Trying to record vocals

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vicevursa

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Ok, I am at a loss. This is what I have:
Behringer mx802a mixer
Soundblaster Live! Platinum and Live Drive
Sonar 2

What I want to do is record a vocal track. Sounds easy, but for whatever reason I can't seem to do it. I want to have my background tracks playback and record through my mic. How do I playback my tracks and have them go to my headphones and not on to my track armed for recording. There has to be a relatively easy answer, but I am missing it...
Is it even possible with my meager equipment? BTW, don't laugh! :p

Please help!


Vice
 
Hi, do you have the recording options set on overwrite, or sound on sound? You should find this option at the top of the screen, and its default, I believe, is sound on sound. If you drop down the arrow, you will find overwrite. As long as you are recording to a different track than the one you're playing back, this should take only the vocal, and not the stuff you are wanting to just play back.

This is, assuming, and here I may confuse myself, that you are not routing the out of the SB card into the mixer, and then right back in to the computer.

I think you should have your headphones plugged into either the headphone or speaker output in your computer, in case they are currently plugged into the Behringer. Then, your mic will go into one of your mixer inputs, and then the out from the mixer will go into your SB input jack. Make sure the first track that you want to play back is not armed. Make sure you have a new track for vocal, that is armed. Make sure you're recording in overwrite mode, or it may record the music a second time as well. Then put on your headphones and press record.

If this is too much info, not what you really needed, or you already knew all of this, I apologize. Just trying to be as thorough as I can, and I should also mention, that I am a true newbie, so I'm no know-it-all!


Hope this helps..
Kirstin
 
ps--

Your equipment really isn't that meager compared to mine. Pretty similar in fact, but I just slapped down my credit card for some super cool new toys.

I always seem to find ways to kill myself financially. And probably a waste of time, since I don't know what the heck I'm really doing, other than SCREWING AROUND. Expensive hobbies, gotta love 'em.

Anyway, just to make sure I didn't tell you something wrong, you want to record the vocal ONLY, but be able to sing with the background track in your headphones, in order to hear them together as you sing?

This is what I read your message to say. So, you can record it, but your getting your voice along with the background music on your armed track? Right? Just trying to be thorough.

Kirstin
 
Yo, vicevursa. It's easy. Go to Windows kernell mixer (beside the clock on your taskbar) and click for recording property (recording control). Check on Line in (I assume you connect your Behringer to Line In), NOT "what U hear" or "Record Master"... Do it again... Cakey will record only source from line in... Back for more if you need more info.


;)
Jaymz
 
Sorry for the incorrect info. I don't have a sound blaster, so this problem doesn't happen to me. I thought I was helping--but maybe not.


Kirstin
 
...kgirl72, you posted a good info indeed. That's true. Don't have to be sorry. ;) But FYI, you actually still can monitor using the Behringer... by using an advantage of AUX send. Here is the connection...

Mic --> Channel 1 on Behringer, adjust whatever it needs, raise the AUX send on the channel to 12 o'clock.

SB Line Out --> One of those stereo channel on the Behringer. DON'T raise the AUX send. Keep it zero.

Behringer AUX send --> Line In of SB. Raise the Master AUX send on your Behringer to 12 o'clock.

Behringer Main Out / headphones --> Your monitor system/ headphones.

There you see, that the only audio sent and recorded to SB Line in is from AUX send of Behringer, but in your headphone you can monitor all channel running thru the Behringer...

;)
Jaymz


Ps. I don't use Behringer, but Mackie, but I think they're just similiar...
 
Cool, James, thanks!

Now I have new info for when all my toys show up. I don't think I'll need my mixer as much anymore, but always good to learn!


Have a fab day...
Kirstin
 
James and Kirstin, thank you for your replies. I'm going to try out your suggestions within the next few minutes!

Kirstin, what type of equipment do you use now, and what are you upgrading too? I cannot wait to do that myself! :)

James, should I be using pre or post on my aux on channel 1?


