Ableton Forum

Hiya, I'm quite new to Ableton, I have Ableton Live 8 suite. I'm having problems recording my vocals over a pre-recorded .wav backing track - every time I record, I end up with the backing track being duplicated on the separate vocal audio track (i.e. Ableton has recorded the backing track twice, and layered one version over my separate vocal audio track). This causes the backing track to sound like it is underwater and "wah wah wah", although the vocals themselves are clear.

It is definitely picking up the .wav track twice; when I delete the .wav file audio track and just play the recorded vocal audio track, you can still hear the backing .wav file recorded on the vocal track. I really want them on separate tracks so I can adjust the vocal effects individually from the pre-recorded backing track. I have tried recording in Arrangement and Session view, and I have adjusted all my latency/buffer settings, but still have same problem.

I am using a mixing desk, my cardioid condenser mic is going through the mix desk and I am using headphones whilst recording (headphones also going through mix desk, not directly attached to laptop). I have put the .wav file into one Audio Track (with OFF button engaged), and I am recording my vocals in a separate audio track, also with the OFF button engaged. I am using Channel 1 for the .wav file audio track, and Channel 2 for the vocal audio track. (I tried having both on the same channel, same problem occurred).

I don't know what I'm doing wrong, I can't understand why Ableton is picking up the backing track twice (I guess through my mic) when I am recording with headphones...? I am at my wits end, please help!

Ableton live is probably recording Everything that you are hearing from your headphones. Does your mixer have sub mix or monitoring options? I think your best and easiest bet would be to connect the phones to the computer instead, mute the track on your mixing board. Set the vocal channel to Auto

Thanks! I shall give it a go and let you know how it gets on.

yur2die4 wrote:Ableton live is probably recording Everything that you are hearing from your headphones. Does your mixer have sub mix or monitoring options? I think your best and easiest bet would be to connect the phones to the computer instead, mute the track on your mixing board. Set the vocal channel to Auto

Many thanks for your suggestion, tried it out and have got everything working now. I did the following set up, which seemed to work;
- mic in mix desk, gain put up quite high to get good volume level.
- headphones in laptop
- .wav audio backing track kept in 1/2 channel, AUTO button engaged.
- vocal track put on channel 1, OFF button engaged.
- AUDIO preference settings set to mix desk as my INPUT and my laptop speakers as my OUTPUT.

Seems to have done the trick. Thanks for your help!