Tracktion Waveform Audio is not working

[Sheepdog01]

(Currently, I have very little knowledge about this program or even recording in general).
I have connected a Behringer Xenyx 1204 USB audio mixer with a Zingyou BM-800 mic connected. I also have a set of headphones connected to the mixer (Tascam TH-02). All of this is connected correctly into the mixer and to the computer. I have the Output on Waveform set to the headphones and the input set to the mic (sample rate 48000Hz and Buffer at 480 samples), but when I go back the the new project and set track 1 to input channel 1, the indicator does not show any incoming signal. How do I fix this/why is this doing this?

[Watchful]

First, make sure your audio devices are configured in the settings. If the Xenyx is connected via USB to your computer, Waveform should detect it within seconds. The audio input in the settings should be the Xenyx.

If you're connecting the output of the Xenyx to the computer's mic input, that should still work, but I think you'll be able to do more if you use USB.

Ensure the volume on the Xenyx and on the mic's input to the Xenyx is turned down to zero. Then, begin raising the volume of both gradually until you get a signal level. You'll want to experiment with these settings over time: you don't want either too hot or too low.

Now, assuming you're getting a signal into Waveform, you're not going to benefit from it until you unplug the headphones from the Xenyx and plug them into your computer; otherwise, any processing or recording you do in Waveform will not be heard! Otherwise, the output of the mic goes raw into your headphones, and you miss any processing or effects you do with it.

Now, this part is very important.

On track 1 of Waveform, change the input (that's the part of the left of the track that looks like |__> ) to your Xenyx. A little box should pop there to tell you what the input is... depending on how your audio settings sees it, it might show up as INPUT 1.

Now you're sending audio from the USB input to track one.

There's a red dot that will appear on that input. Click it to make it BRIGHT RED. Now you're ready to record.

I hope this helps. You're super close--just remember that your computer is now the mastermind between your inputs and outputs.

[FigBug]

If you are on a Mac, make sure you gave Waveform access to your microphone.

System Settings > Security & Privacy > Microphone

[Sheepdog01]

First, make sure your audio devices are configured in the settings. If the Xenyx is connected via USB to your computer, Waveform should detect it within seconds. The audio input in the settings should be the Xenyx.

If you're connecting the output of the Xenyx to the computer's mic input, that should still work, but I think you'll be able to do more if you use USB.

Ensure the volume on the Xenyx and on the mic's input to the Xenyx is turned down to zero. Then, begin raising the volume of both gradually until you get a signal level. You'll want to experiment with these settings over time: you don't want either too hot or too low.

Now, assuming you're getting a signal into Waveform, you're not going to benefit from it until you unplug the headphones from the Xenyx and plug them into your computer; otherwise, any processing or recording you do in Waveform will not be heard! Otherwise, the output of the mic goes raw into your headphones, and you miss any processing or effects you do with it.

Now, this part is very important.

On track 1 of Waveform, change the input (that's the part of the left of the track that looks like |__> ) to your Xenyx. A little box should pop there to tell you what the input is... depending on how your audio settings sees it, it might show up as INPUT 1.

Now you're sending audio from the USB input to track one.

There's a red dot that will appear on that input. Click it to make it BRIGHT RED. Now you're ready to record.

I hope this helps. You're super close--just remember that your computer is now the mastermind between your inputs and outputs.

Thanks I'll try this tomorrow and tell any results although it may turn out the wiring in the mixer is bad so I'll have to replace it if it doesn't work.

[Peter Widdicombe]

Little detail - make sure any USB devices (Xenyz) are connected and powered BEFORE starting Waveform. You should then see them as configured audio devices - but if they were not already connected, they won't be seen.

On Windows anyway, you'll probably hear the low-high beep when the Xenyx is connected. If you get high-low, the driver isn't recognized...

[Watchful]

I suspect the mixer isn't bad. If your mic works through the mixer through headphones, it's probably perfect.

Hardware:

Its mic into mixer, mixer via USB into computer, and computer out to headphones.

Software:

Ensure Waveform sees the mixer.
Put that mixer as an input on the track.
Do a check of your headphones to ensure they are the default audio output for your system.
Click the red dot to arm the track.
Press record.
Use your mic to change the world for the better!
Stop recording.

When you get confident, start messing with effects plug ins and see what great stuff your mic can produce!

[fde101]

That is a condenser mic and requires phantom power.


The two most important rules when working with phantom power:

• do not connect or disconnect anything to an XLR connector while phantom power is turned on for its channel
• do not turn phantom power on or off for a channel unless it is completely muted and not being sent to any outputs - in other words, make sure that no signal from that channel can reach any output (speaker, headphones, etc.)

For this mixer, there is one phantom power switch which will impact all four XLR connectors at the same time. This is limiting because some ribbon mics can be destroyed or severely damaged by phantom power, so you can't easily use one of those at the same time as a condenser mic that requires it unless you use an external power supply for the condensers or something like an appropriate FetHead to filter out the phantom power before it reaches the ribbon mic... that may or may not be relevant to you, but simply something to be aware of. There may be other types of things that can be connected that would be damaged by phantom power, so it is important to be careful when using this feature.

The fact that there is only one shared switch also means that if you want to connect or disconnect anything connected to any of the XLR ports when phantom power is turned on, you should completely mute all of them first, turn phantom power off, manipulate the connections, then turn phantom back on (if still needed) and unmute.


You will also want to review the manual carefully to make sure you understand how the signal routing works on the mixer - you need to ensure that no signal from the mic inputs can reach any speaker when phantom power is being switched on or off (and for a second or two after flipping the switch). The specific requirements for that can vary from one mixer or audio device to another, particularly because of the way that "ALT 3-4" bus works on these small Behringer mixers, plus the aux sends in many cases.

[whyterabbyt]

(Currently, I have very little knowledge about this program or even recording in general).
I have connected a Behringer Xenyx 1204 USB audio mixer with a Zingyou BM-800 mic connected. I also have a set of headphones connected to the mixer (Tascam TH-02). All of this is connected correctly into the mixer and to the computer. I have the Output on Waveform set to the headphones and the input set to the mic (sample rate 48000Hz and Buffer at 480 samples), but when I go back the the new project and set track 1 to input channel 1, the indicator does not show any incoming signal. How do I fix this/why is this doing this?

The input and output for Waveform should be the Xenyx if its directly connected by USB (and it should be). 'Headphones' and 'Mic' sound like the onboard audio device for the computer, not the Xenyx.