simple q from PC audio novice

[snakeyes]

Please can somebody tell me if it is possible to use a usb microphone to mix a live vocal with an MP3 backing track on board my pc and line out the mix through my soundcard? I've been trying to work out how to do this just with the Windows xp audio mixer but can't figure it out. Can anyone help? Please!!?

[GZsound]

If you have multitrack audio recording software, it is fairly simple. Normally the MP3 backing tracks would be converted to .wav files, you record your other track and mix the two together. After mixing, you convert the new stereo file to an MP3.

Most multitrack audio software programs would achieve this easily.

You might want to look into N Tracks or Audacity for inexpensive audio software programs.

You cannot do what you want using the Windows recorder.

[snakeyes]

Thanks, but I am ok with multitrack recording. I have used cooledit pro to make multi track recordings and mix down to MP3. What I want is to be able to mix a live vocal with a backing track on the pc and play the live mix in real-time through the speakers. I don't actually want to record anything. Basically, I just want to use my pc as mixer/amp for live audio but dunno if it's possible.

I was about to delete this thread because I double posted on the PC thread, but I'll leave it here for a while seeing as you posted, just in case you have any other ideas

cheers

[GZsound]

Thanks, but I am ok with multitrack recording. I have used cooledit pro to make multi track recordings and mix down to MP3. What I want is to be able to mix a live vocal with a backing track on the pc and play the live mix in real-time through the speakers. I don't actually want to record anything. Basically, I just want to use my pc as mixer/amp for live audio but dunno if it's possible.

I was about to delete this thread because I double posted on the PC thread, but I'll leave it here for a while seeing as you posted, just in case you have any other ideas

cheers

if I understand you correctly, you want to run an MP3 into your multitrack audio program through your multichannel interface and mix a live source at the same time and have them both play back on your monitor speakers?

I don't know why you couldn't do that. I use Adobe Audition which is just a newer version of Cool Edit Pro and I can route several channels of input, either live or from a recording, to stereo or multichannel outputs. It's in the routing of your devices in Cool Edit Pro.

There may be some latency. Also, I don't think you can do what you want without arming the tracks, however you don't need to hit the "record" control to actually record a signal to a track.

[AndyH]

Not until Audition 2 was it possible to monitor the input from the program; you had to depend on the soundcard capabilities for that.

With almost all PCI soundcards, that is simple. However, USB and firewire are different, not having the same close connection to the computer internals. You have to rely on direct monitoring at the external box if the recording program can't give you a live mix. Since USB microphones don't have that facility, you don't have that option.

[snakeyes]

cheers guys, I think that answers my question.

I don't want to use my multitrack audio recorder (cooledit) at all if I can help it. I just want to use my PC as a karaoke machine. I guess I should have said that in the first place. I have karaoke software which plays mp3 +cdg files, but it doesn't have any mic/mixing support which is a bit weird seeing as it's supposed to be for karaoke.

[GZsound]

Not until Audition 2 was it possible to monitor the input from the program; you had to depend on the soundcard capabilities for that.

With almost all PCI soundcards, that is simple. However, USB and firewire are different, not having the same close connection to the computer internals. You have to rely on direct monitoring at the external box if the recording program can't give you a live mix. Since USB microphones don't have that facility, you don't have that option.


Andy, I use Adobe Audition 1.5 and it is simple to monitor the inputs from the program..however, you are correct in that I use my MOTU 2408 interface, but there is a latency adjustment in Audition that allow me to get near zero latency.

I can input eight channels of analogue and simultaneously output eight channels via ADAT for up to eight seperate headphone mixes, all within Audition 1.5.

[GZsound]

cheers guys, I think that answers my question.

I don't want to use my multitrack audio recorder (cooledit) at all if I can help it. I just want to use my PC as a karaoke machine. I guess I should have said that in the first place. I have karaoke software which plays mp3 +cdg files, but it doesn't have any mic/mixing support which is a bit weird seeing as it's supposed to be for karaoke.


Yeah.. I think the simple answer is no. Especially if you want to play MP3 files with your karoake software while passing through a mic signal..

You need some kind of a software mixer somewhere to mix the two signals.