checking levels of audio

[IbanezLove]

When I get everything up and running in my cakewalk 9, and lexicon sound card, i can check the level of my instrument or vocal by watching the db meter, but i cant hear it then, or during my performance...during my recording i can hear all the other instruments fine by adjusting the volumes, but i cant hear myself at all. how can i fix that??

[dachay2tnr]

Check to make sure you have simultaneous record/playback enabled in Cakewalk. (Options -> Audio -> Advanced).

If you do, make sure your sound card is capable of, and has been enabled for Full Duplex operation.

[IbanezLove]

ya its a full duplex and everything, i just wish i could hear exactly what was goin into the track before i actually start recording. I can hear all the other tracks play back while i record..i just cant hear the track being recorded at the time its rolling.

[dachay2tnr]

I suspect it is a setting that you need to change in the mixer for your Sound Card. I have a Delta 1010 Card - so please be aware that the following information could be somewhat different for your card.

The Delta 1010 was supplied with a software mixer. Within the software mixer is a tab for Patchbay settings. In the Patchbay settings I can set Outputs for each of the 8 output connections that I have. The primary choices are Wave Out or Hardware Out. Generally for playback I leave everything set to "Wave Out". However, when recording, this setting does not allow me to hear the new track being recorded. I need to change the setting for the Input Channel that contains the live source to "Hardware Out".

For example, if I have a project with 5 previously recorded tracks, I will set Cakewalk so that those Tracks all feed to Wave 3/4 Out (it could also be set to 5/6 Out or 7/8 Out - anything but 1/2 out). I then go into my Delta Mixer and set everything except Channels 1/2 to the corresponding Wave Out setting. I then set Channels 1/2 to "Hardware 1/2 Out". As soon as I change that setting I can immediately hear the live mic over the headphones (even before I start recording) Btw, my mic is plugged into Channel 1 input, which is why I use Hardware 1/2 Out.

I'm not sure I explained all this very well , but the bottom line is you should check the settings within the Software Mixer that controls your Soundcard.

Also you should be aware that the faders within the Cakewalk program only control the playback level. They do not control the record levels. If you are coming into your soundcard from a hardware mixer, use the hardware mixer fader to control the recording volume (it will also, therefore, control the volume that you hear in your headphones for the live signal).

Good luck.

[Paul881]

Hi there.

Another thing you should check out is the status of the microsoft mixer. In the bottom right hand corner of your screen there should be a yellow speaker icon. Right click >open volume controls. The Volume controls display opens. You should see a module called "Microphone" and "line in". Depending on which of the two inputs you are using, make sure that both of them have the "mute" box unchecked. If they are checked, you will get exactly the situation that you describe. i.e. you will see the sound level meters fall and rise but you will not hear anything until you commence recording.

Hope this helps.

Paul

[Paul881]

Sorry, I just re-read your problem and would add that make sure also that the recording properties for your input are not de-selected. Yellow speaker icon, right click, open volume control, click properties, check "adjust recording for "recording" and make sure the appropriate volume controls are in the highest position and your input is selected for recording.