SOLVED! I'm stumped! Can't record a track without other tracks recording too.

Hi, I've been working to try and solve this problem for a while and can't work out what to do - I'm desperate to do some recording. I'm using Sonar Artist. Whenever I record a 2nd audio track or more, the other tracks already recorded are also recorded to the new track and I can't work out how to isolate it so only what I'm playing/singing at the time is recorded to a given track. I'm sure it must be a simple fix but darned if I can work it out. I've read the documentation but nothing seems to be related or helping. I've searched this forum but can't find anything (or just don't know the right terms to use). Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thank you.

That's usually either a "What You Hear" setting on the mixer applet of certain audio interfaces or headphones bleeding previously recorded tracks into a microphone.

guitaruke
 
Hi StepD,
Thank you, I checked for the "What You Hear" setting and can't find one in the properties for my sound card. I haven't plugged in the Mic yet, still trying to get the guitar and rhythm working first.
 

Creative interfaces are actually the usual culprits for the "What You Hear" problem you're describing. I don't really know anything about Creative Win10 drivers, but while Sonar is running, right click the speaker icon in the Win10 taskbar, choose Open Volume Mixer and see if one of the volume controls under Applications is labeled "What You Hear." Also, check the link below to see if your interface supports "What You Hear" in Win10. I still think there's a good chance that's what your problem is.
 
http://support.creative.c...Article.aspx?sid=87127

 
 

guitaruke
 
Creative interfaces are actually the usual culprits for the "What You Hear" problem you're describing. I don't really know anything about Creative Win10 drivers, but while Sonar is running, right click the speaker icon in the Win10 taskbar, choose Open Volume Mixer and see if one of the volume controls under Applications is labeled "What You Hear." Also, check the link below to see if your interface supports "What You Hear" in Win10. I still think there's a good chance that's what your problem is.
 

I did what you suggested and found a "What You Hear" option under Recording in the sound properties however it's disabled so shouldn't be active. Having said that, from what you say it still might be lurking somewhere...I don't have another soundcard on hand to test it out. 

Ah, it probably depends on your soundcard, but i had a sound card where digital in actived with a button, hmm, my new soundcard presonus audiobox 1818vst you go into set up to turn it on?.......im fairly amateur at sound engineering so i wouldnt take me too seriously......but yeah, digital in had that feature where it just records everything?....so just saying?

if you buy a 2nd hand one, just google and check that you can still get drivers for it, ive got an old edirol external sound card, after 13 years it is still in %100 working condition, however they stopped driver updates for it at windows 7.

"All my gear is going into my mixer then into the computer via the Line In port on the sound card"
 
You mention that all your instruments go into a mixer and then into the line in of your audio card. Do you run the output of your audio card through the mixer as well? 

I found the full name of the card I'm using, it's a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium PCIe Fatal1ty Champ Series. I paid $200AUD for it in 2013 so it's 5 years old now, maybe it needs replacing? 
 
There is no routing back to the mixer (unless it's happening in the software somehow?), the only input to the soundcard is through the soundcard's "Line In" jack (from the mixer) and out to the speakers through the speaker jack.
 
Sadly I have no old files to test as they all got lost in a total meltdown of my last computer. 
 
I've disabled everything in the soundcard except the line in and the speakers out, no digital buttons are activated - it's still recording from other active tracks even though the target track is the only one with the record activated. If I mute the other tracks they don't record which does lead me back to wondering if there is a "What You Hear" function somewhere that I haven't found. 
 
I was going to reset the preferences in case I messed up something there but there doesn't seem to be an option for that. I could try uninstalling and reinstalling Sonar in case there's a bug or something going on. I can't find it in the uninstall programs so guess I'd have to uninstall the Command Centre and start fresh?
 
Cactus Music: Thank you, that's a lot of great info there and on the linked page!  
 
Thanks to everyone, I really appreciate your input. 

Late checking back in, but glad to hear it, and glad to help. 
 
Cheers,
Dave

Lanceindastudio
Please change your thread title to start with the word SOLVED if you get a moment.
 
then people that see the thread in a search will know they can go here for a possible solution to a similar problem.
 
 

 
Thanks Lanceindastudio, I have now done this.