Line-in recording issues

[himynameisntmark]

I'm using a Panasonic SX-KC211 keyboard, a Lexicon Alpha interface and Reaper but every time I plug everything in and get it set up, I can't hear anything. The volume on my computer, the interface and the keyboard are all turned up and I've plugged everything in correctly, as far as I can tell. I just installed Reaper a couple days ago so is there a setting I'm not aware of?

[jb]

Do any of the indicators on the system show that signal is reaching the software? Like, lights going on, little gauges zooming upward, etc.

You might have to enable a track to record before you can hear input to it, or enable a track to "monitor" before you can hear input to it.

JB

[himynameisntmark]

Lights are on and it's definitely recording because I can see it in the track. I just can't hear anything.

[jast]

Reaper doesn't play stuff on tracks just because they're armed for recording. Next to the record arm button (the red "R" thing, just to make sure) there's another little button with a speaker symbol on it. Click it once (assuming record arm is already enabled) and it plays through whatever comes in on the associated input channel. Click it again and it does the same but only when no record/playback is going in. Again to disable.

Note that this is software playthrough (signal -> sound card -> cpu -> sound card -> speakers) so you get a bit of delay (or a lot, depending on your system). Something else you can do, depending on the sound card, is to unmute the Line In fader in the "playback" category of the system mixer thing (it's not visible by default, I think, check the mixer settings). Some sound cards do this differently, though. Mine, for example.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Are you monitoring with headphones, the computer speakers or seperate monitor speakers?
For instance, I have my ESS Allegro active for my computer speakers, but when I open Cubase, which I assume is similar to Reaper, my PreSonus interface, which I assume is similar to your Lexicon, is my listening source. There should be a tab for devices> output> then some list of monitoring devices, like Lexicon ASIO driver, etc, which you set the one you want as the output. Not sure of the exact wording, but you should be trying to setup your output device in Reaper.

Also, can you add a wav file that you know works, but it doesn't have sound in Reaper? Or do you just not hear your guitar while playing/recording? The later will be along the line of what JB said. A mixer/monitor thing.

[ken]

Did your unit come with a version of Cubase? If you were willing to try that software I could probably help you better.

Be sure that you enable the Lexicon's driver in Reaper otherwise, it won't know it it there. Have you already installed the Lexicon's driver? Does it have any utilities of it's own?

Oh BLT, good suggestion. Import an mp3 and see if you can play it back.

Ken

[himynameisntmark]

I was using my computer speakers (or trying to) but that wasn't working so I tried plugging my headphones into my computer which also didn't work. I tried plugging my headphones into the Lexicon and that worked but there was a bunch of static/clicking. I can play an mp3 in Reaper and hear it through the interface but there's even more static/clicking. It did come with Cubase but there's a huge delay and I'm not sure how to fix that and it seems to be working with Reaper as long as I plug my headphones into the Lexicon. But there's a lot of static.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Then it's working almost right. Reaper is at least acknowledging that your Lexicon is your monitoring device. That's the way it should be, so that you can plug in studio monitors or headphones to your Lexicon interface.
Now the static issue.
1. If you haven't already, restart you computer.
2. Check to make sure Lexicon hardware control panel loads when you start you computer and that your sample rate is at 44.1, your latency is at 10ms and clock source is internal. These are starting points, your latency might be different because I run firewire and you're USB.
3. Make sure that what ever sound file is in your Reaper project is copied to the project and not linking from an external hard drive. I've had static issues when choosing a guitar part that I have saved on my external drive. When I bring the part over to my project in progress, I have to check the box that asks if I want to copy the file to my project. I also told it to do that every time and don't ask me again.
4. Make sure Reaper converts any file that you import to your project to work with Reaper. Another check box on my Cubase.

These are just a few thoughts off the top of my head that could be your problem.

[ken]

Adjust your buffer settings, that might get rid of the noise.

Ken

[himynameisntmark]

I've got it so that the static is gone but when I save the project and re-open it, the pitch has been shifted up quite a bit. I'm not using a MIDI cord so is that my issue for that?

[HeuristicsInc]

I don't have anything specific but the delay is often fixed by using an ASIO driver instead of a regular driver.
-bill

[ken]

Is your track a different tempo as well? That sounds like your project settings have changed. (did you record at 44.1 and playback at 48?)

Ken

[himynameisntmark]

Yeah, it's slightly faster. Playback is at 44.1 and none of the other settings have changed that I can see.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Is it fast AND higher pitch? Or just faster?
Faster without higher pitch sure sounds like everything is being time stretched to one locator range. Not sure why that would just happen by itself.

But like Ken said, I to have seen that happen with odd numbered sample rates. Like if something is at 48 and you save it at 44.1. Some systems do odd things with sample rate changes.