Recording in one channel

[jaypat]

I'm only getting the left channel when I'm recording. Is there a way I can switch to a "mono" level so I can get both channels?

[Irish]

You will need to give us more than that.

What are you trying to record, and what equipment are you using to do it?
What computer?
What operating system?
What sound card?
Which version of Audacity? (This part of the forum is for problems with downloading and installing version 1.3.x)

PO'L

[Gale Andrews]

I'm only getting the left channel when I'm recording. Is there a way I can switch to a "mono" level so I can get both channels?

If you want to record two different channels from a stereo input, set Audacity to record 2 channels on the Devices tab of Preferences (assuming you are using Audacity 1.3.9). If you want those channels to be mono, use "Split Stereo to Mono" by clicking the downward-pointing arrow in the track name.

If you have a stereo source and the preferences are set to record in mono, what happens depends on the sound card - you may get either just the left channel, or a mono mix of both.


Gale

[Motorpsycho]

Hi, same problem. As a workaround splitting the channel might be ok, but normally one should be able to select if Audacity records "stereo", "mono (left channel)" or "mono (right channel)" if one has a stereo input. The manual splitting has to be done over and over again for every recording. This is no ideal solution.

[steve]

Hi, same problem. As a workaround splitting the channel might be ok, but normally one should be able to select if Audacity records "stereo", "mono (left channel)" or "mono (right channel)" if one has a stereo input. The manual splitting has to be done over and over again for every recording. This is no ideal solution.

Usually, if you are recording a mono source you would record in mono - "Edit > Preferences > Devices > Channels: 1(mono)"
If you are recording a stereo source, you would normally want both channels.

[Motorpsycho]

No, that´s not what i usually want. I use for example a M-Audio Firewire 410 Audio interface which has two mic inputs which are on the software side the left and right channels of a single stereo interface called "Line 1/2". I don´t think that this constellation is somewhat exotic.

[steve]

I don´t think that this constellation is somewhat exotic.

No, I don't think its particularly exotic either.

If you want to record 1 mono track - set Audacity for 1 channel (mono) and just use input 1 on the sound card. Providing that the drivers support this, you should then get just the mono channel that you are using.

If you are recording in stereo, set Audacity to 2 channels (stereo) and use both channels 1 and 2 on the sound card.

If you are recording 2 mono channels at the same time, (for example, channel 1 = vocal, channel 2 = guitar), set Audacity to record 2 channels (stereo) and then select "split to mono" from the track drop down menu. (Before I submitted a patch to give "Split to mono" you would have needed to split the track, then set each track individually to mono, so it is a lot quicker and easier now than it was in Audacity 1.2).

Do I take it that you are proposing a "feature request" to be able to configure mapping inputs to tracks?

[Motorpsycho]

Providing that the drivers support this, you should then get just the mono channel that you are using.

But the driver doesn´t. I simply want to record a mono track from the left or right channel of a stereo interface. Now i can go and blame M-Audio for not being able to define wether i want to have the two line inputs presented as a stereo interface or two mono interfaces within the soundcard´s driver, but i think it should be an essential feature of a recording software to be able to record only the left or right channel of a stereo interface to a mono track.

[Motorpsycho]

Audacity simply should have a drop down box for the channel selection in the preferences where the recording device can be selected, where, in case a stereo device is selected, not only "mono" or "stereo" can be selected but "stereo", "mono (left)", "mono (right)" and maybe also "mono (mix)" are selectable options. Right now, the "mono" option even has an unpredictable behaviour, as it depends on the driver if one records the left channel or a mix. Well, that´s just a suggestion for a fine piece of software that comes for free.

[steve]

Right now, the "mono" option even has an unpredictable behaviour, as it depends on the driver

And therein lies the problem - there is simply no way that Audacity can provide support to directly interface with the audio hardware for hundreds of different sound cards on multiple operating systems - it has to use the sound card driver and record whatever that driver dishes up.

Now I guess that it may be possible for Audacity to map input streams to specific tracks, which would then provide the functionality that you are asking for. There is already a feature request that, if implemented, would do the job (plus more). http://wiki.audacityteam.org/index.php? ... ice_issues
I can add your vote to that feature request if you want.