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Post subject: Recording Issues
Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:34 pm
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Hey all,

I've got a small problem I'm hoping someone can help me with. I'm trying to record two channels from my mixer, guitar and mic, to audacity. I am trying to separate the two channels to record to two separate tracks. Here is the issue I have:

I bought a Y cable to go from L and R speaker outputs to my computer. One side of the cable says "RING" on it, the other says "TIP". The one which says "RING" records perfectly from any speaker output I plug it into, but if i plug the other "TIP" side of the cable in, or even touch it, it creates some pretty horrible sounding static.

So my question is, did I get the wrong cable or is it faulty? And if I did get the wrong cable, what exactly will I need?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm tired of making trips to the music store to exchange cables :lol:

-Jake :P

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Post subject: Re: Recording Issues
Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:45 pm
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j_rockr91 wrote:
Hey all,

I've got a small problem I'm hoping someone can help me with. I'm trying to record two channels from my mixer, guitar and mic, to audacity. I am trying to separate the two channels to record to two separate tracks. Here is the issue I have:

I bought a Y cable to go from L and R speaker outputs to my computer. One side of the cable says "RING" on it, the other says "TIP". The one which says "RING" records perfectly from any speaker output I plug it into, but if i plug the other "TIP" side of the cable in, or even touch it, it creates some pretty horrible sounding static.

So my question is, did I get the wrong cable or is it faulty? And if I did get the wrong cable, what exactly will I need?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm tired of making trips to the music store to exchange cables :lol:

-Jake :P


Tip is usually (but not always) "left" and ring is "right" if carrying a stereo signal. What version of Audacity are you running?
You might want to search their forum as there are alternate ways to split tracks without a y-cable.

http://forum.audacityteam.org/

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Post subject: Re: Recording Issues
Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:57 pm
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It could be shorted If you have a meter check continuity, tip should be metered to the left side pin Ring should be metered to the Right side pin and the Sheild should share the common ground between both left and right the outside part of the connector

Noise = short in most cases
mud


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Post subject: Re: Recording Issues
Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 4:04 pm
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While that is helpful Mike, I've tried plugging both cables into both the left and right outputs, in different combinations, and the ring cable still makes that horrible sound.

Mud, I have no way of checking the cable, but I can exchange it for another, and if it still doesnt work I'll know it's another problem.

-Jake :P

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Post subject: Re: Recording Issues
Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 5:06 pm
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When you go into the sound preferences (under edit) does
it recognize your input device?

Image

If it had, but now doesn't, get a new cable.

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Post subject: Re: Recording Issues
Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 5:34 pm
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+1 on the exchange of cable


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Post subject: Re: Recording Issues
Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 7:06 pm
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It doesn't recognize the input as I am using an older Crate mixer, plugging into the mic input on the computer. I have the input device set to "Primary Sound Capture" - Stereo.

As a side note, could you give me any insight as to how I could record two tracks simultaneously by panning one channel, say vocals for example, to the left and guitar to the right? Before I got the Y cable, I tried using a simple 1/4 to 1/8 cable. I plugged it into several outputs in the head, including the headphone out as well as several L and R speaker outputs. Audacity recorded everything on both tracks, whether everything was panned all the way left or all the way right.

Is there any way I could make each stereo track record L and R individually?

-Jake :P

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Post subject: Re: Recording Issues
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 6:52 am
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j_rockr91 wrote:
It doesn't recognize the input as I am using an older Crate mixer, plugging into the mic input on the computer. I have the input device set to "Primary Sound Capture" - Stereo.

As a side note, could you give me any insight as to how I could record two tracks simultaneously by panning one channel, say vocals for example, to the left and guitar to the right? Before I got the Y cable, I tried using a simple 1/4 to 1/8 cable. I plugged it into several outputs in the head, including the headphone out as well as several L and R speaker outputs. Audacity recorded everything on both tracks, whether everything was panned all the way left or all the way right.

Is there any way I could make each stereo track record L and R individually?

-Jake :P


Several ways - again, checkout the Audacity forums. When I was using that software I'd just create a new track and set the panning as in below:

Image

Image

Good luck!

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Post subject: Re: Recording Issues
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:42 am
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Well, I think I have it figured out. I exchanged the cable and the new one seems to work a bit better. However, after some tinkering, I don't think the first one was faulty as it turns out :lol:

As for Audacity, Mike, I did some more googling, and I think the issue is with trying to record through the microphone input in my computer. The input turns out to be only mono (which could also explain the issue with the cable?) and I need to find some sort of audio interface that has a single stereo 3.5mm input and a usb out. Tried finding one online, though I can't seem to find one that isn't RCA in/out.

I'll do some more digging, but thanks for the help guys. Once I eventually get a good recording I'll be sure to post. Until then, I'll just have to settle for recording vocals and guitar mixed. The head is still better than a single recording mic in any case.

-Jake :P

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Post subject: Re: Recording Issues
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 1:14 pm
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[quote="j_rockr91

think the issue is with trying to record through the microphone input in my computer. The input turns out to be only mono (which could also explain the issue with the cable?) and I need to find some sort of audio interface that has a single stereo 3.5mm input and a usb out. Tried finding one online, though I can't seem to find one that isn't RCA in/out.

:P[/quote]

What kind of computer do you have? (Mic input not a line input ) can you change the input internally to be line in. The mic input most likely uses balanced Tip, Ring, Sleeve.
Try going to your Audio Setting in the control panel and make sure your balance is in the middle In the Audio Properties you may have a check box for Line in, Microphone, internal mic check the line in
mud


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Post subject: Re: Recording Issues
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 1:27 pm
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The stock integrated sound cards in almost all computers are fair at playback and terrible at inputting. The inputs are generally capable of a Skype chat and little else. Solutions will depend on what type of computer it is and the operating system. If a desktop I'd check into a dedicated internal soundcard. If a laptop the USB external soundcards are a good solution and can be moved easily from machine to machine. Either way it will make a huge difference. Be sure the card whether internal or external is compatible to your operating system. Many soundcard drivers don't play well with windows 7 and 8 or Mac.

USB recording interfaces like the Focusrite Scarlett are essentially external soundcards with built in mic preamps and can be a very convenient solution eliminating the need for the mixer. Also USB mixers are out there and they are another option.


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Post subject: Re: Recording Issues
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 6:44 pm
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mud wrote:
What kind of computer do you have? (Mic input not a line input ) can you change the input internally to be line in. The mic input most likely uses balanced Tip, Ring, Sleeve.
Try going to your Audio Setting in the control panel and make sure your balance is in the middle In the Audio Properties you may have a check box for Line in, Microphone, internal mic check the line in
mud


My computer is an Asus G51J, running Win7. After messing with the audio settings, I opened Audacity and touched each end of the Y cable. Lo and behold, the input level meter showed each side individually. I immediately ran my computer downstairs and tried it with the mixer. When I got it to work, it still detected both L and R at once rather than individually, and when I unplugged the cable to check with my finger again, the program didn't show anything at all :?

I don't think there's anything that I changed settings-wise. I'm getting closer and closer to getting this setup to work, so I thank you again for your help guys.

-Jake :P

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Post subject: Re: Recording Issues
Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:03 am
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Another thing you can try is updating to the latest
version of Audacity, if you haven't already.
Many bug fixes in this version:

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/

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Post subject: Re: Recording Issues
Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:47 am
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Miami Mike wrote:
Another thing you can try is updating to the latest
version of Audacity, if you haven't already.
Many bug fixes in this version:

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/


Yes Mike I actually updated to the latest version last night when I realized I was still running Beta :lol: The problem persists however.

-Jake :P

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