At the present I'm working with the Tracktion2 demo version. I like it. I want to buy it. I don't know how to start using it effectively. I have read the entire reference maunual and the user manual. Over and Over. It's overwhelming me TBH. I can see the Forum users can usually provide much clearer walk through example type answers. A few questions.
Once I get my own Gibson guitar plugged in to the back of my PC (Standard Dell sound card with line-in and mike-in) how do I,
A)Do some dry runs on Tracktion that I can hear through headphones without recording anything.
B)Do a recording on Tracktion while listening to what's being laid down?
C)Lay down a second guitar track while listening to track #1 and what I'm recording on track#2 together.
The second hurdle: I have no other physical musically instruments around the house so evrything else will have to be VSTi. That's one great thing about Tracktion2. I was able to load a VSTi called VB-1 (a virtual bass guitar) into the Tracktion2 plugins folder. It's there, it shows up on the list. Now,
A)What do I have to do to play it and then record a track with it. Do I play it using a VSTi synth filter behind the VB-1 filter? Or how does that work.?
If I can get past this, that's all I need. Once you know how to record one live performance and record one VSTi then I should be able to get started. I've spent a lot of hours with the manual. I'd be grateful for some help.
Thanks chenn
NEWBIE SEEKS RECORDING HELP TRACKTION2
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- KVRAF
- 6740 posts since 25 Mar, 2002 from sheffield, england
I think we have a problem right there: Tracktion requires special "ASIO" drivers for the soundcard before it will work with the sort of low latency you need.. but if your card is not specifically designed for audio it won't have any dedicated ASIO drivers, so you will need to install ASIO4ALL instead, and configure Tracktion to use them. (Settings -> Audio Devices -> Wave Device)chenn wrote: Once I get my own Gibson guitar plugged in to the back of my PC (Standard Dell sound card with line-in and mike-in)
Let us know when you've got that sorted
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- KVRAF
- 2417 posts since 17 Jun, 2003
Ok, try this ...
1) Drag the audio input on the left so the arrow points to a track (any track)
2) Make sure the button marked "enable end to end" is on down in the middle at the bottom of the screen
3) Make sure the button marked "e-to-e" is on down at the bottom right of the screen
Now play along with your guitar, you should hear something. You can hit record to record what you're playing
Then
4) Drag the arrow to a different track. Rewind the track, hit play, and play along.
I dunno if that's too simplified, or too complicated, but could put screen grabs together if required?
1) Drag the audio input on the left so the arrow points to a track (any track)
2) Make sure the button marked "enable end to end" is on down in the middle at the bottom of the screen
3) Make sure the button marked "e-to-e" is on down at the bottom right of the screen
Now play along with your guitar, you should hear something. You can hit record to record what you're playing
Then
4) Drag the arrow to a different track. Rewind the track, hit play, and play along.
I dunno if that's too simplified, or too complicated, but could put screen grabs together if required?
"my gosh it's a friggin hardware"
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- KVRAF
- 2417 posts since 17 Jun, 2003
And, uh, see what IIRs said ... i was going to forget about latency for the minute until you spotted it yourself, but IIRs advice is better
"my gosh it's a friggin hardware"
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- KVRAF
- 12977 posts since 29 Sep, 2003 from Ottawa, Canada
I don't recommend the soundcard input as your input for very long. In the "settings" page, in the "audio devices" tab (should be the default tab I believe) what does it say in the pull-down box for "Wave Device"?
If it doesn't list an ASIO device, you'll want to try the ASIO4ALL drivers, which will make a new device appear in that box. If they work (they work for most on-board soundcards, but not all), they will give you better performance.
Next, make sure you use the "mic-in" for now. A guitar by itself isn't enough to drive a "line-in" input. You may have to go into your Control Panel and make sure that the mic-in is enabled, though it is most often enabled by default.
Once you get to the edit page in Tracktion, make sure you have a device (one of the icons on the left) pointed at a track in order to arm it. Still can't hear anything? You need to enable end-to-end. End-to-end, as the name implies, lets your signal flow all the way from the left (the input device) to the right (the output). Without this enabled, you won't hear your signal. There are 2 places to enable it:
1. Click your input icon, and enable end-to-end in the context menu that appears.
2. In the bottom right of the screen, near the master area, is a button labeled "e-to-e"
Regarding the virtual instruments:
Think of each instrument as a sound module. It needs to be triggered with MIDI codes. Since you don't have a keyboard, you need to generate them with MIDI notes that you draw in with your mouse. Select a track that will become your MIDI track. In the context menu that appears, there is an option for "insert new clip". You'll want to insert a new MIDI clip. Once you've done that, double-click it and it will expand to your "piano roll", from which you can enter MIDI notes.
Greg
If it doesn't list an ASIO device, you'll want to try the ASIO4ALL drivers, which will make a new device appear in that box. If they work (they work for most on-board soundcards, but not all), they will give you better performance.
Next, make sure you use the "mic-in" for now. A guitar by itself isn't enough to drive a "line-in" input. You may have to go into your Control Panel and make sure that the mic-in is enabled, though it is most often enabled by default.
Once you get to the edit page in Tracktion, make sure you have a device (one of the icons on the left) pointed at a track in order to arm it. Still can't hear anything? You need to enable end-to-end. End-to-end, as the name implies, lets your signal flow all the way from the left (the input device) to the right (the output). Without this enabled, you won't hear your signal. There are 2 places to enable it:
1. Click your input icon, and enable end-to-end in the context menu that appears.
2. In the bottom right of the screen, near the master area, is a button labeled "e-to-e"
Regarding the virtual instruments:
Think of each instrument as a sound module. It needs to be triggered with MIDI codes. Since you don't have a keyboard, you need to generate them with MIDI notes that you draw in with your mouse. Select a track that will become your MIDI track. In the context menu that appears, there is an option for "insert new clip". You'll want to insert a new MIDI clip. Once you've done that, double-click it and it will expand to your "piano roll", from which you can enter MIDI notes.
