help with USB AT2020 mic + reverb monitoring

[shimu]

Firstly, I am a newbie so i may be asking silly question here (^^;

Anyway, I bought the USB AT2020 mic to record vocal. As it is a USB version, it goes straight to my computer and I currently just use audacity to record my vocal over some instrumental music tracks. I record my voice into audacity with the music track playing and i listen to the music track using headphone. This means that I am not able to hear my recorded vocal when i sing. Now, I am the kind who would prefer to hear my own voice (+reverb etc) over the headphone so i can sing better (told you i am a newbie!), so, how should i setup such configuration?

Hardware: Is there some hardware unit I should purchase? If so, do I need to change my mic to non-USB ones?
Software: Is audacity unable to provide this feature? Should I purchase some DAW like CuBase etc?

Please help! Thanks!!

 

[fatstrat]

Firstly, I am a newbie so i may be asking silly question here (^^;

Anyway, I bought the USB AT2020 mic to record vocal. As it is a USB version, it goes straight to my computer and I currently just use audacity to record my vocal over some instrumental music tracks. I record my voice into audacity with the music track playing and i listen to the music track using headphone. This means that I am not able to hear my recorded vocal when i sing. Now, I am the kind who would prefer to hear my own voice (+reverb etc) over the headphone so i can sing better (told you i am a newbie!), so, how should i setup such configuration?

Hardware: Is there some hardware unit I should purchase? If so, do I need to change my mic to non-USB ones?
Software: Is audacity unable to provide this feature? Should I purchase some DAW like CuBase etc?

Please help! Thanks!!

I'm not sure if Audacity will do it, but Reaper has record monitoring and you can download and try the uncrippled version for free.

 

[shimu]

I'm not sure if Audacity will do it, but Reaper has record monitoring and you can download and try the uncrippled version for free.

hey, thanks for the fast reply! I will certainly try out reaper. so, it means my problem can be solved simply by purchasing some suitable software like reaper etc? I read somewhere about software solution having the problem of latency. Not sure if software can record, mix, and apply reverb effect for monitoring purpose fast enough of not. Anyway, I will give reaper a try. *finger crossed*

 

[fatstrat]

hey, thanks for the fast reply! I will certainly try out reaper. so, it means my problem can be solved simply by purchasing some suitable software like reaper etc? I read somewhere about software solution having the problem of latency. Not sure if software can record, mix, and apply reverb effect for monitoring purpose fast enough of not. Anyway, I will give reaper a try. *finger crossed*

I've noticed that with some effects you get latency issues, with others it's imperceptible. Just depends on the effect and your hardware. Good luck!

 

[Richie2708]

Latency will increase if you you use the monitor incoming on which ever DAW you choose. The more effects you put on your vocals the more latency you should expect. Drivers can help reduce this, ASIO drivers work well, and if your using windows 7 you could always try WAVERT.

I have a lot of vocalists who like to test their vocals with effects, there is a great little program called live professor which is handy for this, and this gives little latency compared to most DAWS. However as the name suggests its a live program and doesn't record.

You may even be able to record your stereo mix on the DAW whilst using this, that could help.

If all else fails, then the cheap and easy option is one ear off, and one ear on, on the headphones.