Record Mic and Computer Sound Simultaneously

[Chaseisfdr]

Hello all. I am sure there are other topics like this, but I can't find one exactly like my issue. Please don't leave! I promise I have been working very hard to research how to do this, but I am new at all of this, and I just cant figure it out. (all specs with be at the bottom)

My objective: To be able to record my voice (for a podcast) AND my computers audio at the same time. This is so that I may play sound effect, music, or whatever is happening on my computer, on the fly while recording.

I know how to record my voice. I know how to record whats on my computer (with Stereo Mix). I don't know how to record them at once.

I tried without ay external hardware and couldn't get it to work with a USB Mic.

So I borrowed my friends M-audio Fast Track Pro. It's plugged in via USB, and I have an mic plugged into line one via XLR. I can record from this mic fine. I can get volume from the headset that I have plugged into the Fast Track Pro. I can record either source through this device, but again, I can't do both at once. Now, there are a lot of inputs I am probably not using that might be the deal. The only way it is connected to my computer is through USB. It has S/PDIF in and out on the back. However, my computer does not have a port that it will fit into. My sound card is intergated with my motherboard. It is the VIA HD Audio deck. Again, I can still record through stereo mix while using the Fast Track Pro, but I can't do both at once.

Sorry for being a newbie. I know the Fast Track Pro isn't ideal, but its what I am working with. I am very open to all ideas, even if they don't have anything to do with the Fast Track Pro, and even if they cost a little money. (Like, buying a little mixer on Amazon). I have other programs like Adobe audition, but I get the same result. I have heard of software mixers but I am not sure about those either. I know this can be done because I hear it on podcasts all the time.

Here's the relevant specs:

Windows 7 64bit
M-audio Fast Track Pro (connected only through USB)
Some random Nady XLR Mic
Audio is integrated into motheboard Gigabyte D3. Has VIA HD audio deck that supports "Stereo Mix". There is no RCA type port, but there is an optical S/PDIF port.

If anyone can help at all, you have no idea how much I would appreciate it. I have seriously spent countless hours trying to figure this out. I would be SO THANKFUL for anyones help. I may even send you a nice package of cheese or chocolate, lol. Please help guys, thanks so much!

[kozikowski]

Audacity just makes do with the existing sound pathways. You need a program that makes new ones like Krystal Audio Engine.

http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/

Koz

[Gale Andrews]

My objective: To be able to record my voice (for a podcast) AND my computers audio at the same time.

It's not the best way to do it. You lose quality on the background music and you cannot edit the voice and background music separately. Your cough gets recorded into the music.

Assuming your background is a music file, import it into Audacity, turn on Transport > Overdub if it isn't already, then record your voice while Audacity plays the file to you. See http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/fa ... ml#overdub .

If you were playing a CD, extract the tracks to WAV thus: http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/fa ... tml#fromcd .

If you must record music and background at the same time, right-click over the speaker icon by the system clock, then choose "Recording Devices". Right-click over the FastTrack then choose "Properties". Then click the "Listen" tab and send the FastTrack (mic) to your built-in sound device. Then stereo mix will record your voice and the music mixed together.

Note that the mic will inevitably record about 1/10 th of a second or more after you speak into it because you have to wait for Windows to route the input to the built in playback device. That's another reason not to do this.

If you had another cable and you don't mind the music being mono you could also (I think) run a cable from audio out (green) of your computer to the instrument input of the FastTrack, then simply record both voice and music from FastTrack.

If I were you I would overdub

Gale

[Chaseisfdr]

hey Koz, I will try Kristal when I get home. Thank you!

Thanks for the response Gale.

Any long stretches of music won't be recorded this way. I''ll be doing the intro, outro, etc music the way you suggested.

The reason I want it is to just play little clips of sounds. Most would probably no longer than a few seconds, so having the best quality isn't that big of a deal. I will try running a cable from the green input of my computer to the fast track and see how that goes.

Is there a better way to do this with some different hardware? Like with an actual mixer rather than the fast track? And would I need an actual sound card for my PC? I am open to suggestions. I know its possible. The Podcast I listen to has multiple guests through skype, intro and outro music, a plethora of soundbytes throughout, plays whatever is on the guys computer, and his guests on skype can hear everything he can hear. So I know theres a way!

On a side note, I downloaded a virtual mixer, and it allows me to record multiple channels at once. The only problem with it is, the fast track pro on records in one ear, and thats annoying. (I can probably fix this with a little studying and perservearance, or an actual mixer rather the the fast track pro).

