hmmm. Some actual information might be nice. Hard to help if we don't know what you have -hardware/software/interface/computer specs.

Sorry. I use standard microsoft mixer and realtek HD audio input to record. If there's an exact name variation of that software I could not located it. It only says Realtek HD audio input. I am using Acid 6.0 to mix, but it has the same problem in all recording software on my PC including SoundForge 9.0 and Sound Recorder. It always picks up the background sounds on the computer when it picks up my voice.

Sounds like you're using some kind of built-in mic or...?

You haven't mentioned the microphone itself, the interface, the preamp, etc. Are you using an external mic, and if so....are you routing it into the (unbalanced?) input of the audio card?

I have my external Labtec mic into the only mic port on the back of my PC. Sorry I am not too technologically savy, so I am easily confused. I believe it's plugging into the RealTek Audio card. I am not sure what it means to be unbalance or how to fix it. :/

"I am not sure what it means to be unbalance or how to fix it."

I have that very same problem!

Haha Space needs help too. :p

POSSIBLE PROBLEM #1
Are you using Headphones to listen to the music when you're recording vocals or do you just have the music cranked in the room speakers?
In other words is the MIC picking up the music from the speakers?

POSSIBLE PROBLEM #2
On the existing music tracks, are there any Aux sends or outputs that are incorrectly being sent to the vocal track that you're recording on?
In other words, Is all the routing correct?

POSSIBLE TESTING PROCEDURE.
Are you able to mute or lower the volume of just the music tracks. (not the vocal track) and record the mic?
Do this by just singing "la la la la". Or be a rockstar and go "TesTING 1,2, Testing".
If this produces a positive result, then it appears that the problem is one of the 2 I outlined above.

hope this helps.

Go to the windows mixer panel: double click the speaker icon in the bottom right hand corner of the screen/options menu/properties/recording. Make sure that you only have the mic input selected for recording. Disable what u hear, auxiliary, phone or anything else that is not the mic input.

A piece of advice: Buy a proper interface with LEGAL software and a decent mic.

Yea, and if the Realtek sound card can be used as a barometer, you and me are going to need some help combating this problem of "it's not stealing if no one ever actually touches anything."

It's like white collar crime with an off the rack shirt:)

Anywhere the social stereotypes are enforced, businesses with dress codes or a pub that doesn't let Black people in... These places are hot beds for criminal activity. If you lie down with dogs you get up with flees.
A dress code is like the Apartheid in more ways than one. I cannot afford a tailored shirt and suit or even pants. I insist on cotton and not wool or plastic because of medical reasons. My neurosis mainly. I'm also rather large, not particularly fat but I look like a retard in anything not tailor made... This is an instant prejudice against me, through this I am able to empathise with people who are discriminated against racially.
Don't let the uniform fool you, white collar crime kills the masses.
If my T-shirt slacks and boots offends you, you're a bastard.
If you purposely use stereo types to your advantage, wear the white shirt and the blue suit and perform things according to the guidelines of manners and etiquette no matter your personal feelings, you are a bastard. And not literally, your parents may have been married, I mean colloquially.
When someone is able to act in a "normal" way and look "normal" just by following some simple rules, if they use this to their advantage in anything tangible, (intangible things are things like love and good food, tangible things are money) you are a bastard. People who look like sharks and act like humans are the worst.

Greener = smarter than you.

natural wrote: POSSIBLE PROBLEM #1
Are you using Headphones to listen to the music when you're recording vocals or do you just have the music cranked in the room speakers?
In other words is the MIC picking up the music from the speakers?

POSSIBLE PROBLEM #2
On the existing music tracks, are there any Aux sends or outputs that are incorrectly being sent to the vocal track that you're recording on?
In other words, Is all the routing correct?

POSSIBLE TESTING PROCEDURE.
Are you able to mute or lower the volume of just the music tracks. (not the vocal track) and record the mic?
Do this by just singing "la la la la". Or be a rockstar and go "TesTING 1,2, Testing".
If this produces a positive result, then it appears that the problem is one of the 2 I outlined above.

hope this helps.

It's not number one. I unplugged the mic from the PC and it is still picking up sounds from my computer.

I don't believe it is number two. No matter what I play, while recording, even if I am streaming something online, it records to the recording file.

Yes, if I turn down all the volume on my computer and then record my voice, it only picks up my voice. However, I need to hear the music I recorded while recording the vocals to get everything nice and neat on time. Ha It's so confusing.

It basically seems like my computer is just recording whatever is coming out of my speakers.

Did you try what I suggested? Turn off "what u hear" as a recording option. THIS IS YOUR PROBLEM. Recording and playback are two different settings.

Yes. I turned off "what I hear". I turned the volume of the music I was recording over off by muting it and I was able to just hear my voice. However, I can not record over music with a vocal track, if I can not hear the music -- it sounds terrible and the timing is way off.

hueseph wrote: Go to the windows mixer panel: double click the speaker icon in the bottom right hand corner of the screen/options menu/properties/recording. Make sure that you only have the mic input selected for recording. Disable what u hear, auxiliary, phone or anything else that is not the mic input.

I feel like such an idiot. Okay, so I didn't see "phone" or "aux" options on the check box screen, but I unchecked everything but "Mic". I will now see if it works. Thank you for your patience. One second, I will try.

I tried that. All that is checked is "Mic" (in BOTH the standard microsoft sound config AND the realtek mixer) and I still have the same problem. It DOES record from the mic but it also records from the computer, regardless of if the mic is even plugged in or not. :/ Frustrating. In the realtek mixer I had to leave "Stereo Mix" option unmuted as well or it wouldn't even pic up the mic.

Nevermind! You were right. I forgot to press OK. :] But yeah, I am just stupid. Thank you SO much! You fixed it and now the fans can finally have what they want. Thanks again and sorry for the triple post.

jackalhead wrote: Nevermind! You were right. I forgot to press OK. :] But yeah, I am just stupid. Thank you SO much! You fixed it and now the fans can finally have what they want. Thanks again and sorry for the triple post.

Ok. Great. Now if the fans want something that sounds good, get yourself a decent interface and mic. You may not notice it now but those realcrap soundcards are noisy. $200 and you're off and running.

I totally would but I just barely ordered the Yamaha DD 65 Digital Drum Kit. Got tired of doing my beats on a synthesizer hahah. Next free $200 I get will go to that. Any sound cards / mics you recommend?

Also, does anyone know any good cables I can use to hook a guitar, synthesizer, electronic drum kit into the back of my PC via the mic port? I used to have one, but it was lost a week or two ago. Something cheap, preferably.

"Next free $200 I get will go to that. Any sound cards / mics you recommend?"

Check the budget gear forum for "cheap interface" (that's what it is, not a soundcard).

What output is on the stuff you list?
Mic ports are not ideal for anything that isn't a computer microphone.
(Odds are you need a 1/4" TRS to 1/8" TRS).