I really appreciate your replies,


Vice
 
OMG--I'm so excited to go home now! I just received from UPS TODAY!!! a new Layla 24 for my desktop and ALSO a laptop adapter so I can use the I/O box with both. I also received a RNC today, and am waiting for my brand new C3 microphone, which may not be the BEST mic out there, but will be my first large diaphragm condenser (I have two Shure condensers already, but not large diaphragm). The mic should be here tomorrow, but the VTB-1 I ordered is currently on backorder, and should come in by next week, they said, but it probably won't. I'm too lazy to cancel with them and order from someone who has it.

I did get a good deal on my mic, I think. I initially ordered the C1, but that would not be in until the END OF THE MONTH. No way, can't wait that long, so I asked about the C3, which is advertised most places at $349, but they said they'd take off $50--so, $299 for that C3, which I am hoping is a good deal. Now, it'll probably sound like poopie on my voice, but I have hope.

So, mic will be here tomorrow, preamp...who knows. At least I have my old Peavey mixer to get me through until then.

I was so excited to get everything that I brought my desktop tower to work so I could get someone else to put the new Layla card in. Last time I tried to install a new sound card, my computer never started up again until I took it out, and took it to a shop to have the damn motherboard put in all the way, which was apparently all I did incorrectly.

So, after that rambling, all I really want to do is go straight home and play! Have to work til 5 though, so I'll just have to hold on for a few more hours.

Have a great day to all of you!!!

vicevursa--did your fixes work? Can you record properly now?
 
vicevursa said:

James, should I be using pre or post on my aux on channel 1?
Click to expand...


Yo vice... either can be used...

Pre : the signal will be sent without routed to slider/channel's level first. This way, no matter you decrease or increase the level slider (or knob on small mixers) it won't affect the signal feeded to your aux. The channel's level will only affect to your Main Out/Monitor/Headphone.

Post : the signal will be sent after routed to slider/channel's level first. This way, if you decrease or increase the level slider (or knob on mixers) it will affect (decrease/increase) the signal feeded to your aux.


In your case, I think I preffer using Pre, cause you can use the slider to obtain best signal to your headphone, without disturbing the signal sent to your soundcard.
Hope it helps...
;)
Jaymz
 
Oh yeah, vicevursa--as for what I'm using now...ain't much!

Whatever stock cards came in both my desktop and laptop...both typical home computer pieces of junk. Actually, probably both good for gamers, but not recording. I think the laptop uses a Yamaha codec card, and the desktop has a Riptide card (Rockwell modem/card combo or something.)

I have a Peavey 12-channel mixer that probably has no real worth in a recording studio, at least as a mic pre unit. Now that I will have 8 ins and outs, I'm sure there will be a use for it...just have to figure out what that might be. I'm interested in surround mixing, but have no idea how one goes about it.

Mics--have a Shure model that I can't remember the name of (cardiod condenser mic) and a Beta87C that is my most recent mic until I will get my NEW one tomorrow!!!! I didn't know then that large diaphragm was the way to go for vocals. But, at least the Beta87C will be good for stage, should I ever decide to do that again.

No monitors yet, but do have a rather expensive pair of headphones that I bought this past summer...I think they are AKG's. I guess my real interest in all this stuff is recording, but not to become a "sound engineer" or even a professional. I am a singer, and I just want to write more and record myself for the time being. I have been feeling more and more creative lately, especially since I just got another piano last month (had to sell the old one about 6 years ago in order to make my move easier and keep it down to ONE U-Haul truck). So, the new gear, hopefully sounding all beautiful and stuff will make me even happier than I was before, and I will want to do more than ever due to the change in audio quality...

Lastly, my keyboard is a rusty old Roland (model maybe E-15), circa 1980-84 ish, not sure what year I got it, but I do know that midi was brand spankin new then, so while it has midi, it doesn't probably have the most useful features. Midi seems a direction I don't plan on going much except for maybe a click track, which I can do just as easily using the keyboard through analog with the manual drums activated. I'm sure they sound horrible to all of you, but they are okay to me. I don't really know what to listen for yet.

Okay, more rambling...better get to work. Now you see why I (don't) get paid the big bucks.


Kirstin
 
kgirl72 said:
....that I am a true newbie, so I'm no know-it-all!


Hope this helps..
Kirstin
Click to expand...

