Recording a synth question

[Gale Andrews]

Well, I don't have the control panel in my tray, though I also don't have the normal volume control (I've tried getting it back to no avail). I think my system might be a bit screwy.

Anyway I did a search for SoundMAX and found a folder under Program Files/Analog Devices/SoundMAX. There were a couple exe's, like "DevSetup" but neither did anything. The readme mentioned needing a QFE or something from Microsoft to install drivers.

Any idea where I could find the control panel?

QFE I assume means a "hotfix". I would suggest clicking Windows Start and finding the Windows Control Panel. Sound card control panels are almost always in the WIndows Control Panel. Also click "Start" > "All Programs", right-click any item > "Sort by name" (or similar) and look there.

"Error opening sound device" often means a sample rate problem. Try 44100 Hz or 48000 Hz in "Project Rate" bottom left of the Audacity window.

If none of that helps, do what Steve suggested and reinstall the SoundMax device. If you have a drivers CD for the computer, use that. Otherwise go to the computer manufacturer's web site (for a branded PC) or to the motherboard manufacturer's web site (for a custom made PC). If going to the motherboard maker's site, look for SoundMax drivers for your particular motherboard model, using the motherboard details found by CPU-Z.

You can possibly short-circuit the driver installation by updating the SoundMax drivers in Windows Device Manager, but if all it finds are drivers made by Microsoft, they probably won't help.

For more help with drivers, see http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Updat ... ce_Drivers .

Virtual Audio Cable does let me record into Audacity, however there are two catches. 1) It costs $30 and if you don't pay, a lady says "trial" over all your audio every five seconds. Really? $30 for that? It seems like a simple program. 2) There's a delay when I make a sound.

Did Virtual Audio Cable (VAC) work with Minihost then?

VAC is quite handy as a way (amongst other things) of recording computer playback without the usual digital > audio > digital conversion losses of stereo mix, but you can get cheaper recording programs that record computer playback to a file using a lossless virtual driver (such as Total Recorder).

You could use JACK on Linux to route audio between plug-in hosts and Audacity (most things on Linux are free, if with sometimes steep learning curves). There is an experimental JACK for Windows, but I would not recommend it.

VAC will (or should) let you play a track in Audacity and record your synthing elsewhere into Audacity. What exactly were you doing with VAC and Audacity, and where is the delay occurring? It is always expected with computer recording that recordings will be laid down after you sing into the microphone or play the note in your synth. Although that's annoying when recording against Audacity playback, as long as the delay is constant you can always fix it with Time Shift Tool (F5) by dragging the recorded track back leftwards (plus you can specify a latency correction in the Recording Preferences to correct it automatically).


Gale

[Gibush]

I think I have a solution. I'm using the first thing that came up when I googled "Vst Host" which is http://www.hermannseib.com. I'm using the host there along with something they made specifically for recording into an editor like Audacity. So far it's working pretty well and with no or very little delay.

Only remaining problem is what you mentioned which is that I guess when I record over it, it re records what is playing back.

[Gale Andrews]

I have never tried VSTHost - was it the "Legree" VST slave program you added? Is there any virtual output from VSTHost that VAC can see or does that reintroduce delay?





Gale

[Gibush]

I'm just using VSTHost and Legree, without VAC, I think... because I didn't buy it. Otherwise I'd be hearing "trial!".

[Gale Andrews]

You may have to purchase "something" if you want to record the synth over playback of the drum track without recording the drum track. If recording over the drum track is important to you, it may be worth listening to "trial" a few times to see if VAC can work for you with VSTHost. Alternatively, Reaper is fully functional for at least 30 days.



Gale

[Gibush]

I tried Reaper, and actually it isn't limited. It's on the honour system, so you CAN keep using it. However, I wasn't ready to commit to buying it after 30 days, so I uninstalled it rather than keep using it without paying.

Thanks for all the advice. I learned a little about making music on computers, which is something I'm very new to.