Karaoke Forums

I can import a karaoke CDG audio track into a new Project with Cubase, but now I need help trying to record my voice to that audio track. The instructions to record vocal don't seem to be clear enough when it comes to recording your voice to the sound track of the karaoke song. I'm pulling my hair out here. I'm not one who is knowledgable on words like "mixing", and "monitoring" etc... I just want to utilize the Lexicon and the Cubase software to do Karaoke as well as "record" Karaoke preformances to later burn them to disk. Can anyone give me some help before I go bald?
THANKS IN ADVANCE!

Try downloading Audacity. It's a free multi track recorder that may be a little easier to use. The Cubase is very good once you learn it, but it does take time & patience.

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Thanks Lonman. I'll give Audacity a try. By the way, I was making some headway after setting up the input and output busses with Cubase. Only thing is, after finally getting the sound to come through my headphones I'm hearing this really loud hiss. I can bearly hear the audio track in the background, but this hiss is so over-baring. Any idea what is going on here or what I need to do the get rid of the hiss. I was hearing it before when I'd click the record button on another program. Clicking the play button it was ok. But clicking record is when the loud hiss starts right when the sound track begins. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks again!

You bet it takes time

Audacity is a good way to learn but I would also suggest this freeware:

http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/

It supports Asio and VST plugins

Hey thanks Micky. I downloaded the program. I'll install and check it out. I am assuming I can install the Lexicon Alpha reverb plugin to this program??
By the way, I installed Audacity last night and after folllowing the instructions on configuring input and output I got it working but something is still just not right. In the configurations for Audacity, there is a checkbox to check that will allow you to record your voice (new track) while allowing the sound of other tracks (Imported audio) to play (karaoke backing track) in the project. I did this, but the audio of the karaoke (mp3) output has very poor sound. Normal playback is fine, but clicking the record button is where it happens. As if it is dragging or a very low bit rate. It even sounds like it drags so much it is off key or tempo. Yet if I record my voice singing to the track anyway, after completing a recording and listening to playback it all sounds normal. Its very hard to sing to a backing track that sounds like crap while you're trying to record yourself to it. What the heck do you think the problem is? I have Windows configured for the Lexicon to be the default sound output and input as well as Adacity configured the same. My output is into headphones only in the Lexicon. So my computer sound card is not even involved at all. Any help on figuring what the problem is here would be greatly appreciated. I'm trying to have this all figured out for my daughter by Christmas.
Thanks again!

Creating a custom music CD that plays on all kinds and quality of systems is not an easy process. It has been made easier with software using multitracks and scads of EFX plugins.
I use Sonar and it has vvocal. On youtube search sonar vvocal..

Back to the basics. There essentially three stages.

TRACKING:
All different instruments are laid into tracks at -6DB. In your case the vocal(s) are mono and always use wav not compressed. It can be laid with a compressor plugin. The next step is bouncing the vocal down into stereo tracks. Then it is ready for applying EFX.

MIXING:
In our case the karaoke backing is imported into a stereo track.
After each track has diiferent EFX applied with plugins they are initially assigned to sub groups and various tracks are mixed together into another track. After EFX are applied then volume envelopes and normalization is applied to start bringing up to unity.

MASTERING:
At this point a combination of the original tracks and sub tracks are mixed sometimes using analogue processors (routing back thru the rack). The end result is brought up to unity. One of the best parts about software is undo and mix or master again. A near field monitor is used foe overall results but the hard part is producing a CD that sounds good on all systems.

It takes hours and hours of experimentation and all pros have their own techniques. It is a process that takes time to learn. For more info please visit homerecording

Also Youtube has some excellent videos.

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That was some REALLY good information karyoker. A bit over my head, but some really good info. I do comprehend the reality that the art of mixing sound and voice to create a masterpiece is just something you have to spend time in to get good at. However, I believe currently I am up against this small issue that should have a simple answer. Maybe it is there in between the lines of your comments, I'm not sure. But with your expertise, could you enlighten me (in laymans terms) as to what you think may be causing this audio difference/ problem I have discribed above? Is this a setting or is it an improper manner I am applying/mixing, or maybe just using the wrong format audio? It seems clear to me that if an audio track sounds great (and normal) during playback before recording a vocal track to it, then it should sound great (and normal) when executing "record" during the process.
Would love to hear any other expert advise on this iissue as well.
Thanks a mil' karyoker. I'll checkout the homerecording site.

I think the first thing I would do is see if it might be a processor problem. Are you working in 16, 24 or 32 bit? Under "preferences" try lowering your sample rate and or the quality and see if that resolves your problem. Audacity has admitted that it does have a bit of a sync problem in some cases. There are several tutorials on YouTube for Audacity also.

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Would need a detailed description of your setup but the hiss is floor or thermal noise caused by an amp at max gain. It is common for PC onboard sound. For recording consider using a cd player that way you are not dealing with compressed sound. After importing the vocal can be advanced or delayed to sync with the music.

