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nweiss999
Participant
April 28, 2021
Question

How to Monitor Sound as Recorded in Headphones

  • April 28, 2021
  • 1 reply
  • 1114 views

Hi all, newbie question here that seems like such a no-brainer that it's absurd that I can't figure it out: How do I hear audio in my headphones while I am recording? 

 

I have a two-channel recording for a podcast conversation. I can capture sound independently from each mic but can only hear the recording if I stop and hit play. This makes no sense. It seems ludacrious that I wouldn't be able to hear while I'm recording.

 

I am using a MacBook, with AT2020 mics into an M-Audio usb preamp. My headphones are plugged in to a Behringer Microamp which is then plugged in to the M-Audio headphone out. 

 

This is essentially what I do to record music via GarageBandon another Mac . So, what the heck am I doing wrong?

 

thanks

 

Neal

 

 

 

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

SteveG_AudioMasters_
Community Expert
SteveG_AudioMasters_Community Expert
Community Expert
April 28, 2021

Have you tried pressing the I (input) button on the channels you wish to monitor whilst they are being recorded?

N
nweiss999Author
Participant
April 28, 2021

Yes. That works except that there is alos a slight delay, which makes it quite difficult to work with. That's not the best option, is it?

 

SteveG_AudioMasters_
Community Expert
SteveG_AudioMasters_Community Expert
Community Expert
April 28, 2021

That delay is called latency, and it is the inevitable result of having to digitise the signal, pass it through the computer and then turn it back into an analog signal so that you can hear it. Normal monitoring of yourself is done by feeding your input signal directly to your headphones without any digitising - that's why there is a monitoring path. You haven't said which M-Audio interface you have, but if it's something like the Solo, that's why there is a switch on the front that either lets you have the headphone feed as a direct output, or from the USB. The USB option would be the through-the-computer route, but the direct position has no delay.

 

This is all perfectly normal, and affects everybody the same way!

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