Greg
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 7 posts since 10 Aug, 2005
ASIO4ALL v2 driver installed and that is now the wave device. SoundMax Digital Audio 1 and 2 is enabled as default wave output, and SoundMax Digital Audio 1 and 2 is enabled as input. Use ASIO Direct Mode is enabled. The ASIO Control Panel list SoundMax Digital Audio as the WMD and is the only one on the list. The control panel itself is ASIO4. ALL. Real time priority mode is on.
Used Gibson guitar plugged into the line-in. Came through well. Couldn't figure out how to adjust the volume on what I was hearing. Seemed to be relatively low volume that I couldn't seem to increase by playing around with some ove the level adjustments. TBH I was lost there. Had a latency problem but that seemed to resolve by fiddling with the latency values. I couldn't find the "mic-in" button. I did pyhsically switch from Line-in to Mic-in on the computer. But it didn't seem to improve the volume situation.
Haven't done anything with VSTi's yet. Recording instructions, in fact all the instructions are very appreciated. I just need to get the volume up a little bit. Are my AUDIO DEVICE SETTINGS OK?
Thanks again,
chenn
Used Gibson guitar plugged into the line-in. Came through well. Couldn't figure out how to adjust the volume on what I was hearing. Seemed to be relatively low volume that I couldn't seem to increase by playing around with some ove the level adjustments. TBH I was lost there. Had a latency problem but that seemed to resolve by fiddling with the latency values. I couldn't find the "mic-in" button. I did pyhsically switch from Line-in to Mic-in on the computer. But it didn't seem to improve the volume situation.
Haven't done anything with VSTi's yet. Recording instructions, in fact all the instructions are very appreciated. I just need to get the volume up a little bit. Are my AUDIO DEVICE SETTINGS OK?
Thanks again,
chenn
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- KVRian
- 649 posts since 18 Dec, 2004
For around US$100, I recommend the Line 6 Guitar Port to record guitar. Guitar Port has ASIO drivers that work well for me and I like the amp simulations, especially the clean Roland JC-120.
edit: added url.
edit: added url.
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- KVRAF
- 6740 posts since 25 Mar, 2002 from sheffield, england
Your volume problems are caused by an impedance mis-match: passive electric guitar pickups need a high impedance ("Hi-Z" or "instrument") input to work properly, but modern line ins are low impedance..
The only solutions involve hardware: a DI box ("Direct Input") is probably the easiest solution, but if you plan to record vocals in the near future you might want to consider spending a bit more on a simple channel strip, most of which provide instrument inputs as well as mic pre-amps.
The only solutions involve hardware: a DI box ("Direct Input") is probably the easiest solution, but if you plan to record vocals in the near future you might want to consider spending a bit more on a simple channel strip, most of which provide instrument inputs as well as mic pre-amps.
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- KVRAF
- 12977 posts since 29 Sep, 2003 from Ottawa, Canada
In the meantime, as I said (but you might have missed it since my post was long) you'll need to use the mic input on your soundcard, not the line-in.
Greg
Greg
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- KVRAF
- 3441 posts since 15 Mar, 2003
You can use your computer keyboard to trigger vst instruments with a free plug-in called Trollo. You will also need to download midi yoke or hubi's loopback.
As for the recording of your guitar, you can adjust the input volume on your soundcard. On my win 98 machine I double click on the speaker icon in the taskbar, select options, select record and the mixer panel will pop up.
As for the recording of your guitar, you can adjust the input volume on your soundcard. On my win 98 machine I double click on the speaker icon in the taskbar, select options, select record and the mixer panel will pop up.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 7 posts since 10 Aug, 2005
The only thing I need to write at this point is thank you to everyone who took the time to help. Once I get experienced enough with Tracktion2 I will return the favor by helping somebody else out like you all did for me.
I'll try adjusting the volume settings on my own soundcard. If that doesn't fix problems then I'll check out Direct Input and Line 6 Guitar Port.
I see that my own sound card has a lot of options to play with. I activated the mic-in. Do I have to make a change in Tracktion settings somewhere in Tracktion to recognize the mic? That's the one thing I haven't been able to find the button for. I tried to find it using "search" the Tracktion help file but no luck.
I will get right on Trollo. Using the computer keyboard like real keyboard sounds great.
Thanks sgain,
chennn
I'll try adjusting the volume settings on my own soundcard. If that doesn't fix problems then I'll check out Direct Input and Line 6 Guitar Port.
I see that my own sound card has a lot of options to play with. I activated the mic-in. Do I have to make a change in Tracktion settings somewhere in Tracktion to recognize the mic? That's the one thing I haven't been able to find the button for. I tried to find it using "search" the Tracktion help file but no luck.
I will get right on Trollo. Using the computer keyboard like real keyboard sounds great.
Thanks sgain,
chennn
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- KVRAF
- 12977 posts since 29 Sep, 2003 from Ottawa, Canada
Tracktion will simply recognize the soundcard as a whole. If you've activated the mic-in in the soundcard's control panel/driver controls, it should be set. You just use the same device you used before-- nothing new will appear. If that doesn't work, there might be further hidden settings in setting up the sound card (turning OFF the line-in at the same time as enabling the mic-in? I dunno.) but there's nothing further you should need to do within Tracktion itself.