Caveman PC Recording Problem...

[the feebler elf]

I've got a problem that I'm unable to find a solution to. I've looked around, and even asked a few tech guys, but I can't find the information I'm looking for. I'm hoping somebody here more tech-oriented than myself can provide a little insight.

I'm starting to do a little simple PC recording again. By simple, I mean SIMPLE... I'm only recording bass tracks to aid in writing bass parts, so sound quality takes a distant back seat to convenience and cost (or lack thereof). As such, I've always ran directly into my soundcard, and used Audacity to record. On my old desktop, I was always able to listen to my signal as it was being recorded - I could plug in and play, almost like a low-powered practice amp. It was a run-of-the-mill Dell Dimension 3200 or 3500, and while I don't recall what soundcard was installed, it certainly wasn't anything fancy.

The laptop I'm now using doesn't seem to be capable of reproducing the signal like my old desktop did, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why. It receives the signal, and records just fine, but seems to be unable to "mirror" the audio signal and send it back out the headphone jack. The laptop is an old-ish HP tc4200.

I've gone through every soundcard/audio/etc. option or menu to no avail. I initially suspected a simple soundcard limitation, but my tech buddy has his doubts. I'd rather avoid an interface if at all possible, as I prefer the convenience of plugging directly into my laptop.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Hellbastard]

Are you using the Laptop Built-in Soundcard? What version audacity are you using?

 

[the feebler elf]

Are you using the Laptop Built-in Soundcard? What version audacity are you using?

Yes, I am using the stock integrated soundcard.

I'd have to check my laptop to be sure, but I believe I'm running 1.2.6 - I will double check this.

 

[Hellbastard]

Are you getting any sound out audacity at all? or is it just when you're recording that nothing comes out?
I've installed Audacity 1.3.12 but I guess this applies to your version too. When you go to preferences in the devices tab which device is set to recording and and which to playback? Check those settings and try to change the playback device.

 

[the feebler elf]

Are you getting any sound out audacity at all? or is it just when you're recording that nothing comes out?
I've installed Audacity 1.3.12 but I guess this applies to your version too. When you go to preferences in the devices tab which device is set to recording and and which to playback? Check those settings and try to change the playback device.

No problems with Audacity here - I can record with no problems, and I can listen to the tracks after I've recorded them, but I can't listen to myself as I'm recording...

Simply put, the only time I can hear my bass through my laptop is when I'm listening to the playback. I guess I should have written this in the first place.

Thanks for you replies, by the way.

 

[mcbosler]

I use the same setup as you were originally (straight into the integrated sound card of my ancient dell with audacity). Seems I remember updating audacity a couple months ago and having to dig through the settings to enable real time output of the input signal even though it was on in my previous installation. I don't have it in front of me (and you may have already looked), but it could just be a checkbox or drop down menu somewhere in the settings to toggle this option.

 

[the feebler elf]

I use the same setup as you were originally (straight into the integrated sound card of my ancient dell with audacity). Seems I remember updating audacity a couple months ago and having to dig through the settings to enable real time output of the input signal even though it was on in my previous installation. I don't have it in front of me (and you may have already looked), but it could just be a checkbox or drop down menu somewhere in the settings to toggle this option.

I actually haven't looked into any Audacity settings at all - On my old desktop, I could plug in and play with absolutely zero programs running. I would often use it as a practice amp with internet connectivity.

The fact that I can't hear my bass as I'm playing through it regardless of whether Audacity is running indicates (to my untrained self) that it's a PC/Soundcard setting/problem...

 

[Hellbastard]

Nope the problem is audacity. You have to enable Software Playthrough in the recording tab on the preferences. The problem I found is that there is a "LOT" of latency when monitoring like this. I don't use Audacity a lot so I don't know how to correct this latency problem.

 

[jazzblade]

Nope the problem is audacity. You have to enable Software Playthrough in the recording tab on the preferences. The problem I found is that there is a "LOT" of latency when monitoring like this. I don't use Audacity a lot so I don't know how to correct this latency problem.

++11

I know on my system I had to check Monitor input to get real time output when I recorded.

