Only Able to Record to the Left Speaker?

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Inspired

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I'm sure if and when my following question is answered, I'll look dumb, but I don't care. I've been dying to record. Here's my dillema:

First of all, here's my soundchain:

Guitar>Amp (direct out)>Mic Preamp>left input on Audiophile 2496 soundcard>Cakewalk Sonar 2.0

After recording something, it only goes to the left speaker. Same thing with real-time input monitoring. I'm plugged into the left input of the soundcard, so is this the whole problem? Do I need to get some kind of a splitter to plug into both inputs? Or is it possible to use just one and change a setting somewhere? Totally baffled on this. What are my options? Please help!
 
I don't know how your setup works, but I have a soundcard with 4 inputs, and it will only record on one side if I try stereo, and only have one input. I can make mine mono, but only hear it on the left channel while recording. Plays down the center during playback. Try and set your recording up to record in mono, and see if it pans to center. While recording it may only come from one channel, but maybe during playback it won't.
Ed
 
Hmm...Are you plugging it into a mono input? that could be the case, check that its a stereo input. If it isnt, then yes, you will need a splitter which should work. You might wnat to check if the pan is in the center. If thats not at the center, then thats your problem.

Good luck!
 
Awesome. The first guy to answer is a Kings X fan. My favorite rock band.

As far as I know, both the left and right inputs on an Audiophile 2496 soundcard operate in the same way. I'll refer to the manual though. From what you guys are telling me, it sounds like I'm going to have to get a y-splitter cable (RCA female to dual RCA male), in order to hear and record to both speakers. I've had no luck finding one of these at musiciansfriend.com. I could make a 1/4" male to dual RCA male cable work, but I didn't want to part with my Mogami cable. I'll keep looking. In the meantime, you guys keep throwing me ideas. They're much appreciated...
 
Here's what the manual for my soundcard (M-Audio Audiophile 2496) says about the two analog inputs:

Analog INS 1 & 2: These jacks input analog audio from a variety of external sources. Each jack is female RCA, compatible with common male RCA cables. During stereo operation, the IN1 jack (with white-colored insert) is the left audio channel and IN2 (with red-colored insert) is the right audio channel.

Like I said previously, I'm plugged into the left one (white). The IN setting within SONAR is currently set to a stereo operation. I'm still looking for an adapter/cable that will allow me to plug into both inputs on the soundcard...
 
If you set up a track in Sonar as a stereo track and only use 1 input then yes, you'll only hear sound from the channel you plugged into. Use a mono track in Sonar then you can pan the track to the center and you will hear the track from both spearkers. You are recording a mono signal (guitar) I presume?
 
Great, this is the kind of affirmation I needed.

To answer your question: Yes, strictly my guitar is going into one track.
I will try a mono IN setting within SONAR and see what happens. If this works, I'm hoping that I will not only be able to hear what I recorded through both speakers, but also input monitoring.

Also, if this does work, is it going to produce quality recordings, since it is considered mono? I want the best possible configuration with what I have to work with. In the long run, should I go ahead and get a y-split cable and plug into both inputs? Would this produce better results since it would then be stereo?

Thanks so much. I'll let you know if this works.
 
Recording a mono guitar signal in stereo isn't going to get you anything but the same siganl recorded 2 times and panned l/r. That equates to mono just louder. If you were recording an accoustic for example with 2 mics then you would have stereo. Provided you used an acceptable stereo recording technique.


Oh, and I just looked at your first post. There is no need to go from the direct out on your amp to a mic preamp. Run from the direct out straight into your soundcard. All you are going to do is add unnecessary noise. A better senario would be to use a mic like a sm57 and mic your amp instead. Direct recording of guitars usually stink.
 
That makes perfect sense. The sound has been real stale direct-in no matter what I do. I'll eliminate the mic preamp anytime I record direct-in from now on. But yeah, I would much rather mic my amp. I'm more a fan of that sound. I've tried, but with my limited knowledge I wasn't getting good results, and was having to turn my amp up farely loud before it was even getting a good signal. I live in an apartment, so I have to stay within reason!