All the help so far is very appreciated, thanks guys!

[kozikowski]

The Podcast I listen to has multiple guests through skype, intro and outro music, a plethora of soundbytes throughout, plays whatever is on the guys computer, and his guests on skype can hear everything he can hear. So I know theres a way!

What is this terrific podcast?

Did you write to them and ask how they did it?

The grownups do it with large sound mixers, multiple computers, mix-minus sound systems and quiet rooms. That's the way the broadcast people do it for real-time radio shows. You can do it on one computer in your kitchen if you're willing to take a lot of time and trouble editing. You can totally do a Skype bi-directional conversation recording, just not in Audacity. Audacity doesn't get along well with other programs such as Skype that like to dominate and totally control the sound channels.

There's a lot of problems doing a show like that. One thing nobody thinks of is mix-minus. You can't send Skype caller's voice back to them. Can't do it. It will arrive in the headphones late and very few people can hold a conversation like that without going mad. That means the caller needs to hear the whole show minus their own voice. That means you need a mixer just for that.

And so on. So forward a link or address.

Koz

[Chaseisfdr]

It's totally a terrific podcast! haha

It's called The Morning Stream, here's a link, http://frogpants.com/tms/

I have wrote into them but haven't gotten a response yet. They might be too busy. I know for sure the main host, Scott Johnson, uses a Mac. But I also know he has a PC and a mixer. I just don't know to what extent he uses each piece of equipment.

My thing is, if I get a mixer, is there actually a way to hook it up to my onboard audio without actually having a sound card? Let me get a link to my motherboard so you can see the inputs I am working with....http://www.gigabyte.com/products/produc ... id=3908#ov

Thanks for all the help!

[steve]

On a side note, I downloaded a virtual mixer, and it allows me to record multiple channels at once. The only problem with it is, the fast track pro on records in one ear, and thats annoying.

Is that giving you a recording with the microphone in one ear and computer sounds in the other ear? If it is then you can easily get what you want - just split the stereo recording into 2 mono tracks and you have one track microphone and one track computer sounds.

[Chaseisfdr]

I'll check on that ASAP, Steve

Koz, when I go to download the kristal software, it gives me a URL not found when I actually click on the download....weird.

[Chaseisfdr]

Ok so the virtual mixer, called "Mixpad" can do what I want, sort of. I can simultaneously record both my computers sounds and my voice. The only problem is, I can't hear one or the other.
In order for my virtual mixer to record the Stereo Mix, my default plaback device (in windows) has to be set to "speakers" If I plug my headset into the speaker port, I can hear my computer just fine, but I cant hear myself because my mic is running through the Fast Track Pro....

But if I plug my headset into the Fast Track Pro, I can hear myself, but not the Stereo Mix, because it's set to speakers.

I see 2 solutions, I think

1. Get a USB mic and forget about the Fast Track pro completely...Still not sure if I'd be able to monitor my voice this way... maybe not
2. Find a way to hook up the Fast Track Pro to my computer in such a way that I can monitor the Stereo Mix THROUGH the Fast Track Pro. That way I can just have my headset plugged into the Fast Track Pro, and monitor my mic, as well as my Stereo Mix from that.
a) a note on this: I only have the Fast Track Pro hooked up through USB right now. There are plenty of ports on the back. I tried tacking a 1/4 to 1/8 cable, plugging the small end into my speaker port on my PC, and the large end into the ports on the back of my FTP, but it doesn't work. There are other outputs on the FTP,but they are all RCA shaped...my PC doesn't have anything RCA, because I don't have a soundcard. Maybe there is a cable that is RCA on one end and then 1/8 (I think its 1/8, whatever it is that plugs into the speaker port). I'm sure this cable exists, but would it allow me to hear whats in the Stereo Mix through my Fast Track Pro?

I feel like there are so many variables at play, its so difficult. It seriously makes my head hurt lol. This is harder than anything I did in college.

I guess I'll stop typing here....my brain is fried. Thanks for the tips everyone

[steve]

I'm wondering why you need to do the mixing live in real time from with sounds playing on the same computer.

I know its possible. The Podcast I listen to has multiple guests through skype, intro and outro music, a plethora of soundbytes throughout, plays whatever is on the guys computer, and his guests on skype can hear everything he can hear.

How do you know that? Do you know the guys that make that podcast? It sounds heavily edited to me, more like it has been assembled from multiple recordings.