 

[Hellbastard]

Did you have any latency problems? If so, how did you solve them?

 

[the feebler elf]

I will definitely check the Audacity settings when I get home.

Curious though, I used to plug in and play through my desktop before I had even installed Audacity... I still can, as a matter of fact. It's no longer connected to the internet, no longer has Audacity installed and is used strictly for storage. I played along to "Freewill" not too long ago.

 

[jazzblade]

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/onlinehelp-1.2/prefs.htm

# Hardware Play-through (Mac Only) - plays the audio you are recording straight back out to your headphones or speakers so you can hear it. This option is done in harware, so it is fast and doesn't consume resources. However, it is only possibly if input and output are on the same sound device.
PC users can do the same thing in their volume control settings, turning up the relevant audio input.

# Software Play through - Does the same thing as hardware play through, but in software. This means that the audio you hear may be slightly delayed relative to the input, and activating this option will use some more system resources. However, it works on all systems, even if you are recording from one device and playing back through another.

Hmm so what they are saying is for you to use your sound card MIXER (lower right corner tab) to listen to the in coming sound or to use the software switch in the software that may give you latency issues.

 

[Charling]

Don't worry man I'm sure its just a settings thing rather than an actual problem.

By default the windows drivers used to (maybe still do, I've been mac for a while) send audio that goes IN straight OUT. So you can monitor the input after just plugging straight in.

If you open an audio program, it takes control of the audio driver and becomes 'in charge'. Normally if you want to 'monitor' your signal you check the box/press the button etc for monitoring and it turns on, this is the way all the top DAW's work. I'm sure audacity is similar, most have the button right there on the audio track, but maybe the option is in the 'preferences' menu or similar for audacity.

Does audio in come straight out on your new pc without audacity open? If so then its certainly an audacity setting, if not then its certainly an audio driver setting.

Being able to turn on/off monitoring is a very necessary part of creating varied audio setups, its just a case of learning where the option is for your specific gear!

 

[the feebler elf]

After some experimentation, I've confirmed that it's not Audacity related. I plugged into my desktop again - the one without Audacity installed - and the audio came right back out, which is what I really want to do with my laptop. The problem is, I have to use the "line in" on my desktop to produce the results I'm after, and my laptop only has a mic input.

After enabling playthrough on Audacity, I was able to hear the audio as I was recording (albeit with the horrendous latency mentioned earlier - virtually unusable, and the fix mentioned above did not work for me). But my goal here to is reproduce the results I have with my desktop - if at all possible.

So, is there any way to reproduce the "line in" results on my desktop with only a "mic input" on my laptop? Or am I simply limited by the hardware I have?

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

 

[Charling]

After some experimentation, I've confirmed that it's not Audacity related. I plugged into my desktop again - the one without Audacity installed - and the audio came right back out, which is what I really want to do with my laptop. The problem is, I have to use the "line in" on my desktop to produce the results I'm after, and my laptop only has a mic input.

After enabling playthrough on Audacity, I was able to hear the audio as I was recording (albeit with the horrendous latency mentioned earlier - virtually unusable, and the fix mentioned above did not work for me). But my goal here to is reproduce the results I have with my desktop - if at all possible.

So, is there any way to reproduce the "line in" results on my desktop with only a "mic input" on my laptop? Or am I simply limited by the hardware I have?

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

Yeah that should be no prob, the mic in and line ins are pretty much the same, only the mic in has more gain available (for mics!). On your desktop the line in must have 'monitor' on as default, and your laptop must have 'monitor' off as default on the mic in.

Check the soundcards control panel, leaving out audacity for now, and see if theres an easy-to-see option option for 'monitoring' or 'play through'.

The latency will probably be the with both audacity and the direct though approaches. The latency is set on the driver, and all audio programs on the computer will follow what it is set at. You'll need to adjust the buffer size either in audacity or on the soundcard control panel to get rid of it. If you can't get it low enough to play happily then there are other fixes but I won't mention them for now!

All of these are settings things rather than faults, so if you keep searching thorugh the options you should see something that works! It just happens that your desktop and your laptop have different settings as default!