Need help with Behringer UCA200 and Audacity

[rhythmandblues87]

I just downloaded 1.3.6. Looks and works great, besides the problem I'm about to address.

I have a Behringer 1222FX 12-channel mixer. It's connected via RCA to the UCA200 USB soundcard that came with it. I was quite excited about using this. I even got it to work twice.

However, it suddenly stopped working. All of the sudden, the monitor/headphone volume was extremely low, and had a steady bit of white noise in the background. I muted all of the channels I was not using on the mixer itself, and turned off all of it's onboard effects and the EQ it has.

I'm quite sure I've got the UCA200 selected properly in Audacity; it is selected as the playback and the recording device in Preferences/Audio/I/O. (However, I am not sure whether to choose the MMA version of each or the Windows DirectSound version.)

I have a RealTek AC97 soundcard; came stock with the PC. I run Windows XP and I've got plenty of memory. This is extremely frustrating for me; just a day ago I was up and running, ready to record an album of my work in my bedroom. And now, I can hear all of the prerecorded tracks that I have in Audacity through the mixer and the UCA200...but I cannot record anything new. I can hear sound through all of the mics. But Audacity isn't picking up anything...

I'd really appreciate any advice or tips you guys could offer. I'm new to home recording, but my enthusiasm ensures I'm going to see this problem out to the end!

Thanks.

[rhythmandblues87]

UPDATE: I just reversed the RCA cables from the UCA200 to the 1222FX mixer; now I can "see" the audio coming into Audacity, but everything is MUCH quieter. I cannot hear the new track, and the previous tracks are extremely low. Like from a car radio two streets over (laughs).

All of Windows' volume levels are as high as they go. And Audacity's are too...as are the Mixer's. There has to be something I'm overlooking - but once the volume issue is resolved, I should be back to normal. Any advice?

[kozikowski]

<<<UCA200 USB>>>
<<<the monitor/headphone volume was extremely low, and had a steady bit of white noise in the background.>>>

This screams USB connection failure. Change the cable and plug it into a different connection in the computer.

Koz

[rhythmandblues87]

<<<UCA200 USB>>>
<<<the monitor/headphone volume was extremely low, and had a steady bit of white noise in the background.>>>

This screams USB connection failure. Change the cable and plug it into a different connection in the computer.

Koz

The USB cable is part of the UCA200 unit. Are you suggesting I purchase a new unit?

[kozikowski]

<<<Are you suggesting I purchase a new unit?>>>

Not yet.

<<<All of the sudden, the monitor/headphone volume was extremely low, and had a steady bit of white noise in the background. >>>

Where are the headphones plugged in? If it's the computer, then the 200 may be in trouble. Does everything sound OK if you plug the headphones into the mixer?

Try plugging the 200 in to a different USB connection (even my older computers have three). Restart the computer. This device makes a digital bitstream from the audio that's plugged into it, but it does it based on the battery voltage it gets from the computer. The sound data is rough to break, but if there's any dirt or anything wrong with the USB connection, the battery supply from the computer goes in the toilet and takes the sound with it. Does this device have the option of powering it from a wall power supply instead of the computer battery?

Koz

[rhythmandblues87]

The headphones are plugged into the "Phons/Ctrl" jack on the Mixer. And the UCA200 does not have a power supply independent of what it derives from the PC. My PC has two USB jacks. I've tried both of them with no success.

[stearman65]

Go into "control panel" "audio" make sure your Behringer is being rcognised, if it isn't there keep watching remove USB connection then plug it back in, check the drop down arrow & see if it is shown. If it is click it then apply.
Stearman65

[steve]

Windows should recognise the UCA device when it is plugged into a USB socket - it should show up in the "Safely disconnect hardware" dialogue.

[kozikowski]

<<<The headphones are plugged into the "Phons/Ctrl" jack on the Mixer.>>>

Wait, you're getting low level and noise when you play music at the mixer? So it doesn't matter if your computer is on or not?

I though I understood the signal pathway...

Koz