What I need now is a recommendation from you, since you really seem to know what you're doing. Keep in mind I would rather mic my amp, like you said is the better scenario anyway. If you had the following equipment, how would you go about recording:

Strat
Mark IV Boogie Amp
ART OPL Mic Preamp
SM-57 Mic
M-Audio Audiophile 2496 soundcard
CakeWalk Sonar
 
First off, what kind of music are you recording. It would help to know what guitar sound you are after.
 
Basically a good overdriven tone, but also a good warm clean. Something along the lines of Joe Satriani or Steve Vai. I've gotten pretty good at doctoring a recorded part with effects after the fact, so if it's not perfect I've always got that. But I play to my sound, so I do need something gratifying going in. I still haven't totally figured out my Mark IV!...
 
As far as a cable, did you try Radio Shack? Sometimes they have some of that stuff. If not, maybe Circuit city, or Best Buy....

Dunno. Good luck though.
Ed
 
Dogman said:
As far as a cable, did you try Radio Shack? Sometimes they have some of that stuff. If not, maybe Circuit city, or Best Buy....

Dunno. Good luck though.
Ed
Click to expand...
He doesn't need a cable, he needs to set Sonar up properly.
 
Sorry..

Farview said:
He doesn't need a cable, he needs to set Sonar up properly.
Click to expand...


Sorry man. Just replying to post #8. Thought he still wanted the cable.
Ed :eek:
 
The SONAR Dead Sea Scrolls

Man, I am totally baffled! No matter what I do, Sonar is not working the way I need. I tried what HangDawg told me, and chose a mono IN setting for the track. No dice!

There are three areas that I'm concerned about:

The 2 analog inputs on my Audiophile 2496: (Which one should I use? Or both?)

The Delta Control Panel that comes with the Audiophile: (How should I have it routed?)

The Options-Audio settings within SONAR: (How should I have these set?)

Does anyone use an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 with Sonar 2.0 XL? If so, what are settings pertaining to the above three items?

My setup is real simple. I just can't believe I've been struggling with this for so long. CakeWalk hasn't been any help...
 
What happened when you set up a mono track and tried to record to it?
First you add a mono track, then you assign the input that you are plugged in to (delta 1/2 left or right) and hit record. If you are hearing it only from one speaker when you are playing, you need to go to the m-audio control panel monito mixer and pan the channel you are coming in on to the center. After you record, you should be able to pan the track anywhere you want. What you are monitoring when you record is right from the sound card, once you have recorded the track, you are listening to sonar.

Monitoring what you are playing when you are recording, is a different function from monitoring what you have already recorded. They are handled by different control panels. Monitoring yourself while you are playing is controled by the M-audio control panel. Monitoring while you are mixing or listening to something you have recorded is done in sonar with the mixer in that application.
 
Everything is panned to the center. Sonar and Delta Control Panel.

Something new happened this morning that might be of interest. I recorded a lead track over my existing rhythm track, which is the one that's all to the left speaker. I recorded the lead track with a Sonar effect on it, and after I listened to the whole recording: The Rythm track is still all left speaker, but the lead track is both speakers! Could this have something to do with the effect on it? Even if this is operable, I still don't like it. I would just assume that everything played or recorded comes out of both speakers...
 
Did you record the lead to a mono track or a stereo one?
 
Major breakthrough! I told you guys I would feel totally stupid by the end of this post. Well, Fairview gave me some simple hints that got me to exploring. I was studying the Delta Control Panel, (which comes with the Audiophile 2496 soundcard), and noticed that everything was panned to one side! I blame this on M-Audio! I don't believe I ever touched those pan controls. It must come from the factory like that, which is stupid! That, or I'm stupid...which I've already showed that once here, so I don't mind another instance. Anyway, I thank all of you for the help. Especially HangDawg and Fairview. I'm sure I'll have more questions down the road, but at least I'm recording satisfactorally now...
 
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