Another Recording Newb

DetMorris · #1 01-30-2011, 08:11 AM

I have just started recording with a Zoom H2 and Audacity. I am recording the first track, then exporting it as a wav. I then play the wav through an Ipod with headphones to record the additional tracks. Is there a way to monitor recorded tracks and record at the same time in Audacity? If so I missed it. If not, does anyone know if the Tascam 4 or 8 track portables do this? I find it to be much of a pain to align the tracks when recorded separately. Just a slight miss in alignment can really screw up the song unlike you are looking for the echo effect. Thanks for any assistance. I am trying to record rythym, lead runs, and voice harmonies.

Cue Zephyr · #2 01-30-2011, 09:10 AM

I think if you click RECORD with the other track still in the project, whilst having a new track active, this will play the recorded audio back while you are recording.
Then again, I'm a REAPER user, but I'm sure Audacity does this exactly the same.

Danno · #3 01-30-2011, 03:08 PM

Hi DetMorris,

Launch Audacity and go to 'edit'>> 'preferences'>>'recording' and then check the box that says 'overdub'

Should be good to go.

Danno

Bob1131 · #4 01-30-2011, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetMorris

I have just started recording with a Zoom H2 and Audacity. I am recording the first track, then exporting it as a wav. I then play the wav through an Ipod with headphones to record the additional tracks. Is there a way to monitor recorded tracks and record at the same time in Audacity? If so I missed it. If not, does anyone know if the Tascam 4 or 8 track portables do this? I find it to be much of a pain to align the tracks when recorded separately. Just a slight miss in alignment can really screw up the song unlike you are looking for the echo effect. Thanks for any assistance. I am trying to record rhythm, lead runs, and voice harmonies.

I think all of the multi-track (more than 2 tracks) portable recorders today are designed to do exactly what you want to do. The Tascam portables will do it, the Boss portables do it, and the Zoom H4 (and up) multi-track, too. I use the Boss BR864 (precursor to the BR900) and I can record up to 64 tracks with it, albeit I can only mix 8 tracks at a time. That has given me plenty of tracks to record multiple guitar parts, lush harmonies, drums, keyboards, bass and special effects.

DetMorris · #5 01-30-2011, 06:38 PM

Thanks guys. Found it in the preferences. Check of the box and life was a lot easier.

rhancox · #6 01-31-2011, 08:47 AM

It sounds like you're recording with the Zoom and then importing that into Audacity. If you are going to record everything on the Zoom and then import, the multi-tracking in Audacity isn't going to help you.

If you can plug the Zoom in to your computer and record directly into Audacity, then you're ok. Otherwise, you're still not recording over what you're playing back.

Or am I missing something?

DetMorris · #7 01-31-2011, 04:35 PM

I am using the Zoom as an interface to Audacity via USB. I got that all to work fine. Until I found the preference setting to playback recorded tracks while recording a new one I was struggling with aligniing tracks. Found the setting change and it now does everything I wanted to do. Thanks again.