Audacity can record live audio through a microphone or mixer, or digitize recordings from cassette tapes, vinyl records, or minidiscs. With some sound cards, it can also capture streaming audio. Record from microphone, line input, or other sources. Dub over existing tracks to create multi-track recordings. I was under the impression that because it had a USB input I would be able to record each of our mics and the music/ambience into their tracks in audacity. (6 inputs in total) I looked into the settings and tutorials but I can never seem to find how to activate the multitrack recording capabilities. Any help would be appreciated.
This topic contains 27 replies, has 8 voices, and was last updated by 1 year ago.
The SQ Drive is no option for me since it is until now not very reliable and 16 tracks is in the most cases too less for my needs. So, USB B is one of my alternatives. I also use Dante together with DVS. Since firmware version 1.2 both works reliable. But for important recordings I use both for redundancy issues. But my recording computers are running Windows 10, not MacOS. I had some troubles in the past using my Mid 2012 MBP with the SQ and so it stopped trying to run it with the Mac.
With Firmware 1.5 you can switch USB B and SQ Drive to 48kHz allowing 32 channels of recorded glory. And if we can trust Keith, 1.5 is right around the corner.
I bought me a SQ Waves card and record up to 48 channels without any troubles in WaveTrack Live on a 2010 13inch MacBook Pro 2,4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo.
The problem (for me) so far when using SQ-drive has been the speed of the USB-drives, I bought a HD-cabinet and put an older SSD (Intel 540-series) in it – & the problems disappeared.
@GraceGCF
You should be able to record via usbb..
How much/how good depends on your hardware capacity/speed and the software including drivers.
Unlike @mfk0815 I use stems and have no need for more than 16 channels. Usually 8 is plenty.
But I do not use a Mac. I have an older PC withOUT win10.@PGW
are you saying that old SSDs are faster than new USB flash drives?
Could there be something else that is the problem?
The record utility screen is only relevant for recording directly via SQ drive. And you can only use SQ drive or USB B but never both at the same time.
The routing is the same, with the exception that you can record up to 32 signals via USB B.
On your connected computer you have to run a DAW application which can record enough tracks simultaneously. I am using Reaper for years now and never had problems to record up to 64 tracks (using Dante) on my Laptops. For me it is worth every cent.@GraceGCE
That is a mac and whatever software you are using question.
Try gearslutz or other audio forums for more responses aimed at mac users.
This forum is mostly AH devices plus whatever people may have connected to them.How you record to the mac is connect it to the SQ via the usb.
That may need an adapter cable.Then it is all up to the mac and the software there.
You may need to download a driver too.
You will have better luck on that part of your question in mac audio forums.Perhaps you would have better luck with garbageband or audacity , which is free and simpler , than logic.
Yes logic pro x is a DAW.It sounds like you would find it easier to use a hard drive on the SQ directly then copy it to the DAW.
Recording with Audacity is easier to use than Ardour, but it lacks the power of Ardour. Nonetheless, Audacity is a great sound editing tool...
I am using the following Hardware to connect to Ubuntu Studio:
- installed Ubuntu Studio with the Real-Time Kernel
- Connected a Tascam US-122 Audio/MIDI USB device (confirmed that green light is 'on').
If you haven't been able to get your Tascam US-122 device to work, click on the link below and CAREFULLY READ THE INSTRUCTIONS:
This instructional tutorial assumes that you have already setup the Jack Audio Server, and are running Qsynth.
Perform this previous tutorial on how to setup the Jack Audio and run Qysynth before proceeding with this tutorial (link displayed below).
[ Quick & Simple - Setting up Jack Server and Q-synth ]
Hydrogen is a drum machine application. It is useful to allow the user to record drumming patterns (to be looped), or entire drumming patterns for a song.
Audacity Not Recording Multitrack
Although I prefer a REAL drummer, you can use a drum machine as a basis for your song. After the song has been recorded (via Audacity), you can mute the drumming pattern and replace with real drums...
Steps to Launch Hydrogen Drum Machine
- Select APPLICATIONS -> SOUND & VIDEO -> AUDIO PRODUCTION -> Hydrogen
- The hydrogen application will appear.
The Hydrogen drum machine is pretty easy to use. Just press RECORD, and then click on an appropriate drum sound. The drumming pattern loops, so you can take your time to build more complex drumming patterns. Various drumming patterns can be saved and then can be added in a sequence to build a song... This application also has a 'pattern' mode and a 'song' mode...
Here is a link to the Hydrogen Manual:
Audacity is a simple to use and intuitive application to allow a user to record and manipulate an audio product. Audacity can record drumming tracks from Hydrogen, record keyboards from Qsynth, as well as record vocals from a microphone...
