Using Two Mics

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:12 pm

I'm trying to use two microphones to record with at the same time for a podcast radio show. They're both usb mics, exactly the same, yet only one is picking up audio.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:19 pm

I can't help, but my guess is that this is a computer issue rather than an audio issue. Info on your computer, operating system, recording software, and the brand(s) of the mics would be helpful.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:28 pm

Don't be trying to do this on a USB hub. You need separate USB inputs on your computer. No sharing allowed.

This should be no different from running 2 different USB audio devices. Which I do all the time. So it is your settings within software that may also be your problem? You may need to go into hardware setup within your selected software program to let it know that this additional USB microphone exists.

Back to the book
Ms. Remy Ann David

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:53 am

You should actually be able to use a hub since, in reality, most multi-USB inputs on PCs are linked through the same bus and all going through the PCI bridge anyway.

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:22 am

If the mics aren't identical in make and model, I doubt you will get it to work. Most DAWs as far as I know will only support one audio driver at a time. It's also dependent on whether or not your mics will allow you to do this. I would check with the manufacturer's web site.

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:52 am

He mentioned that they were identical. Otherwise, you're right on.

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:54 am

Out of curiosity, why exactly do you need two mics? Could there be another method of getting what you need to be done done with only one mic? Also, do you have the mics now, and did you keep the receipts? If you take them back and pick up a cheap two channel interface (m-audio firewire410 or something along those lines), you'll have more flexibility and two inputs to play with, although you'll have to pick up some extra equipment (mics, cables and stands). Dunno, all that might be more complicated than you want to get.

A quick Google search showed me

This - http://forums.logitech.com/logitech/board/message?board.id=microphone_general&message.id=30

This -
http://www.podcastalley.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-122647.html

and This -
http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16159347

Conflicting info, eh? But the general consensus seems to be that out of the box it's not going to happen, because the mics are being treated as individual soundcards, not separate mics. However, that's general consensus from random Google searches, not from RO. Also there seems to be several references to ASIO4ALL as a workaround to enable you to access two audio drivers at the same time. Dunno, haven't looked into it, as I said, just a google plus extrapolation, but good luck!

Nathan

P.S. Many comments, But none of that stuff is how to insert URL's as hyperlinks, so if anyone feels like a 30sec tutorial, (not to hijack your thread) I'm sure the rest of the community would appreciate it. Thanks!

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:04 am

Type the word(s) you want to be hyperlinked, select the word(s) (highlighting them), click the URL button in the reply screen (top right),
in the bracketed [URL] text at the front of the word(s) add the following so it looks like this:

[URL= your site name. whatever]

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:05 am

30 second tutorial in 15 secs! He's a beast! Thanks

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:41 pm

No problem, I see it worked for ya!

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:41 am

Well, if you're still having problems getting both microphones to record, simultaneously, here's another suggestion.

Computers can multitask so make it multitask. Open one audio program, choose the recording device and begin recording. Now launch a different a different audio program and select the other microphone to record from. Make sure that you select the same sample rate and bit depth as the other and begin recording.

When you're done, you can merge them into your multitrack software and mix. Try that?

Always thinking in circles lots of circles
Ms. Remy Ann David

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