Problem recording using a mixer and a UCA200

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RebelWithACoz

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Hi guys, new here and completely baffled.

Heres my rig: I've got a Behringer Xenyx 502 mixer connected to my PC via a U-Control UCA200 interface. I got it all set up and apparently working. I can hear myself loud and clear through my headphones (connected to the desk).

However, in order to hear anything coming from my pc i need to hit my CD/TAPE to Phones button, fine, only problem is this cuts out my mic and anything else i have connected to the desk. They record fine, and my software picks it up fine, i just can't hear it live.

So basically if i want to record something along to a track, i can't hear myself. I can hear both myself and the track if i press my CD/TAPE to Mix button, but then the track gets recorded as well as my vocals.

This is driving me mental, i've had a look around the forums (and others) to get a solution and i can't seem to find anyone with this same problem.

I just want to be able to hear myself while recording, and hear the track at the same time, without it being recorded too.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
What software are you recording into? Check the preferences and make sure you have "monitor tracking" or something to that effect enabled.
 
I'm using Sony Acid Pro 6.0, any idea where to find this setting using this program?

However i dont think the problem is software based as i have the same issue using the desk by itself, press the CD/TAPE to Phones button and i can't hear myself, but can hear whatever i plug into it, CD player etc.

I'll try and find that setting, thanks :)
 
Make sure the mute button is depressed and if you have a solo button on that channel try that as well.
 
Yeah the button is depressed and i can hear what i've just recorded and that's fine. The problem is if i want to record something else over the top while listening to the track i just recorded, i can't hear myself even tho it's being picked up. Even if i plug in my guitar/bass or whatever to the channel, and even on other channels.
 
This is down to how you're routing signal to and from your computer. Can you go direct out of the channel you're inputting to. i.e. out of the channel in question to 1 input on your interface, point that input to your new track within your software, monitor from the stereo out into your mixer. Does that make sense? Basically you need a direct signal path for what you're overdubbing not just the stereo out from your board.

You could set up a pre-fader aux mix but you'll need a headphone amp. Hope that helped.
 
I'm not sure i understand fully. But this is rather frustrating i've spent days trying to figure this out and all i wanna do is hear myself while i record. How would one do that with a mixer? If i can't hear myself AND the track while i record, this equipment is useless to me.

Basically i have my CD output (RAC) on my desk connected to the input of my interface, and the RAC output on my interface connected to the CD input on my desk. Which is how the manual told me how to set it up.

However in order to hear anything coming from my PC (i.e the interface) i need to press my CD to Phones button, which stops me from hearing anything from the mic. By pressing my CD to mix button i can hear both, but then both tracks are recorded.

I did try to set my output signal (via the sound options in my control panel) to my crappy sound card, so i can plug my headphones into that. But if i do that i can't hear myself live at all regardless of what button i push.

There must be a way of hearing the track i wanna record over while hearing myself. Thats why i got the thing in the first place.

If you just got a mixing desk and wanted to set it up so you can hear youself AND the track through headphones, but only recording your vocals, what would you do? I dont care much about the interface i just want it to work.
 
RebelWithACoz said:
I'm not sure i understand fully. But this is rather frustrating i've spent days trying to figure this out and all i wanna do is hear myself while i record. How would one do that with a mixer? If i can't hear myself AND the track while i record, this equipment is useless to me.

Basically i have my CD output (RAC) on my desk connected to the input of my interface, and the RAC output on my interface connected to the CD input on my desk. Which is how the manual told me how to set it up.

However in order to hear anything coming from my PC (i.e the interface) i need to press my CD to Phones button, which stops me from hearing anything from the mic. By pressing my CD to mix button i can hear both, but then both tracks are recorded.

I did try to set my output signal (via the sound options in my control panel) to my crappy sound card, so i can plug my headphones into that. But if i do that i can't hear myself live at all regardless of what button i push.

There must be a way of hearing the track i wanna record over while hearing myself. Thats why i got the thing in the first place.

If you just got a mixing desk and wanted to set it up so you can hear youself AND the track through headphones, but only recording your vocals, what would you do? I dont care much about the interface i just want it to work.
Click to expand...


Ok I looked at your mixer on zsounds. Here's what you need to do:

-Plug mic into channel 1, set level and pan all the way left. Now your mic signal is inputting to the left channel of your interface (try using the left "monitor out" on the mixer to see how the "cd/tape to phones" button alters that output when trying to monitor).

-Arm your new mono track, point it to the left channel of your interface and set a healthy level within your software.

Now you have direct signal path to your track and all we have to worry about is not routing what you want to monitor back to that left output. (the left input of your interface)

I'm hoping with this setup, when you hit the "cd/tape to phones" button (with the output of your interface connected to the "cd/tape input" of mixer) you'll have a monitor mix thats not outputting to that vital left output your mic signal is on. You'll need an adapter for your rca lead to use the monitor out on the mixer. Try this and see if it works (I hope it does). Dont worry too much if it doesn't, I have another suggestion that may also work but try this first.