Steps to Launch Audacity
- In the Audacity menu bar, select EDIT -> Preferences
- The Audacity Preferences Dialog Box will appear.
- Remain in the default Devices tab.
- Under Interface section, the Host Should read Jack. If not, click the drop down box to select Jack
NOTE: If Ubuntu Studio was installed (i.e. Ubuntu Studio distribution CD, not just adding Ubuntu Studio to already installed system), Audacity should set the Jack Audio Server as the default interface.
If not, you can select the default interface manually:
Steps to Manually set Interface:
- In the Audacity menu-bar, select EDIT -> Preferences
- The Audacity Preferences dialog box application will appear.
- Remain in the default Devices tab.
- In the Interface Section, select Jack to be the host.
- Click OK to save changes.
The procedure to select different instruments in Audacity is subtle! I don't know if this is the BEST method, but here is what I know works...
Assuming that you are still in the Audacity Preferences dialog box (Devices tab), in the Recording section, click on the drop down menu for Devices. If you are running your Jack Audio server, and running Qsynth as well as Hydrogen, you should see 3 devices:
- Hydrogen (Drum Machine)
- Qsynth (Keyboards)
- System (Vocals via Microphone)
NOTE: Each time you want to 'lay-down' a track using a different device, you MUST go to Audacity Preference dialog box and select your Recording Device...
Here is a link to the Audacity User's Manual:
When laying down multiple tracks among different instruments, you may find that a track may be out-of-sync with the other tracks. This is probably due to the latency or 'delay' from playing your keyboard instrument.
Note that your keyboard is hooked up to a device to read input to the computer system. There will be latency (or in other words, a delay) between the time you press a key on the keyboard, and when that sound is generated via Qysnth. This is quite normal with other programs. In fact, when using my computer setup when playing keyboards, I have become so accustomed to the delay, that is takes me a second to realize it is not strange when playing a REAL piano with no latency!
The good news is that Audacity can be set to factor in the latency from devices such as keyboards. In fact, if you notice carefully after recording a keyboard track, that the length of the track (after recording is complete) will slightly compress to compensate for this latency or delay. Therefore, all that is required is to find the optimum 'correction amount' to compensate for keyboard latency.
Steps to Compensate for Keyboard Latency:
- In the Audacity menu bar, select EDIT -> Preferences
- The Audacity Preferences Dialog Box will appear.
- Select the Recording tab.
- Increase or decrease the Latency Correction amount (in milliseconds) to obtain the correct balance.
- Click OK to save changes.
To be completed...
Audacity Multitrack Recording Software
Here is a song demo that I quickly created to demonstrate the quality of the recording:
[ http://matrix.senecac.on.ca/%7Emurray.saul/megan_green_eyed_lady.mp3 ]
Some Interesting Facts:
- I quickly put together this recording on Monday May 10, 2010. It was spread over the day, but I estimate it took me approx one hour to produce.
- Downloaded for free (Hammond B3 with slow Leslie sound) from Internet for free (called a 'Sound Font' . There are hundreds if not thousands of these available for free and legal). That Hammond sound is for real folks. I'm just missing a half decent midi keyboard to create the modulation for certain sections...
- Never had played Sugarloaf's 'Green Eyed Lady' before. Got lyrics and Bass chord progression from Internet for free. Played with the organ background (from ear). Had it in approx 20 minutes.
- Started studio application, and recorded drum loop (pretty cheesy, but can be replaced by a real drummer (even this recording...)). Application used for the drum machine is called Hydrogen and works automatically with recording software (called Audacity). Recording system is pretty simple to use (with proper instruction).
- Recorded on separate tracks for Drums, the Hammond for bass, and Hammond for organ background, for Vocals. Application called Qsynth was used to generate the organ sounds.
- Got Megan (my daughter) to practice song (she never sang this song before). She wants to redo this, but you are listening to her sing from only the second take folks (no dubs or 'punch-ins').
- Did some post production (amplification and reduction, slight reverb, and fade-outs).
- Exported to an MP3 and finished at approx 4:15 pm.
- I can now 'farm-out' this recording (file in format to add more tracks) to other friends (musicians) to add guitar, replace with other drums, vocals, effects, etc...
Costing Information:
- Computer System: Free
- OS and Recording studio applications: Ubuntu studio (Linux=Free(dom))
- Keyboard :Have one (i.e. free - as long as the keyboard has MIDI, you're in business!)
- Computer to music interface: Have one (i.e. free, but usually those devices costs approx $90 - $120 Cdn)
- Microphone: Have one (i.e. free)
- Total cost to produce song: $0
This is the reason why I'm excited about this project.I see the power of encouraging the building of this inexpensive recording studios in order to create a wide spectrum of talented individuals for musical collaboration...Happy Multi-tracking!
Murray Saul
Comments are closed.