacity to match those settings.

[Paul2121]

Thanks Steve, did all that before...
But your explanation did help narrow down the problem to the cheap junk imitation Behringer Device.
The Windows Sound Recorder works OK with the Headphone & Mike using the onboard sounds as default.
When I make the Behringer input/recorder the default I get the message,"An audio recording device cannot be found".
So it does look like the Imitation Behringer Device is the problem...
I will have to invest in a better qaulity device.

[steamingbill]

Hello,

I have the same problem and my clumsy workaround eas to take the signal from the Behringer headphone socket into the Line-In on the back of my computer.

This worked but there were significant latency issues and it was quite strange to try and play along with anything, even doing a stand alone 12 bar blues with no backing was difficult.

Any tweaks I can do to make this work better either on behringer or audacity software ?

How do I determine whetehr or not I have a genuine Behringer or a cheap chinese imitation ?

Regards

Bill

[steve]

How do I determine whetehr or not I have a genuine Behringer or a cheap chinese imitation ?

Did you buy it from an authorised Behringer dealer?
Does it have the Behringer logo?
Does it have the Behringer documentation?
Does it include a warranty from Behringer?

[steamingbill]

How do I determine whetehr or not I have a genuine Behringer or a cheap chinese imitation ?

Did you buy it from an authorised Behringer dealer?
Does it have the Behringer logo?
Does it have the Behringer documentation?
Does it include a warranty from Behringer?

Thanks for the response Steve

YES to all of the above - but they could all be faked - how would anybody know and be certain ? My question is better when it is written differently ie "By inspecting the hardware and associated documentation what are the telltale signs that the unit is a fake how does one determine by looking at the unit"

I have been looking at reviews of the UCG102 on Amazon and there are a number of people, like myself who are reasonably happy with the hardware and acknowledge that the hardware works well but who have had significant problems with the software sent with the unit.

General consensus is that the software is awful and that installing the ASIO4ALL driver is a good way to reduce latency.

Generally best and easiest way to hear what you are playing is to use headphones in the headphone socket of the unit.

People more knowledgeable than myself may be able to glean more from the reviews - definitely worth a look.

I looked at the customised Audacity installation notes - way too complicated for a ordinary non programmer like me.

Regards

Bill

[steve]

Generally best and easiest way to hear what you are playing is to use headphones in the headphone socket of the unit.

When you do that are you able to hear both what you are recording and other tracks playing in Audacity (assuming that you have Audacity set to play through the UCG in the Device Toolbar and you have "Overdub" enabled in the Transport menu)?

[kozikowski]

I have the same problem and my clumsy workaround eas to take the signal from the Behringer headphone socket into the Line-In on the back of my computer.

More than clumsy. This is the connection layout to get rid of live headphone latency. Other configurations need not apply.

http://www.kozco.com/tech/audacity/pix/ ... Lenovo.jpg

You must get the headphones from the USB device, not the computer.

Koz