noise when recording

[Hard2Hear]

It this normal for n-track?
When I am recording while listening to existing tracks, there is a lot of noise coming from my monitors. It is almost as loud as the sound on the tracks themselves. When I have finished recording and play it back, the noise is gone. Is this a normal thing for n-track, or am I missing a setting?
PS, I know its not the PC but its PIII 733 w 256m ram thru a Soundblaster (until I pick my delta66 up at 6:00)
Thanks!

[bvaleria]

I don't use PC recording myself, but neverless I'm 99% sure the SoundBlaster is the culprit - it doesn't really qualify as a piece of recording gear... unless you're doing backgrounds for video games!!!



Bruce Valeriani
Blue Bear Sound

[Hard2Hear]

It seems like a lot of people use them for recording. My problem will be fixed in an hour when I go and get the new card. But I am wondering if everyone who works with PC soundcards has to deal with this.

[twist]

Hard2hear,

I believe the problem is because the SB sound card is not capable of playing back at full resolution while you are recording. It's not really full duplex. Maybe you could call it "quasi full duplex". If that is what's causing your problem, the only way around it is to replace the sound card with a true full duplex (read more expensive)card.

Twist

[Slackmaster2K]

Yep, if your soundcard is an SB16, Awe32, or an Awe 64, then the card is not truely full duplex. The card can do only do 8 bit output while recording at 16bit.

The only solution is to purchase a new card. All the people you refer to as using "regular" soundblasters are typically using something from the PCI series (e.g. the PCI128). I used a PCI128 for a while to replace my SB16, which acted exactly like you're describing....but it burned out on me and now I use a Creative/Ensoniq AudioPCI which is a comparable card.

Either of these cards can be had for $30 or less. They provide half ways decent recording with an extremely low noise floor (around -75db). For a bit more cash you can jump up to a Live! card too, which might be worth looking into depending on your needs.

Slackmaster 2000

[Hard2Hear]

Got a Delta44 for now. The noise is gone. Thanks for the advice...again!