Recording multiple sources at once

[erykk]

Is it possible to recorde multiple sources at once? Or no?

If it's not possible with audacity, is it possible with some kind of hardware configuration? Specifically for a mic and speakers. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[steve]

yes, perhaps, it depends on exactly what you are trying to do.

[erykk]

I'm trying to add commentary to a game. So I need to capture the sound coming from my PC, and also from my mic...at the same time. I'm not sure if it is possible with audacity, I have yet to find a way. I also haven't found a way to do it with splitters or anything. I'm not sure what I would need to do in order to capture both speakers and mic at the same time. Any help would be appreciated, thanks

[steve]

You will probably need to use headphones rather than speakers so as to avoid feedback, then set the Windows Mixer ( http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... bar_Issues ) to record "Stereo Mix" (May also be called "Mix" or "What U Hear"). The exact set-up depends on your sound-card drivers, but you need to be looking at the sound-card mixer. A few sound-cards do not allow you to do this, but most will.

Failing that, record the game first and add the commentary after. (it's probably easier this way)

[jan.kolar]

Steve, did you mean to pan mic to left channel and PC output to right channel (or vice versa) ?

[steve]

Steve, did you mean to pan mic to left channel and PC output to right channel (or vice versa) ?

No, I meant doing a "Live Mix", but that could be another possibility if the hardware and drivers support it.

[jan.kolar]

1. Oops, as of separate channels (my post above) it is impossible in Windows XP, since can only choose
one source in Windows Mixer (better: 'Chooser', if regards input).

2. For live mix I reccomend to route both mic and and the game-output (wave) to headphones (=pc-output)
and then record pc-output.

Note that pc-ouput is no more the same as game-output

3. back to point 1. --- it can be done the same way (just pan) if you dont mind hearing yourself from right.

[kozikowski]

No shortage of people wanting Audacity to do live, real-time production. You missed the step where you want to equalize as you record. Everybody wants that.

The very best you can do is a patch job of badly operating tools that no matter what you do, will fail to do something critical at the wrong time. Quick, make microphone two [email protected]#$%

The "real" way to do this is with an external mixer/desk managing the microphone amplification, mix, and pathways as well as independent monitoring. Then you push the final mix off to the Line-In of a normal computer or USB adapter. The computer becomes the "tape machine" recording the show and not much more.

Much better that way.

It doesn't have to be very expensive or complicated , either. USB sound adapters can be gotten with microphone and line level inputs. Several people offer "podcasting" packages with all this stuff built into one package.

Koz

[steve]

Oops, as of separate channels (my post above) it is impossible in Windows XP,

Not so. SBLive with KxProject drivers you can route anything to anywhere (my old XP set-up). Even the regular SB drivers are quite flexible.

You missed the step where you want to equalize as you record.

Oh how I love the KxDrivers - you can do that too - just route the input signals through the DSP.... nearly forgot - the KxDrivers are not very user friendly.

The "real" way to do this is with an external mixer/desk

Yep
But I got the impression that this was a "one-off" and more a bit of fun than an exercise in recording technology.

Personally I'd still go for putting the commentary on after the game, but it all depends on what erykk is wanting to do. (lots of ways to achieve similar results).