Audio Rec with Deepmind 12

Former user wrote on 4/2/2019, 1:07 PM

I'm having some issues with recording into MMM 2019 with the DeepMind 12 synth. With complex sounds such as the arp sounds, it seems to not be able to capture the full subtleties of the audio that I hear whilst playing. I have a SoundBlaster z which should be more than capable. It seems like it 'simplifies' the complex sounds. My computer is pretty much top notch so there are no CPU issues.

I was getting terrible noise interference when playing through my soundcard so I put in an inline groundloop isolator that seems to eliminate the interference. First I thought that maybe it was cutting out part of my audio signal but it is the same without the isolator.

Also, my microphone volume is very low when recording. If I turn up volume in MMM or using the Mixer in the soundblaster panel, I get a lot of background noise. The volume in the windows control panel is set to max. I'm plugged into the 'Line in/Mic' socket on the SoundBlaster.

Anyone any ideas on how to rectify these two issues? Cheers.

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emmrecs wrote on 4/7/2019, 7:38 AM

@Former user

Whilst recording vocals it will also be recording what I'm playing back and I assume that's not good either? Do I have to use headphones when doing vocals?

Simple answer to your second question: Yes!

If you listen to your backing track via your speakers there is an almost 100% certainty that at least some of the sound from those speakers will be picked up by your mic, with two consequences: your vocal track will include "other" audio, not ideal for when you come to mix the final version; and since the sound is going from PC to Speakers to Microphone to PC to ... = potentially large feedback problems!

HTH

Jeff

Former user wrote on 4/7/2019, 8:30 AM

Thanks Jeff. Appreciate the time you guys have taken to help me on this. I've been amazed at what I've been able to produce so far and nothing beats that buzz of seeing a tune coming together. Thanks again.

johnebaker wrote on 4/7/2019, 9:21 AM

@Former user

Jeff is correct - that is another feedback loop to be avoided - plug headphones into the PC not the USB interface, without knowing the audio mixing/switching arrangements within the the interface, the ones I have experience of are basically mixers so avoid routing audio back to it.

John EB

Former user wrote on 4/8/2019, 3:10 AM

The problem currently is that to swap between audio and midi, I have to change the settings in audio playback in MM. I can't hear both audio and midi using the same settings. I'm hoping that is just a consequence of recording the audio with the soundcard. It will probably be resolved with an audio interface.

johnebaker wrote on 4/8/2019, 5:56 AM

@Former user

. . . . swap between audio and midi, I have to change the settings in audio playback in MM . . . .

That would explain a lot of what you have been doing wih the switching etc.

If you have not done so, install ASIO4All and use this for audio playback, then there should be no need for switching in MMM.

HTH

John EB

Former user wrote on 4/8/2019, 10:53 AM

Hi John. I've already tried the ASIO4ALL. On those settings, it will record and playback midi and also record audio but you can't hear the audio playback without switching to another setting. I've been through all the possible settings and none of them will allow both record and playback of both audio and midi. I'm hoping that inputting everything to the PC via the interface rather than 'Line in' on the soundcard will sort it somehow.

I've even tried using rca connectors from soundcard to speakers rather than the SPDIF.

johnebaker wrote on 4/8/2019, 2:49 PM

@Former user

. . . . it will record and playback midi and also record audio but you can't hear the audio playback without switching to another setting . . . .

I have tested this with MMM v27.0.3.33 and the following audio settings in the Program settings Audio/MIDI tab work, ie I hear playback and the audio in (Mic) or MIDI in device being recorded:-

Audio playback: Magix Low Latency 2016 (1+2), ASIO driver: Magix Low Latency 2016 (1+2)
Audio playback Magix Low Latency 2016 (1+2), WASAPI driver: set to sound card
Audio playback: ASIO4All v2 (1+2), ASIO driver: ASIO4All v2

I have a Realtek HDA sound card which supports ASIO, your Soundblaster card does supports ASIO, click the Advanced button on the Audio playback: Magix Low Latency 2016 (1+2) option to open the settings for the sound card and check the correct inputs/outputs are set.

HTH

John EB

Former user wrote on 4/9/2019, 1:05 AM

Hi John. I've been through all the possible permutations of settings and checked the advanced on each. Can't get any one setting to suit. Either the midi is inaudible when playing and recording OR the audio is inaudible when playing back.

I might try reinstalling my soundcard later when my sanity has returned. Cheers.

EDIT:

Reinstalling soundcard and drivers didn't help. In fact now if I try to record using asio4all or creative asio, MM crashes. Wonder if there is any mileage in reinstalling MM.

johnebaker wrote on 4/9/2019, 4:17 AM

@Former user

. . . . if there is any mileage in reinstalling MM . . .

Quite possible, I had to reinstall MMM on my laptop yesterday, after a Windows update appears to have messed it up.

You do need to ensure that you clean out files that are left behind after un-install, use this procedure and also do the check that the Windows installation is OK.

HTH

John EB

ralftaro wrote on 4/9/2019, 5:46 AM

Can't get any one setting to suit. Either the midi is inaudible when playing and recording OR the audio is inaudible when playing back.

Hi all,

Please also keep in mind that there's currently a quirk in Music Maker 27.x (and when using ASIO drivers) where it won't output an audio track on playback as long as that track is armed for recording (i.e. "AUDIO REC" in the track header). It would be very typical to fall into this trap, if you're someone who's performing audio recordings in Music Maker, when you stop recording your take, and press play again to listen to the result in the context of your entire song. Result: You'll hear everything, *except* for the take you just recorded - despite the fact that you can see the audio object in the track. So, the simple solution (and without having to switch away from ASIO drivers) would be to just make sure to disable the recording switch in the track header again.

This was reported as a bug a while ago, and just came to my attention again in the context of a recent support ticket. I wonder whether this is also part of the issue Trevor is experiencing.

Cheers!

Former user wrote on 4/9/2019, 6:20 AM

Ralftaro. You won't believe it but I found out that very thing just now and came back to the forum to report! Yes I can use the Magix Low Latency in both audio playback settings and as long as I turn off 'Audio REc' tab, I can hear playback. Curiously, I can switch to another track and arm it to 'Midi rec' and I can hear ONLY the VST instrument WITHOUT turning Local control to 'OFF' on the DeepMind synth. Happy days!

Thank you everyone! And thank you Ralftaro because if I had not found the solution myself, a return to the forum would have provided it with your post. Thanks again!

johnebaker wrote on 4/9/2019, 6:44 AM

@Former user, @ralftaro

The puzzle is solved - it is amazing how you forget a step, that you take for granted and do without thinking, when trying to explain to others how to make something work!

Lesson learned there 🙂.

Thanks

John EB

Former user wrote on 4/9/2019, 7:27 AM

Now I eagerly await my audio interface. Cheers John and thanks for your continued patience!