Balance problem in ProAudio9

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sydney
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Sydney

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Hello all,

This may be a pretty basic question, but I'm still pretty new to Cakewalk...

I'm recording audio from my KORG synthesizer (one of the line outs) into the Line In 2 (Live Drive Soundblaster Platinum), and when I listen to the recording on my headphones, I can only hear it in one ear. I've had my ears checked so it's not that...

Additionally, when I watch the levels as the track is recording (in the console view), I can see that's its only registering sound for half or one side of what it should be. I tried hooking up TWO line outs from my synthesizer, connecting them with a Y adapter, and then connected into Line In 2 (I'm not sure if the Y adapter itself is stereo...not sure if that matters...)

Also, as a final piece of information, I have been setting track in cakewalk to stereo line in.

So I'm having a hard time figuring out what I'm doing wrong or what I'm missing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

- Sydney
 
You need to find out if the line out on your synth is stereo (I'm not familiar with it but it should be). The line in on your SB card is most definitely stereo, so you will need a TRS aka stereo cord from the synth to the card. You can tell a TRS from a TS by the two black rings (TRS) instead of just one (TS). If the synth uses dual mono line outs (L/R), you'll need a dual TS to single mini stereo Y cable. You should be able to record it as either one stereo track or two mono tracks, it shouldn't matter. Good luck.
 
gnar;ed gave you great advice. :)

Now, you must problem solve.

Are the OUTPUTS on your synthesizer working properly?

Are the PATCHCORDS connecting the 2 units working properly?

Is your adapter STEREO?

Is your adapter working properly?

It's probably the cables or the adapter.

good luck :)

spin
 
Thanks for the great info!

Yep, it looks like the cord I'm using only has one black ring, so I guess that must be the problem. The adapters are stereo. Thanks for the other info as well - that'll help in case I have any other problems.

-Sydney
 
Yeah, it probably is the adapter. :)

But, one other problem it COULD have been was the BALANCE CONTROL in your WINDOW MIXER.

Check out the Cakewalk link that AlChuck has posted.

I have to find it first, then I'll post you right back.

spin
 
This should explain what I'm talking abouy.

Sorry...

This should explain what I'm talking ABOUT .

I had a few too many drinks at the club tonight. :rolleyes:

:D nips :D
 
Hey Spinsterwun - thanks for that link to the info on Windows Mixer - I should've read that to begin with. It looks like my balance control in the windows mixer is set OK.

I was also reading that post by downinfront, which is exactly the same problem that I'm having. AlChuck mentioned something about recording two mono tracks rather than one stereo track so that you have more control making panning adjustments. That sounds like a good idea...

What's the best way to record two mono tracks? Record one, and the copy and paste that to a 2nd track, then set one track in Cakewalk to left and the other to right? Or am I on the wrong track entirely?

One thing I realized is that my synthesizer has two outputs, L & R (duhhh). Does mean that I'm going to have to make two mono recordings, one from the L output of my synthesizer, and then one from the right?

If you have a chance, let me know if you have any thoughts.

Thanks,
- Sydney
 
What's the best way to record two mono tracks? Record one, and the copy and paste that to a 2nd track, then set one track in Cakewalk to left and the other to right? Or am I on the wrong track entirely?
Click to expand...
That would just be making two copies of the same track.

One thing I realized is that my synthesizer has two outputs, L & R (duhhh). Does mean that I'm going to have to make two mono recordings, one from the L output of my synthesizer, and then one from the right?
Click to expand...

You can record two mono tracks, just as you said, assuming that L & R from your synth are patched to the L & R line Ins on your soundcard. If you are happy with the stereo sound coming out of the synth and just want to record it as is, that would work fine; so would recording one stereo track.

However, you might also wish to have the synth as a single mono element that you then position in the mix by panning it where you want. This gives you an easier time in mixing (panning a stereo track is a little harder to deal with because you're panning something that already consists of two parts that have been panned somewhat relative to each other.)

I hope that makes sense.
 
Thanks AlChuck for the info. I recorded from my keyboard and set the source in cakewalk to "Left SB Live! Wave In", and could hear music in both headphones. So I could pan this right? Is this what you mean by having the synth as a single mono element that you then position in the mix by panning it where you want?

I'm still very confused. When I tried to record from the source "Right SB Live! Wave In" I get no sound at all. And then recording from the source "Stereo SB Live! Wave In" I only hear music in the left headphone. Man, I just don't get it.

Nevertheless, the "Left SB Live! Wave In" option seems to be working for me pretty good.
 
Sydney - If you are only getting sound in the left channel, this means you are not getting a stereo signal into your soundcard.

As gnarled and spinster told you, this is the result of your cabling.

What you need is a Y cable. The two arms of the Y should be mono connections which get connected to the L and R out from you synthesizer, and the base of the Y needs to be stereo and goes to your soundcard. You may also need some adapters to make everything fit. You can get all of this from Radio Shack.

First you need to size up all the connections. The L/R jacks of your synthesizer are probably 1/4" connections, or RCA (phono) connections, while the jack on your soundcard is probably 1/8". So ultimately you need a Y that has two 1/4" mono plugs (or two RCA connections) going to a single 1/8" stereo plug.

Sometimes you will only find a Y cable that has, for example, all 1/4" connections. If so, you need a cable that has two 1/4" mono to one 1/4" stereo. From there you will also need a 1/4" to 1/8" stereo adapter to make it fit to your soundcard.

Right now, since you are only connecting to the left port from your synthesizer you are only getting a mono signal, and what you describe - stereo in one ear only or nothing from the right mono - is exactly correct.

Stereo needs two sources - one left and one right. Make sense?
 
dachay2thnr, you "broke it down" perfectly for Sydney. :)

spin :D
 
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