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. 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.
- The good news is that Audacity gives you the ability to record multitrack music with absolute ease. The following is what you will need to do. First, you will need to make sure that the machine that you are using has a soundcard that can have multiple inputs available for output simultaneously.
- Free, open source, cross-platform audio software. Audacity is an easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems. Developed by a group of volunteers as open source and offered free of charge. Amazing support community.
- Audacity - Multi-Track Audio Editor and Recorder and Music Converter Guide is the full guide to know and learn all about Audacity features. Audacity is a free, cross-platform, easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor, and recorder for Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux and other operating systems. Learn About Recording: Learn how Audacity can record live audio through a microphone or mixer, or digitize.
This set of tutorials describes known, good, working methods of creating a multiple sound track overdubbing session in Audacity. That is, you record one track and then play it and add a second track against it -- drums, guitar, voice; repeat as needed. You will be able to hear a mix of your live recording and the previous tracks simultaneously in your headphones (essential for overdubbing).
Generally, purpose-built hardware is needed to hear your live recording without unacceptable playthrough latency - without that hardware you will hear what you are recording too late. Failing that, a method for overdubbing using your computer's on-board sound card is given too.
In Audacity by default using the Record button will append record onto your existing track, see the Recording page.
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Multi-track overdubbing
This tutorial is a generalized tutorial on multi-track overdubbing.
- Tutorial - Multi-track Overdubbing
Can Audacity Do Multitrack Recording
For specific cases of working with different hardware setups please see below.
Overdubbing with specialist hardware
The following tutorials are all to be found in the Audacity Wiki. They explain the creation of multi-track overdubs using three different specialist hardware configurations.
- A USB microphone pre-amp with one XLR microphone input and a mini-jack headphone socket.
- Overdubbing with a Shure® X2U Microphone Amplifier-USB Adapter
- A stereo, line level, USB audio interface.
- Overdubbing with a Behringer® UCA202 Stereo bidirectional USB audio interface
- A USB microphone.
- Overdubbing with a Samson® G-Track USB Microphone
All three have been hands-on tested. They can be made to work on Linux®, Mac®, and Windows®.
The one 'magic' feature of all three devices is the ability to mix your live voice with the computer's rhythm track so you can hear the mixed musical performance and that can only happen if the rhythm track is available.
Overdubbing using your computer's on-board sound card
This is designed to help if your equipment does not have hardware playthrough and software playthrough is not an option. You may not be able to hear yourself during the recording.
- Overdubbing using your computer's on-board sound card
Further Help
If, no matter what you do, the show sounds terrible or does not work at all, drop in to the Forum where we can try to help you further. Registration is required to post and you may need to wait before your posting appears.
Audacity Multitrack Recording Software
At minimum, you will need to tell us: exactly which version of Audacity you are using (that means the full three-part number, for example 2.0.0), what kind of computer you have and which operating system it uses. Don't head straight to the details of the problem without telling us what you're producing and why. Be prepared to tell us how the straight recording session went - the one you did before you tried overdubbing.
Help > Diagnostics > Audio Device Info... may give us useful diagnostic information, but if you post it, please post it between [code] [/code] tags.