Subject:Monitor existing track/record new

Posted by: RichRandal

Date:6/24/2006 6:25:59 PM

I am admittedly a newbie to DAW, much less Acid.
Ok - Using AcidPro 6.

I want to monitor an existing track while I play/record a new track. I add a track, arm it, and start record. I mute the new track, but to play the existing one, it has to be "on."

The new track will record for a couple measures, then go to a feedback type hum and stop recording data.

I am monitoring at the ADDA interface, and sending the mic signal through a hardware mixer and then through the interface.

What am I missing? Thanks!

Subject:RE: Monitor existing track/record new

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:6/25/2006 9:01:52 AM

You should not have to mute anything. Just record a track, add a new track and record that while the previous one plays back.

If you are recording with a microphone and don’t have it isolated in a studio sound booth away from the control room monitors then you need to record with headphones (with the monitors turned off) so that the microphone doesn’t pick up the playback from the monitors (sorry if you already knew this).

Also the ADDA should be set to record only from the input that’s feeding it the microphone but not the pre-recorded tracks. I’m not familiar with that interface but just be sure you are not feeding the playback signal into the record signal via the outboard mixer or anywhere else.

These are the only two things I can think of that would create a feedback loop.

~jr

Subject:RE: Monitor existing track/record new

Reply by: RichRandal

Date:6/25/2006 10:32:34 AM

"Also the ADDA should be set to record only from the input that’s feeding it the microphone but not the pre-recorded tracks. I’m not familiar with that interface but just be sure you are not feeding the playback signal into the record signal via the outboard mixer or anywhere else."

Yes, I'm using headphones with the monitor speakers turned off. The interface is a Behringer FCA202 (external - not the computer's soundcard). It has a headphone jack and that's where I am monitoring the playback. I will have to look to see if it has a setting as you described.

But, also, I saw in another post there are some monitor settings in Acid - Auto, and perhaps other ones...are you experienced with these? Maybe I am inadvertently sending the record track through the monitor path.

I guess I could select my computer's main sound card as the output device and monitor at the computer Line Out...? Not send the playback to the FCA202 at all?

Thanks for the advice!

Subject:RE: Monitor existing track/record new

Reply by: RichRandal

Date:6/25/2006 1:29:24 PM

More Info:

The track to be recorded Monitoring is OFF.

The interface is FireWire. I have Main Out from the mixer going IN to the interface, and the 1/4" Out from the interface is driving the monitor speakers. The signal goes through the FireWire into and out of the computer.

The interface manual also shows an approach with the interface Out going to mixer Tape In, and the mixer driving the monitor speakers. Seems to me that the signal still would be going in and out of the interface, if that is the problem. I could, however, headphone monitor at the mixer then, instead of the interface. ???

Subject:RE: Monitor existing track/record new

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:6/26/2006 7:29:31 AM

I thought you said you had an ADDA interface (i.e., the ADDA 2408 or ADDA 2408-r)? At any rate, if the output of the FCA202 is only driving your monitors and never enters the mixer I can’t see how this would cause the feedback you described.

As for the software monitoring in ACID, you don’t really need to use it because you are monitoring from directly from the hardware interface. You would only use software monitoring if you wanted to hear FX like reverb while recording. With your setup, it isn’t really necessary and it would not contribute to feedback.

I see that the FCA202 comes with a lite version of Ableton live. Have you tried recording with that and do you get the same feedback. That will either rule out or confirm that it’s a hardware connection problem. Then you can adjust your connection or figure out why ACID doesn’t work like it should.

~jr

Subject:RE: Monitor existing track/record new

Reply by: RichRandal

Date:6/26/2006 7:59:40 AM

Thanks again. I just used ADDA as a generic term for analog/digital/digital/analog. sorry.

I think I will download 6a and see what I've got after that. If it still acts up I'll look into Ableton. The FCA202 software controls are minimal, just latency control, really.

Onward!