Good luck, Jim

P.S. Try not to get frustrated (as tough as that is) - There's deffo a way to get this done.
 
Last edited:
Thanks so much for your reply Jimmi.

I followed your excellent instructions, i panned my mic cannel all the way left and set up a track in acid, armed it and pointed it to the left track. No problem.

I'm afraid i'm still getting the same issue. Press the button to hear the track, can't hear mic.

IF i plug my phones into the left channel of the main out, and press the button, i can hear the mic then, happy days, only thing is i can't hear the track now without routing it to the main mix. That CD/Tape to phones button seems to do exactly what it says on the tin, sends it to your phones and nowhere else. Issue is it cuts off everything else.

Did i do this right?

P.S. Something i tried when typing this up. I think i have success to a certain degree. Using your suggestion. If i set all my previously recorded tracks pan all the way right, (with my mic all the way left) and hit my "cd/tape to MIX" button, i can hear them both and they're both seperate, i just tried it and that works!

Thanks so much, seems so simple when you look at it, just seperate both the tracks...what was your other suggestion?
 
My other suggestion was exactly what you discovered! Now if you only plug your headphone jack about half way into the socket you should get mono(both tracks centre) monitoring. (I think? try it...)

Glad you get it sorted. Happy recording!
 
Lol, awesome.

Thanks for your help mate i was damn near throwing the thing out the window. I'm very pleased.

No doubt i'll pester you if i have another problem :P

Thanks again.
 
jimmi said:
My other suggestion was exactly what you discovered! Now if you only plug your headphone jack about half way into the socket you should get mono(both tracks centre) monitoring. (I think? try it...)

Glad you get it sorted. Happy recording!
Click to expand...

Hey Jimmi, i am having the same exact problem, and i read the whole post, but i have a different mixer, i was wondering if you could help me fix that problem. I have a Peavey6USB.
 
RebelWithACoz said:
Hi guys, new here and completely baffled.

Heres my rig: I've got a Behringer Xenyx 502 mixer connected to my PC via a U-Control UCA200 interface. I got it all set up and apparently working. I can hear myself loud and clear through my headphones (connected to the desk).

However, in order to hear anything coming from my pc i need to hit my CD/TAPE to Phones button, fine, only problem is this cuts out my mic and anything else i have connected to the desk. They record fine, and my software picks it up fine, i just can't hear it live.

So basically if i want to record something along to a track, i can't hear myself. I can hear both myself and the track if i press my CD/TAPE to Mix button, but then the track gets recorded as well as my vocals.

This is driving me mental, i've had a look around the forums (and others) to get a solution and i can't seem to find anyone with this same problem.

I just want to be able to hear myself while recording, and hear the track at the same time, without it being recorded too.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Click to expand...
I encounter the same problem before and found the solution a month ago. basically UCA doesn't work in full duplex mode.. meaning you can't hear your input during recording, only on playback. to solve this problem you need a behringer1204 mixer or other similar mixer. Connect the UCA200 output to CD-in of the mixer then connect the UCA200 input into the Tape-out of the mixer. Next, connect your studio monitor to the control room output jack. Doing this will enable you to hear yourself playing your instrument during recording. I hope this solves your problem. =)
 
While your enthusiasm is appreciated, check the date at the top left of every post.
This guy's problem was solved over a year ago.
:D
 
RebelWithACoz said:
I just want to be able to hear myself while recording, and hear the track at the same time, without it being recorded too.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I am having this same problem with my Behringer xenyx 1222 mixer and UCA200!!!!
When I get it to let me hear myself while I record, the old track(s) i'm recording on top of get recorded too.
Its absolutely driving me INSANE and i've been trying to fix it for days!
Did you ever find a solution?
Thanks!
 
Audball42 said:
I am having this same problem with my Behringer xenyx 1222 mixer and UCA200!!!!
When I get it to let me hear myself while I record, the old track(s) i'm recording on top of get recorded too.
Its absolutely driving me INSANE and i've been trying to fix it for days!
Did you ever find a solution?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Just FYI, our old mate RebelWithACoz only ever posted here 6 times, all within this thread, over a period of 2 days some 7 years ago. I personally still lie awake nights wondering how he is and whether he solved his issue, but I'm just like that and it's my burden to bear.

So you don't add to it and become another lost soul for me to worry endlessly about, perhaps starting up a new thread of your own stating your problem there will get you a better result.

:thumbs up:
 
The guy with the 502 had wasted his money on a poor combination but with your 1222 you're a bit luckier.

Bring the output from your computer into one of the spare line in channels--you'll need a pair of RCA to TRS adaptor cables but these are common to buy or easy to make. Note that you can't use the 2 Track RCA inputs.

Make sure the fader for the return channel is turned all the way down, then use the "Mon" send knob to turn up the signal from the computer. By turning up the Mon control on your mic channel, you can create a mix that you like of the two things. There's a switch just below the graphic equaliser that toggles your headphone out between monitor and main...you want monitor.

Bob
 
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