Flat Line with Terratec DMX 6fire USB - pls help!

[waxcylinder]

I thought that Audacity could only work with 16-bit devices

On Windows operating systems.

(The 2.0.4 version of Audacity will support WASAPI as the host system which I think does support 24 bit)

I believe that to be the case - but reports indicate that WASAPI in Audacity can be a bit flaky

WC

[ballerina.toast]

Hi all, thanks for the replies,

@ Steve - yes, I am sure you are right about the 'numbers' and I will definitely do some experimentation at different resolutions when I have everything working, and when I feel more confident w/ enhancing etc

@ Koz - what a dummy I am! Yes the device is multi channel, and the 'phono' input is 3/4, so I have tried recording on channels 1-4 and lo and behold I have sound on 3/4, and flat line on 1/2!! So is this how I would record, on 1-4 and then delete 1/2 afterwards?

@ Waxcylinder - I am a 'she' And wow - I am confused now. I thought I had read on many (internet) places of ppl using 24-bit soundcards w/ Audacity, in fact, I think this is where I got the idea from.
So is this not the case?
Or do you have to tailor the program yourself to do this, to make them 'work together'? Is this some kind of plug-in that's easily installed or is it something quite tech-y, because if so, it is definitely beyond me!
Or is it not a problem as I am on a Mac?
Sorry what is WASAPI?

So I have managed to get the sound in to Audacity now, but now my problem is a massive background buzz, almost as loud as the music! Didn't have this buzz with the USB turntable & Audacity.....could this be a 24bit soundcard compatibility issue?
The soundcard has a phono earth / ground 'knob' so I don't think it's that. As a test I did a short recording into GarageBand on same machine with same equipment and no buzz? So I think the buzz is something to do with Audacity.

Sorry for all the (what i'm sure are) inane questions,
Many Thanks,

[steve]

so I have tried recording on channels 1-4 and lo and behold I have sound on 3/4, and flat line on 1/2!! So is this how I would record, on 1-4 and then delete 1/2 afterwards?

Assuming that there is no way on the DMX 6fire to configure which channels the phono inputs connect to, then yes I think that you will need to do it like that.
Unfortunately Audacity does not currently have "channel mapping" so there is no way in Audacity to assign which channels the inputs connect to.
Perhaps there is some way in the Mac Sounds set-up to configure the channels? (I'm not a Mac user).

I thought I had read on many (internet) places of ppl using 24-bit soundcards w/ Audacity

Audacity will work with 24 bit sound cards, but up until the (yet to be released) alpha version, on Windows the recording was limited to 16 bit, so even if you set it up to record 24 bit it would actually record in 16 bit. 24 bit recording should work correctly on Linux and Mac.

Sorry what is WASAPI?

It's the latest sound system on Windows computers. Sound on Vista was a bit of a mess but since then Microsoft has introduced a new sound system called WASAPI (Windows Audio Session API).

now my problem is a massive background buzz

Does the Terratec have a "ground" connection? If so, you should connect the ground connection on your turntable to the ground connection on the Terratec (with a piece of wire).
Answer: Yes it does - middle / bottom at the back of the device:

[ballerina.toast]

Ah, ok I will keep testing with the 4 channels. Didn't want to do loads of recordings like that if it was a long way round!

Thanks for other explanations!

Re. The earth cable - yes I am screwed in to the earth 'knob' on the back of the Terratec which is why I don't understand the buzzing. And like I said, it's only happening in Audacity, as the buzz wasn't present in a test recording I did into Garageband with the same set up.... So really confused as to what the buzz is?

Thanks,

[Gale Andrews]

I thought that Audacity could only work with 16-bit devices

On Windows operating systems.

(The 2.0.4 version of Audacity will support WASAPI as the host system which I think does support 24 bit)

I believe that to be the case - but reports indicate that WASAPI in Audacity can be a bit flaky

I'm not at all convinced that WASAPI (except possibly loopback recording of computer playback) is ready for release. If it was my call, I'd say no, without "beta" type warnings attached to it.


Gale

[Gale Andrews]

Sorry what is WASAPI?

It's the latest sound system on Windows computers. Sound on Vista was a bit of a mess but since then Microsoft has introduced a new sound system called WASAPI (Windows Audio Session API).

FWIW, WASAPI was introduced with Vista ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_ ... dows_Vista ) and as regards Windows audio features that Audacity supports, little has changed in Windows audio architecture since then.


Gale

[Gale Andrews]

I am screwed in to the earth 'knob' on the back of the Terratec which is why I don't understand the buzzing. And like I said, it's only happening in Audacity, as the buzz wasn't present in a test recording I did into Garageband with the same set up.... So really confused as to what the buzz is?

Have you got Transport > Software Playthrough or Transport > Hardware Playthrough (which almost never works) enabled in Audacity?


Gale

[ballerina.toast]

Hi gale,

That's a thought -I'm not sure. I am out and about for a couple of days, but I will definitely check that when I am back - thanks!