I have a USB mic that came from my Rockband set (It woks VERY well its NOT the problem), and I have the Sterio Mix active on a Windows Vista machine. I need to record input from both at once in order to record a weekly talk show I want to do with a friend. Unfortunately we are at opsit ends of the country, so using Audacity I set it up to record the Sterio Mix channel, and then had my PC listen to my mic. This worked, I could here myself, and my friend in my recording but there is a snag.
The audio from the Sterio input is very loud in relation to my voice which comes form my mic. Since each recording is over an hour long, going through it all to isolate my voice and amplify it in post is out of the question. I need a way to record the sterio mix device, and my microphone device independently of each other, but at once. (IE Not by checking the listen box.) I need a solution TODAY, meaning I cant go and get hardware. I need a software solution to this problem that is able to preform in real time and is less then five bucks.
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While you missed your deadline, here is the answer to your quest
While you missed your deadline, here is the answer to your question. I don't use Vista but I would imagine it has a similar built-in Microsoft mixer to XP/2000/98/95. When you look at your mixer controls you will commonly see controls for: microphone, CD, wave, SW synth & MIC in. But here is the hitch in the get along. That is simply a monitor mixer control. This is a dual function software applet. If you go to the Options drop-down menu of mixer, you'll find your recording controls. Click on the Options control. It's there that you will find the recording controls. This dictates what your software is going to record. Now here is the cool thing... you can now also while looking at the recording mixer applet open another instance of the Microsoft mixer. Now you'll have two windows open. One that dictates what you're going to be listening to and one that dictates what you are going to be recording. It's almost like having an old-school console. Old-school consoles had the input section for the microphones on one side of the board and the multitrack monitor mixer on the other side of the board. The board might also allow you to monitor what is coming in and what is going out separately but it's different in software. The recording control will allow you to record your microphone at the proper level. All the while you are also listening and have control over what you are listening to. I know this is getting a little convoluted but by understanding the dual function operation of the Microsoft mixer, you can accomplish what you need to do without any typical multitrack blah blah equipment or software. But there are so many different software programs out there for you to utilize, that are free or shareware, those and the Microsoft mixer will have you doing much more professional radio programs because it will be those programs that will give you the ability to multitrack. This way, your friend can be on one track while you are on a mother then you mix it together. I'm not sure that came out right?
Of course we have not talked here about what kind of microphone you are using and obviously you are relying upon your computer sound card that's built-in to accomplish all of this. Generally most folks here are looking for a little more fashionable sound and feel than that. But nevertheless, it's still a learning machine. Really, you should invest about $200 for a SM58 made by Shure Brothers and just about anybody's $100 entry-level USB external audio interface to do this well. I can tell you having been a radio station disc jockey & announcer, it really makes a big difference to the people listening to you if you sound professional. With the $7 multimedia headset I'm using here to power my voice recognition software, I can honestly say, when recorded, it's too close and it sounds like crap. But the voice recognition software doesn't care as it's use to the way this sounds for voice recognition purposes or is that porpoises?
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious I didn't even have to know how to spell that. C'est la vie. That too.
Remember to always put a foam condom on your microphone.
Mx. Remy Ann David