Hey, it's nice to see a woman around here! (nice to see women everywhere of course, but I believe messageboards in general need MORE women. Although this board is pretty cool, I've seen some terrible testosterone-filled boards) :)

*without knowing exactly why, Pedullist suddenly feels the need to scream 'Womaaaaaaaan, womaaaaaaaaaan', Animal (Muppet) style*
 
Thanks James! Duh! I guess if I would have thought about it a little more that would have made sense with the aux send.

Kirstin, no, I didn't get a chance to try and record anything yet. I am eager to, though. I had to go in to work. :( So, I have to wait until later tonight. I'm almost tempted to take a couple hours personal leave and go home. I will let you guys no how it turns out, though.

I know the feeling about getting new equipment. I put together my new DAW last month (an earlier Christmas present to myself :) ). As it stands right now, I have two more months of saving and I can get a new soundcard. I will finally be upgrading from my SoundBlaster to either the Delta1010 or the C-Port! Then by June I will finally have some monitors... I don't know what kind yet, still doing research...
Have fun with your new toys!
What style of music do you sing?

Vice
 
Hey guys,

It's kind of fun being a woman around here. I have read many a "manly" post around this bulletin board. Luckily, I think that you guys are pretty funny. I enjoy watching Howard Stern at times, so I can probably take about any male humor. So, glad to be around too, Pedullist.

Vice-I have a fairly soulful voice-works pretty well for some jazz, definitely r/b and soul. I have heard one person say I sound country, but I'm not buyin it.

I am having that "I can't find a band that I like to sing with" kind of dilemma. There is something in me that I'm trying to get out. I think it's some gospel/soul/art chick kind of thing. I am someone who doesn't know squat (well, okay, maybe JUST squat, and no more) about chords, key sigs, how to play the piano, etc., but can think of nothing better than sitting down and creating a song as well I can.

Anyway, I guess I'm "discovering" myself musically. I remember being younger and just loving to sing torch songs from the forties (which I do quite well, I must say), but who wants to listen to that crap?

I think I'm feeling pretty creative these days. I'm a tiny bit worried that I have so much of my own sound, that each song is tending to take on a similar quality, but I'm working through it as best I can.

I've wasted a ton of time musically, and I'm tired of not doing anything at all by myself, and of just being "a singer". I want to do more, or at least explore more.

As for all this plugging in, installing, troubleshooting, balanced/unbalanced, TRS, TS, XLR, +4, _10 stuff, I feel quite not secure. As it is, with my laptop, there is definitely some audio issue-with both my old soundcard, and my new--to the point that I just CANNOT use any WDM drivers. Actually, I got the layla in last night, and even though it all seemed fine for awhile, I ended up with stuff not working, tried changing it back to MME, and no luck, so I just rolled everything back with System Restore. I can tell that it's going to be a long weekend, with no real recording.

Also, I have to go back to classes Monday to finish up my last 6 hours in college. I'm actually a bit old to be just now graduating from college, but oh well. The worst part is I majored in advertising, and I just can't stand the thought of it anymore. All the more reason to do some music. Either I'll keep this job I've had all through school, and never get too much further ahead, or I'll suck it up and hope that some advertising agency or the like will even WANT me (maybe then I might actually be able to afford the student loan payments) and do the music thing to keep myself sane, or I'll just keep plugging away until I feel confident enough to chuck everything else and just do that.

The honest truth is, though, that I'm horribly frightened of failure, and that may be my issue with the advertising, and, I fear, with the music. I wish I had some balls!

Now you ALL know my life story, and instead of shouting "wooommmmaaaannn" (or however that goes), it'll be "craaaaaaaazzzzzzzyyyyyyyy woooommmmmmaaaaaannnnnn!!!! Ruuuuuuunnnnnnnnn!"

Ha ha.

