Unable to hear line-in 'live' while recording

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musicdavid

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I've just started using a new laptop for recording. I am currently unable to hear any 'live' audio input through the speakers or headphones. Whether I use the line-in or microphone jack, it records the input (the level is there to see and the playback is fine), but I can't hear it as it's being recorded.

There simply doesn't seem to be a way of monitoring an audio input. Not always necessary when you can hear what you're recording acoustically anyway but there must be a way of fixing this. I've looked all around the audio settings and I can't see any way of unmuting anything.

Any help appreciated. Thanks.
 
what interface are you using?

and have you tried your "input" selection. most interfaces allow the user to select "either or", sso all the inpouts aren't on all the time. sometimes it will allow Mic 1, or Mic 2, or Line 1 or Line 2, or Line 1&2...and the user has to select it.

like selecting the source on a tv, you have to tell the interface which source.
 
As already noted, interfaces often have the ability to monitor the input, at least through the headphone jack.

Also, recording software should have a setting that allows you to monitor what's being recorded.
 
Depends on how everything is hooked up. If you are plugging the mic into line in or mic sounds like you are not using an interface. If that's true then we need to know what program you are using because you will have to enable it in the software.
 
I've noticed that on aanother laptop I have, there is a 'Rec. Playback' option in the Recording Devices, which is missing on the laptop I'm trying to use for my DAW. Is this relevant?

The program I'm using is Cubase.
 
I've never used cubase but based on my other software packages I can take a guess and maybe you can find it.

Firstly thought, what are you using and how is it connected. Are you using a regular microphone just plugged into the Mic In or Line In port on your laptop? Or are you using some type of audio interface (seperate hardware from your laptop) that you mic plugs into and then you plug that into your computer?

If it's the first option it's mostly likely going to be an output setting inside cubase. I've never seen it and don't know it's menus but if oyu look around you should find some type of "preferences" or "Settings" menu. Inside there there should be some type of "Output" or "I/O". Find the output device and make sure it's set to output to your speakers or headphones and not something else.

That's my best guess but I'm sure one of our Cubase members could help better.
 
The OP states 'whether using the line-in or mic' - he's not using an interface at all.

To the OP - I suggest you read the sticky threads at the top of the Newbies section of these forums: HERE and HERE
 
I don't know Cubase either, but it should have a setting that allows the input signal to be heard while recording.

One possible downside to this method is latency. Whether that's a problem depends on the computer and how it's set up. It bothers some people more than others also.

If you don't have an interface that provides it, you can get latency-free monitoring with a device like the Rolls PM351, or - as noted - a mixer.

Rolls Corporation - Real Sound - Products PM351 Personal Monitor System
 
I still feel the problem is with the laptop settings.

On another PC I use to record on, I always hear the input totally fine - before and during any recording. This holds true whether I run my instrument/mic through a mixer first or - say -a mic straight into the PC line-in. It's still audible. And that is before Cubase is even started up.

On this laptop I'm trying to use - no input is inaudible until I playback the recording. And again, this is regardless of whether Cubase is started up or not.
 
Ahh you're looking for the windows playback. I'm not sure you would actually want to use that but if you do.

If you have windows 7 it's pretty simple. Right click on the little speaker down by your clock and go to recording devices. Click on your microphone and then click properties. Click on the Listen tab and you should have a check box there for listen to this device.

That's the windows way to do it, IMO it's definitely not the cleanest or best you can't monitor any effects you add in Cubase or anything else. Hope that is what you're looking for but you have to understand there are TONS of ways to monitor playback all depending on what is hooked up, how it's hooked up, and what software you're using.

Good luck!
 
polarity said:
If you have windows 7 it's pretty simple. Right click on the little speaker down by your clock and go to recording devices. Click on your microphone and then click properties. Click on the Listen tab and you should have a check box there for listen to this device.
Click to expand...

Something like that should be the way to fix it. However, I've unmuted just about everything in all the devices but still nothing is heard until I playback the recording. I'm using Vista if that makes any difference.
 
musicdavid said:
I still feel the problem is with the laptop settings.

On another PC I use to record on, I always hear the input totally fine - before and during any recording. This holds true whether I run my instrument/mic through a mixer first or - say -a mic straight into the PC line-in. It's still audible. And that is before Cubase is even started up.

On this laptop I'm trying to use - no input is inaudible until I playback the recording. And again, this is regardless of whether Cubase is started up or not.
Click to expand...

Before you post this, I am actually thinking that maybe it is just in the preference of your recording program if you have checked or unchecked the play feedback while recording but sine you are claiming that on another laptop this Cubase software works perfectly fine then probably it is really in the laptop that is the problem. So far we could not conclude that it is a hardware problem. Should be the settings or the drivers.
 
musicdavid said:
Something like that should be the way to fix it. However, I've unmuted just about everything in all the devices but still nothing is heard until I playback the recording. I'm using Vista if that makes any difference.
Click to expand...

Same steps in Vista I think, follow what I posted. You're not looking to mute or unmute anything you want to find the listen tab with the listen to this device check box. I don't have a vista machine to test it on but the steps should be very very similar.
 
mjbphotos said:
The OP states 'whether using the line-in or mic' - he's not using an interface at all.
Click to expand...

Well sure he is! Maybe not an external interface, but a sound card is definitely an "interface" even if it's inside a laptop. If he got a small mixer and used his laptop's Line Input jack as shown in my article, his problem would be solved. I'm not saying that's the only solution, but it's probably the best one.

--Ethan
 
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