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Record 2 audio tracks with 2 microphones

serguei57 -  
 Thugs2b -
Hello,
I want to record with 2 microphones and obtain in a software (Audacity or something else) 2 synchronized audio tracks, one for each microphone; I apparently need a system with 2 separate microphone inputs. Right now, I am using a solution that I need expertise on: I connect both of my microphones to the single mic input of my sound card and I record in Audacity a stereo audio track; what exactly am I recording on these left and right tracks of the stereo audio track? Is it plausible that I am recording one microphone on one track and the second microphone on the second track?
The configuration I am using: PC. Windows Me; Creative Sound Blaster audio PCI sound card; Audacity
Thank you very much 
Configuration: Windows Me! Firefox 2.0.0.20

4 answers

  1.
    The Pep Posted messages 1755 Status Member 597
     
    Hello

    after all this literature, I wanted to clarify one point for you, which is that with the computer's mic input, there will never be a way to have two separate channels, since it is mono.

    and since the mics have low sensitivity, it won't be possible to connect them to the line input of the PC either.

    the solution is a small mixing table, with at least 2 mic inputs, and to connect the main output to the line input of the PC.

    and be careful, if it's a laptop, it will not have a stereo line input, and then the only solution will be a small mixing table USB, to bring the 2 separate channels to the computer.

    here are 2 mixing tables that would be suitable, but there are others...

    a normal Behringer:
    http://www.electronique-diffusion.fr/...

    and a Alesis USB:
    https://www.thomann.de/fr/alesis_multimix_4usb.htm
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  2. Django
     
    You close a microphone, you test it and see if the recorded signal occupies one channel or two. From there, you'll be sure.
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    1. serguei57
       
      Thank you for your response Django,
      Indeed, I have already done this manipulation, and I noticed that the recorded signal occupies both channels of the stereo audio track. So I'm afraid that when I use the two microphones, the signals emitted by both mics merge at the microphone jack splitter of the sound card, and all of that is "dispatched" I don't know how across the two channels of the stereo track...
      I need to configure Audacity so that what comes from one mic goes to the right channel of the stereo audio track and what comes from the second mic goes to the left channel of the stereo track... but I don't know how to do that...

      Thanks again.
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  3. Django
     
    It's not an Audacity problem. The issue lies with the socket connecting the two microphones.
    0
  4. Phoquounet
     
    Not complicated, you launch Audacity
    Then you go to File > New and it opens a second Audacity window
    In the first one, you select your first microphone (if it appears) and in the second window, you choose the second microphone.
    Then you start recording each of the projects (they will be offset from each other, but you should be able to adjust them later).
    Once your recording is finished, you save the two resulting files and create a third project in which you will add the two first tracks you made, and you will have your two mono tracks (one on the left and one on the right, so actually a stereo track)
    All that's left is to adjust the tracks so that they are synchronized and that's it.

    Of course, if your PC does not recognize two distinct microphones, there is obviously nothing you can do

    Best regards

    EDIT: I made a mistake on one detail, you shouldn't create two projects but you need to install Audacity twice in two separate folders and launch the software twice as if it were two different programs.
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    1. Thugs2b
       
      Even better, you use OBS, it's a streaming software, you connect your phone via a jack to the microphone input. You go into the settings of your microphone and check "line input Realtek" etc. to listen to this device. You just have to record on OBS, which will capture the sound from your desktop + that from your microphone, cheers.
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