Have a super duper day!
Kirstin
 
kgirl72 said:
...Vice-I have a fairly soulful voice-works pretty well for some jazz, definitely r/b and soul.
Click to expand...
That's really cool... I [try] and write music for those genres. I don't do to well with the writing of lyrics, so I leave that alone. Plus, I don't sing very well.
I am having that "I can't find a band that I like to sing with" kind of dilemma.
Click to expand...
I definetly understand where you are with that. I haven't been in a band in a couple of years. I love performing but I really love writing the music. I would really, really love to do both. (Especially, if it meant I could support myself doing it!:D ) When I ever I got the music store I always read the message boards where people are looking for a keyboardist... I have called a couple of them, but they never seemed to be really doing anything. So, for now, I have tried to concentrate on composing and learning how to record and mix on my DAW.
The honest truth is, though, that I'm horribly frightened of failure, and that may be my issue with the advertising, and, I fear, with the music. I wish I had some balls!
Click to expand...
Be confident in your abilities and just go out there and do what you do. You're finishing up college. That's something I keep claiming to do one day. I think that's my fear, finishing something and not knowing what's next. This music thing is something I think takes quite a bit of time to master. That's what is great about HR.com most people are pretty nice and are willing to help.

Oh and BTW, you don't want balls ~ your friends might look at you differently! Haha! :p

Take care,

Vice
 
Yes, you may be right about that last part. Oh, the hardship of being a woman. Woe is me!

I wanted to paste your quote on here as so many do when responding to the messages, but I don't know how to do it the way you guys do, so the lines appear above and below them. I'm guessing it's not as simple as copy/paste, I hope?

Vice, I am right there with you with the lyrics part. Funny, because one of my minors is in creative writing. Probably for the same reasons I don't like copywriting, I may not writing song lyrics. But give me a creative non-fiction assignment, and I will go nuts. I guess it's something about the notion of finding the perfect words in such a small space that scares me. The combinations are endless, so how do you pick the right ones? A longer piece is so much easier for me because you have the time to begin, develop, expand, and control it the way you want to, and it's not quite as hard as cramming it all into a little 3X3 box (figuratively speaking). Plus, part of the beauty of writing something longer is that it somehow helps to guide you as well. I'm sure some people feel this about lyrics...I just think I enjoy writing more stream of consciousness pieces, or short story length stuff.

School is pretty easy to be finishing in my opinion...BTW, I took a pretty long break after high school myself before even starting college, nearly 10 years. So, I guess there is also that feeling of starting to get a little old to not know what the hell is happening to you, you know?

But as for the less deep stuff, I plugged my C3 that I received in yesterday, and I was very surprised at the difference between this and my other mics, even through my subpar Peavey mixer mic amps. I may start to enjoy making up lyrics now, just so I can hear my voice through that mic. Hee hee. I must say I did feel a creative rush, but I also felt tired, and eventually that won out. I have to mess with the directional capabilities and the other options on the mic more to learn just what it all does. I also discovered that I'm going to HAVE to try to do some room conditioning. Never noticed it much with my Shures. I had a hard enough time getting the strength I wanted in my voice, let alone the stuff going on in the background. Now if I can just learn some tech stuff as simple as how I'm doing with my gain staging, I'll be good to go. So, today, I have some fun reading to do online, instead of working, as I should really be doing. Ha.

Well, have a great day vice, pedullist, James, and anyone else that reads this thread!

Kirstin
 
Hey, kgirl72 and vicevursa, why don't yeou try colaborate making music... It would be a good idea...
;)
 
Could be fun, but then maybe we'll just have some music, oohs and ahs, and no lyrics?

No, seriously, I'm a fairly shy gal, but I'd be willing to do something like that. I'd be afraid that everyone would hate my recording skills...but I'm learning.

If anyone wants to just hear some songs that I sang on, but did not write or record, you can go to www.mp3.com/planetbutter

I don't think that these songs are at all my style, or that my voice sounds particularly good there. I was only allowed one shot for most of it, too, but you can hear me there.

I'll also say that I don't think my old bandmates set this up so that you could download the songs, just streaming.

See you all on the boards!!!!

Kirstin
 
Kgirl72, a colaboration? That would be pretty cool... Send me an email if you want to discuss it further. Well, I listened to planetbutter. Real funky. Sounds really good. Sounds like a nice mix of Gretchen Lieberum and Paige Lackey from Sirius B Project. Where/how did you record the music? Well, take it easy...


Vice
 
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