Tutorial - Recording Multi-track Overdubs
Introduction
This set of tutorials describe known, good, working methods of creating a multiple sound track overdubbing session in Audacity. That is, you record one track and then play it and add a second track against it. Drums, guitar, voice. Repeat as needed.
This process usually requires purpose-built hardware. The subtutorials explain use of a professional XLR microphone amplifier, a stereo line adapter (sound card) and a particular microphone. All three are USB sound devices and can be made to work on Linux, Mac, and Windows.
All three have been hands-on tested.
You will hear a useful, theatrical mix of live performance and the previous tracks in your headphones (also required). This is the step often missing or impaired without purpose-built hardware.
Hardware overdubbing
Software overdubbing
You can do overdubbing/multitrack in software with careful computer management. The process can take serious commitment in study, time or money, and is never as perfect and simple as with the hardware devices.
Fake overdubbing
You can also try fake overdubbing where you don't hear yourself during the performance.
Further Help
If no matter what you do the show sounds terrible or doesn't work at all, do drop in to the Audacity Help Forum where we can try to help you further. Registration is required and you may need to wait before your posting appears.
At minimum, you will need to tell us exactly which version of Audacity you are using, what kind of computer you have and which operating system. Don't head straight to the details of the problem without telling us what you're producing and why.
Be prepared to tell us how the straight recording session went - the one you did before you tried overdubbing.
Please don't post pages of diagnostic dump or error log unless we ask for it. If you do insist on posting it, use the [data] tags.
