How to Monitor Sound as Recorded in Headphones

[nweiss999]

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

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

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

[nweiss999]

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_]

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!

[nweiss999]

Success. Tapping into the audio from the pre-amp, not the computer out. Thanks so much!