noob in need of help

[irecord]

hey guys im very new to recording and even this forum, i recontly got a Behringer X2442USB XENYX mixer with audacity software and me and my band are desperately trying to figure it out. so far we can make some aumetuerish recordings but we really want to know how to uverdub some tracks over the ones we have, the only problem is right now we cant seem to get the tracks we have to play back for us without taking the usb out of the computer which completely defies the whole point of overdubbing. also we cant figure out how to get different tracks for our seperate mics while recording, it just shows one big freakin chocolate bar of sound in one track. if anyone has this kind of equiptment and feels like giving me a few pointers it would be much appreciated thank you.

 

[CFox]

If the mixer allows it, you need to assign each channel to a separate track in your DAW. I really recommend you get the demo of Reaper, it is so much easier to use and will only cost $40 to register after 30 days.

I am not sure if the mixer sends multiple outs or a stereo pair when used as an audio interface.

 

[irecord]

whats a DAW and what do u mean by multiple outs or a sterio pair, like i siad im new so ill probably ask more dumb questions like this

 

[kcearl]

DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) generally refers to the software you use...Multiple outs refers to sending a signal from each track on you mixer to their own individual tracks on your DAW..

You would have to check your mixers manual to see if it has this ability..

And Reapers a no brainer compared to audacity

"dumb" questions are fine in here so keep asking

 

[moresound]

DAW = digital work station (software like reaper, down load it and check it out)

Stereo pair = to microphones that are of the same make, model, etc. and your use them to make a stereo recording.

Multiple outs = when you put a microphone (for instance) into a mixer it has to come out some where to your next unit in line, the number of outs you have could be 2 or 4 or multiple.

 

[moresound]

OOPS! KC beat me by one minute. Yeah like he said.

 

[CFox]

Stereo pair = to microphones that are of the same make, model, etc. and your use them to make a stereo recording.

This bit is confusing as it related to my post.

I meant that the mixer possibly only the sums the signals from all the mixer channels and sends them out as a stereo signal ( two channels or pair ).

 

[moresound]

Spelling mistake as well! That is suppose to be - TWO microphones.

 

[irecord]

ok thats some good information. but does anybody know how i can get this thing to play back for me so i can record over it?

 

[c7sus]

The Berhi only records two tracks via USB.

That's why all your tracks are being summed to a stereo pair.

You need to ditch the USB portion of the setup and get a real interface, and plug the direct outs of the Berhi into the interface.

Same goes for playback. Take the outputs of the interface and patch them into a couple channels of the Berhi for monitoring.

 

[Armistice]

The gear you've got won't necessarily allow you to do what you want.

The general recommendation round here would be that you need proper DAW software, like Reaper ($40) and a proper USB interface ($200) with phantom power and preamps, and start again.

Mixers are usually for live situations, not recording - certainly the one you have is too cheap to have individual outs. Audacity has its uses, but it's not particularly good for multi-tracking.

Bite the bullet.