Problem with tracks.

[rogalrogal]

Hello!

Recently I've been trying to record my guitar with audacity. First I record rhythm section in the first track, and then when I want to record lead guitar in the second track the sounds from the first one are recorded too. Can you give me a solution so that I can record second track independently? I want to hear the first section while I'm recording another, but I don't want it to be recorded. I hope my explanation makes sense and I wish you respond soon.

Thanks!

[kozikowski]

This happens when you set your computer to record Internet Audio or what's playing on your computer. Set the Windows Control Panels to record from Line-In, Mic-In or wherever your performance is coming from, not Stereo-Mix or Mix-Out.

Koz

[spur63]

Hello,
I tried changing all the settings to Line in/out and I still have the problem of my pre-recorded track being combined with my second track. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. Can you tell me where I go in windows XP to make the proper changes? Thanks Much!
Spur

[steve]

I tried changing all the settings to Line in/out and I still have the problem of my pre-recorded track being combined with my second track.

Did you change it in the Device Toolbar?
Are you using "Audacity 1.3.14 (Unicode)" (check the version in "Help > About Audacity")

[spur63]

Hello,
I'm using Audacity 1.3.14 BETA Unicode.
I have made the appropriate changes in the toolbar. In fact, I have the following options available and I've used them all to no effect:

Audio Host window: MME and Windows Direct Sound
Output Device window: Realtek HD Rear Audio Output and Microsoft Soundmapper Output

Input Device window: Microsoft Soundmapper Output, Line in/mic in: line volume, Line in/mic in: Microphone, Realtek HD Digital input.

Input channels: Mono.

I'm also using a virtual sound module with an extermal midi device through the front USB port, and a microphone through the rear mic input jack.

I appreciate your time; Audacity looks like a great program and I'd love to use it!
Spur63

[steve]

I'm also using a virtual sound module with an extermal midi device through the front USB port, and a microphone through the rear mic input jack.

You clearly don't have a simple set-up, so you'll need to tell us in detail what your set-up is.
What is this "virtual sound module"?
What are you trying to record?
What is plugged in where?
We need all of the details - too much detail is better than not enough.

[spur63]

Hello,
Actually my setup is rather simple. I don't have any pre-amps or mixers set up, everything is direct. My computer OS is Windows XP Home Edition version 2002 Service Pack 3. My computer is a Intel CPU 2140 @1.60GHz 1.99 GHz of RAM. The sound Module is Korg M1 Le (lite). I have a Korg USB Microkey keyboard plugged into the front USB port and a microphone plugged into the rear mic jack. I'm attempting to lay down several instrumental and vocal tracks, one at a time. I hope this helps. If not, please let me know.
Thank you!
spur63

[steve]

Down in the bottom right hand corner of the Desktop there should be a loudspeaker icon (the "Volume" icon).
Right click on it and select "Open Volume Control"
It should look something like this:



Click on "Options > Properties" and there will be a list of playback outputs.
At the top it should say something like:
"Mixer Device: Realtek HD"
What does it actually say?

This window cannot be resized so you may need to scroll to see the full list.
Some of the outputs will have ticks, but some may not be ticked.
Sorry about the hassle, but I need to see that list - what the options are and which have ticks. Could you either type up a list, or make some screenshots to show all of the list.

It gets worse...
Now select the "Adjust volume for: > Recording"
There will be a new list - this time it's the list of inputs. I need to see that full list as well (and see which are ticked and which ones not).

[spur63]

Hello,
Here’s what I’ve got for the “Properties” window:

Next to “Mixer Device” is a drop down window with “Realtek HD Audio rear output”

Below it says “Adjust volume for” and “Playback” is selected.

In the panel below are the following items:

Master Volume (ticked)
Wave (ticked)
SW Synth (ticked)
CD Player (ticked)
Front (ticked)
Rear (ticked)
Subwoofer (not)
Center (not)
Side (not)
DigitalOut (not)
Line Volume (ticked)
Front Green In (not)
Front Blue In (not)
Front Pink In (not)
Microphone (not)

If the drop down menu is changed to show “Line in/Mic in” “Record” is automatically selected and “Playback” is deselected. In the panel below are the following items:

Recording Control (ticked)
Line Volume (ticked)
Microphone (ticked)
Stereo Mix (not)

Lastly, if the drop down menu is changed to show “Realtek HD Digital input”, “Recording” stays selected and the only item is:

Digitalln (ticked)

Spur63

[steve]

If the drop down menu is changed to show “Line in/Mic in” “Record” is automatically selected and “Playback” is deselected. In the panel below are the following items:

Recording Control (ticked)
Line Volume (ticked)
Microphone (ticked)
Stereo Mix (not)

Tick the final option (Stereo Mix) as well as the other. This will make all of the recording inputs visible in the Windows Mixer.
Click the "OK" button to return to the "Recording Mixer".
Ensure that the "Line" volume control is enabled and turned up.
Ensure that all of the other options are not enabled. Sometimes it is necessary to select the one that you want to use, but sometimes you need to select all of the ones that you want to "mute" (not use), so look carefully at the controls to ensure that the "Line" option is enabled and the other options are not.

Open Audacity and set the "Host" to MME, and the Recording Input to "Microsoft Sound Mapper". This will tell Audacity to use the settings that you have just made in the Windows Mixer.