Subject:can't get input and output at the same time

Posted by: SteveM

Date:9/15/2010 12:28:55 PM

I recently bought a new Creation Station tower PC (running Win7) and a Native Instruments Audio 4 DJ unit from Sweetwater.com. I downloaded the trial version of SF10, since I can't install SF8 in Win7.

I'm able to record to the CS and I can play back what I record. The problem is that I can't do both without changing the device in Sound Forge. The Audio 4 DJ is connected to the USB port. I have a 1/8" y-cable coming out of the sound port on the motherboard, going to the receiver.

If I pick the Audio 4 DJ as the specified device, I can record from the unit. But I can't listen to what I've recorded unless I switch the device to Microsoft Sound Mapper. If I switch the device to the Microsoft Sound Mapper, then I can't record thru the Audio 4 DJ.

Any suggestions?

Steve Marshall

Subject:RE: can't get input and output at the same time

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:9/15/2010 1:05:43 PM

I've had the same problem with a few different external audio devices. Some of them even allow separate selection of input (recording) and output (playback) devices. But, no matter what i seem to pick, both input & output get switched to that device.

Best suggestion i can think of is to use the Audio 4 DJ as your output device as well.

Subject:RE: can't get input and output at the same time

Reply by: roblesinge

Date:9/15/2010 3:16:58 PM

This sounds like a driver issue. You can't use both the onboard sound and the ASIO drivers of the NI unit at the same time. Why aren't you using the outputs on the NI Audio4DJ instead of your onboard sound?

Rob

Subject:RE: can't get input and output at the same time

Reply by: SteveM

Date:9/17/2010 6:50:50 AM

My initial idea was to get something that would allow me to play an album (so it needed to have a phono preamp) and record it on my computer. I also wanted to be able to send output from the unit to the receiver at the same time. I was told the NI unit would work. This was not the case tho.

After trying several different wiring setups, I arrived at the following. It doesn't make send that this would work, but,,,

The RCAs on turntable are connected to the receiver. The turntable ground is connected to the Audio4DJ. The output from the receiver is connected to the line in input on the Audio4DJ. The signal is low, but there is no audible line noise, hum, etc. If I normalize what I record, it sounds great.

Not sure why this works. I still have to switch inputs on the receiver to play back from the computer, but I can deal with that.

Steve

Subject:RE: can't get input and output at the same time

Reply by: roblesinge

Date:9/17/2010 7:08:30 AM

I'm confused about this. So, you've tried running the turntable into the NI and then out of the NI into your receiver, and that isn't working?

Do you have live monitoring enabled while recording?

Rob
:cool:

Subject:RE: can't get input and output at the same time

Reply by: SteveM

Date:9/24/2010 11:00:34 AM

If I connect the turntable to the NI unit, then I have to switch the receiver input to playback. Either way, I have to switch the receiver input to listen to what I'm recording.

You mentioned live monitoring - within SF or on the NI unit?

Subject:RE: can't get input and output at the same time

Reply by: roblesinge

Date:9/24/2010 1:47:07 PM

I'm still confused. What is hooked up to what? If you have your turntable going into the NI unit and the outputs going to the receiver, you should be able to hear what you're recording by activating input monitoring on the record window in SF. While the sound might be delayed a bit due to latency, it should still allow you to listen to what you're recording.

Rob

Subject:RE: can't get input and output at the same time

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:9/24/2010 2:18:06 PM

The turntable will have to go into the receiver in order to connect to the "phono" inputs on the preamp. This is a feature that the NI box won't offer.

*Most* receivers/preamps/integrated amps offer a "tape record" input selection with it's own separate output jacks as well as a "listen" input selection. It's very rare to have this feature lacking on any unit costing more than $50 or made in the last 30 years. The setup that should work would be to have the receiver set to "record" from the turntable, connect the "tape out" jacks to the input of the NI unit, connect the output of the NI unit to the "tape in" or "aux in" or some other unused line input on the receiver, and set the receiver to hear that input. That should take care of all the necessary signal routing.