Computer's audio goes straight into mic input?!

[hoodman_blind]

OK, I didn't know which forum to post this in, because it's actually a computer problem (I think), but I'm using Cool Edit, which is the old version of Adobe Audition, so I put it in here. I've always recorded on my laptop, but recently my laptop has been picking up digital noise, probably from some connection coming loose inside the computer, I don't know. Anyway, I've started trying to record on my desktop, and that's where my main problem is: I'll record a track, but when I try to record another track over it, EVERY sound that the computer makes goes in through the microphone input somehow. Example: I'll record a guitar part for a song, then I'll throw the headphones on and try to record a seperate vocal track in sync with the guitar, but when I go listen to the vocal track it has the guitar part mixed in with it. Basically, if I go into Cool Edit and hit record, then start playing music on the computer, the music will be picked up on Cool Edit, even when no microphone device is plugged in. My laptop never did this, and I can't get my desktop to stop doing it. Anyone know what's going wrong here? (P.S. I'm on Windows XP, if that helps, but so was my laptop, sooo......I dunno.)

[brandondrury]

my laptop has been picking up digital noise, probably from some connection coming loose inside the computer, I don't know

I'd say 99% of the time digital noise is caused by a software issue and almost never a mechanical issue.

It doesn't sound like you are using a full duplex audio interface. What audio interface are you using?

Brandon

[edub357]

yeah it sounds like you havent specified where the input should record from, i have a sound blaster audigy and theres a fuction called "what you hear" and if i record from that option everything will mix together, so when i record i change it to line2/mic2 for vox or line/aux2 for recording my emu px7 or my triton. so click on the volume icon on the toolbar and see what device is being used and in cool edit go into the device settings in the options screen and see exactly what device is "1st" used.