It takes a lot of memory and a newer computer to process multiple tracks without dropouts etc. That is another thread in itself peaking and converting into a DAW (digital audio workstation)

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Karyoker,
Ok so the his could be thermal noise caused by an amp and max gain?? You say its common for onboard sound. But I don't have any sound coming from my onboard sound card. However, since the Lexicon is now my input and output device, I assume it is now considered my "onboard" sound since is connect via USB.
So you're saying burn all my karaoke backing tracks to CD and then import them into a project from the CD? Someone else suggested it was a sample rate problem when working in Cubase and that I sould make sure it is converted to 44.1khz to 48 khz on the import.

LondonLive,
Not sure how to check if I am working in 16, 24, or 32 bit. I assume you are saying to go to "Preferences" to configure this processor rate?

I think I would prefer to work in Cubase if I can becuase it has the really good VST Reverb plugin "Pantheon".
What do you think guys??
Thanks!

Not familiar with that converter but a common mistake made by some is they think the converter has a DAC (digital to analogue) and ADC (reverse) when actually all they do is convert the onboard sound codecs to USB. That one I am not sure of.

You should be recording about -6 DB which is wll above the sound floor with no noise. The hiss indicates wrong overall gain structure with something too high.



I was just making a general comment that if you have the original CD it is best to use it for recording. After compression some of the original sounds are gone. When converting back to wav they are not restored. I sometimes convert thru a proc such as a BBE 362 to regain a little. Your EFX and software plugins work better with WAV and not as good with compressed sound.

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I can't be much help with Cubase, I use Sonar Producer myself. I did see a good place for you to find the answers your looking for.
http://www.cubase.net/phpbb2/viewforum. ... 6017504bb9

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LondonLive/ Karyoker
The Lexicon Alpha was suggested to me by Lonman on this site. It appears to be a very good piece of equipment. I'm just not real good at all the terminology you music professionals use when conversing here. Please bare with me gang... I'm learning and you all are my teachers right now. And I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I may try Sonar Producer too. I've heard alot of good things about it too. Like the V Vocal.
I was kind of hoping Lonman would chim in on this conversation and maybe shed some light on the Alpha... maybe even an answer to my problems here. Maybe his ears are burning and he'll come to my beconing.. ha, ha.
Anyway, so if the hiss indicates wrong overall gain structure with something too high, what do you think I need to decrease? The gain? I've jacked with these knobs in all kinds of ways... it won't stop it.
Karyoker - thanks for the Cubase forum reference. I'll check them out over there.
THANKS!

I'll probably forgive you for mixing me up with Karyoker, as far as the lonman worship thing, take two asprin. Yes Lexicon makes top quality gear, I was probably the first one here using it. Good luck. Poof, I'm out of here.

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Karyoker,
You said you'd need a detail of my setup. Here goes:

I have a desktop. I installed the software that came with the Lexicon Alpha (drivers and Cubase LE 4). During install of the Lexicon of course I connected it when prompt via USB. I went into Windows (XP) sound configuration and set the Lexicon as the default output and input (which rendered my onboard sound card not in use). I connected a new pair of headphones to the headphone out of the Lexicon and then connected SM58 mic into the XLR in, on the rear of the Lexicon. I open up Cubase and configured it as the instruction call for to the Lexicon as my input and output (left and right). At least I think it was done right. I have no other speakers connected to the Lexicon (outs) because I am trying to record using the headphones ONLY so the mic of course will not pick up sound from speakers. The only speakers that are connected are my PC speakers which are connect to my onboard sound card. And of course there is no output from them if that card has been bypassed by way of Windows configuration. That's my setup. Maybe I should power off the speaker set? It's still powered on even though its not in use.

LondonLive.... sorry pal. Just trying to reply to both of you at once. Also, I took the asprin and it worked. At least you fixed one problem I was having. Thanks.

Ok I'm not familiar with that setup or Cubase. You should be recording a mono mic track and with the mic gain set normal there should be no noise. Disarm the recording on the backing or stereo track and import later.

At this point I would rather give phone support for it is hard to TS remotely. Let me know what resoves the situation.. Ollie

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You need to choose the proper input in your VST Inputs controler (F5) in Cubase. You're now using a pro audio card and everything works with Asio and VST...

Karyoker,
Thanks for the advise. I'm not sure how yet to "disarm" the recording on the backing track with Cubase as I am still learning the program. Actually I didn't know the backing track would have to be "disarmed" if you're recording to it even though all you're doing is adding (recording) an additional mono track (mic) for vocal. But hey... if that's how its done, I'll do whatever it takes to make it work. But import the backing track later?? I am assuming then that I can play the backing track without importing it first? I'll need to figure out how to do that too. Thanks!

Micky,
I thought I had the VST configuration right. The Lexicon is the default input devise (as well as output). I am assuming that the pro audio card you refer to is the Lexicon Alpha? I'll recheck this configuration again.
Thanks!