Sonar 6: On playback, headphones OK thru FastTrack USB, not thru laptop's phone jack?

[MAnderson]

I just started using Sonar 6 on my HP laptop. I can record/playback no problem through headphones using my FastTrack USB interface, with the headphones connected to FastTrack.

My problem is...If I want to do post editing, monitoring through my headphones without the FastTrack interface connected, I can't get sound out of my headphones. I've tried going into my output settings, but there does not appear to be an option there for the sound card on my laptop? Is there something that is eluding me here, or is monitoring w/headphones not possible without having FastTrack connected?

[Metaltyme]

My problem is...If I want to do post editing, monitoring through my headphones without the FastTrack interface connected, I can't get sound out of my headphones.

So you are plugging in your headphones into the headphone jack of your laptop and not getting sound?

Are you plugging your headphones into your laptop's actual headphone jack? Are you using the same post-editing software while attempting to monitor your mix, regardless of whether your Fast-Track is connected? Are you recording at a bit-depth of 24 or 16? What sample-rate are you recording at? Perhaps the soundcard built into your laptop does not support your recording's bit-depth and/or sample rate for playback.

Elaborate a little more if you can. It'll then be easier to help you.

Peace,

[MAnderson]

Originally Posted by Metaltyme

So you are plugging in your headphones into the headphone jack of your laptop and not getting sound?

Correct.

Originally Posted by Metaltyme

Are you plugging your headphones into your laptop's actual headphone jack?

Yes, I am plugging my headphones directly into my laptop's 1/8" stereo headphone jack.

Originally Posted by Metaltyme

Are you using the same post-editing software while attempting to monitor your mix, regardless of whether your Fast-Track is connected?

Yes, I am attempting to use Sonar 6 for my editing (same as what I recorded with), while attempting to listen to it through my headphones.

Originally Posted by Metaltyme

Are you recording at a bit-depth of 24 or 16? What sample-rate are you recording at?

I am fairly sure I am recording at a bit-depth of 24.

Originally Posted by Metaltyme

Perhaps the soundcard built into your laptop does not support your recording's bit-depth and/or sample rate for playback.

I had not thought of this. I will investigate what bit-depth I am recording in, and using during playback.

It would be a shame, if my new HP laptop's sound card couldn't handle the task. I bought it in August of last year, spending extra $$$ for the purpose of recording out here in the desert, while I'm on deployment. It has the best NVIDIA graphics available on a laptop, so I figured it also had a top-end sound card.

I will play with it some more, and see what I can come up with. It's not like using the interface is not doable. It's just a nuissance having to connect additional harware while I'm editing, not recording.

Thanks for your help.

[Metaltyme]

Sure thing. Standing by...if you need further assisstance that is. Good luck.

Sure thing. Standing by...if you need further assisstance that is. Good luck.

[Edit: One quick note: a lot of the "higher-end" sound cards that come stock with PCs/laptops or that are bought at Best Buy are targeted more toward the gaming community. Some I've seen still only support 16-bit (though I doubt that's the case here). Also, these same cards do not even support playback of files that were recorded at sample rates above 48kHz. So, those are possible culprits.

A BIG note: When you are attempting to monitor your work for mixing using your laptop's sound card within Sonar 6, did you remember to adjust the settings in your audio options to account for a different sound card than the one you recorded with? I've ran into that problem before. When you check under your audio settings (that is, when you're not using your Fast-Track interface), you should click on the "Wave Profiler" option in one of those menus. Sonar will then account for your laptops sound card and use that for all audio output. I didn't think of that before, so that might be something to look at as well.

Good luck,

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by Metaltyme

Perhaps the soundcard built into your laptop does not support your recording's bit-depth and/or sample rate for playback.

I'm getting in late here, but it seems Metaltyme has it under control. It's possible your soundcard doesn't support 24 bit. Can you save a wav in 16 bit then see what happens. If it still doesn't work, then you can strike this as a possibility.

The next possibly is what you mentioned...

Originally Posted by MAnderson

II can't get sound out of my headphones. I've tried going into my output settings, but there does not appear to be an option there for the sound card on my laptop?

It seems like you should have an option to select your internal sound card. If nothing appear in "sound output" then you won't hear anything. Is anything coming through the laptop speakers, or is it just a headphone jack problem?

Can you play a normal audio CD and listen through the headphones?

The electrical engineer in me is saying that you should use the troubleshooting theory of elimination.

1. Do your laptop speakers work?
-- If yes, then laptop/OS has correct output settings

2. Do your headphones work on any other media (i.e., playing back MySpace?)
-- If yes, then laptop/OS has correct output settings
--- It's possible that it's not handling the audio file (as Metaltyme suggested)
--- Save the same 24-bit wav in 16-bit format
---- Try it on the laptop through headphones, does it work?
---- If yes, then your card doesn't support 24-bit
---- If no, then try changing sample rate
(this is assumng your using 96khz)
--- Try 44.1khz; does it work? (I've had this problem where the Windows Media Player would not play 96khz mp3s because of the sound card I was using)
-- If no, then laptop/OS may have a configuration problem on audio output setting

3. Still doesn't work; flip it the finger (doesn't fix it, but makes me feel better).

[Metaltyme]

Ooops...Sorry TonyB...I was in the process of editing my last post and didn't see yours. Good call on that one I think. I'd bet we've found the problem.

I've tried going into my output settings, but there does not appear to be an option there for the sound card on my laptop? Is there something that is eluding me here, or is monitoring w/headphones not possible without having FastTrack connected?

Again, don't forget to use the "Wave Profiler" so that your sound card will appear.

Peace,

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by Metaltyme

Ooops...Sorry TonyB...I was in the process of editing my last post and didn't see yours. Good call on that one I think. I'd bet we've found the problem.



Again, don't forget to use the "Wave Profiler" so that your sound card will appear.

Peace,

No problem. We work at the speed of light!

It seems we (primarily you) nailed it down to:

- 24-bit compatibility (you're right about the gaming cards)
- Output configuration setting
(as you suggest, but I thought he checked that; but hey, there was a time when I troubleshooted for an hour over why my computer wouldn't turn on; just to find out it wasn't plugged in...true story...which my wife can back up).

[MAnderson]

Hey guys,

You are awesome! Thanks for taking the time to brainstorm this with me. I will check out the 24-bit vs 16-bit thing in my settings, and also whether it is a simple case of my not selecting the right options available once disconnecting my FastTrack USB interface. I'll get back with you guys soon.

Thanks again...you've both been very helpful. I love this site!

Later,

Mike Anderson

[Metaltyme]

Yep, this site rules. Glad to help btw.

[MAnderson]

OK Guys,

I think we may have just about settled this matter. I checked the specs on my laptop's sound card, an it is a Realtek High Def. I even updated my sound card's driver. I have gone into Options, and clicked on Wave Profiler several times, and I still get "none" in my audio output drop down selection. Cakewalk does not appear to recognize my sound card. I am playing back in the 16-bit format, but still no sound card recognition.

I guess I will have to keep using my FastTrack interface on my laptop if I am going to use Cakewalk. Unless of course, when I get home, I upgrade to a studio quality sound card.

Thanks again for your time.