1 Topic by ResonanceRider (edited by ResonanceRider 2023-09-08 09:27:56)

  • Registered: 2023-09-08
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Topic: Feedback when using loopback to record in Reaper

Hi, I tried to record some audio from my browser into a track in Reaper yesterday, but only got what sounded like a really loud sine wave. When I attenuated the signal from 0 to around -6dB, using the slider for the selected loopback channel in TotalMix, the recording worked fine (although perhaps a bit low in volume).  I think I've managed to set up a feedback loop somehow?

I've muted the track I'm recording to in Reaper and have the following setup in TotalMix:

https://imgur.com/a/Rz4xDSN

The instruction videos are super straight forward and easy to follow, yet I've managed to mess this up somehow and I can't figure it out on my own.  Any ideas?

2 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2023-09-08 10:14:05)

  • waedi
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Re: Feedback when using loopback to record in Reaper

It seems to be a problem in Reaper, your screenshot looks correct.
How looks the routing window of this track in Reaper ?

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  • Registered: 2023-09-08
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Re: Feedback when using loopback to record in Reaper

It seems to be a problem in Reaper, your screenshot looks correct.
is Record monitoring not OFF in the track ?

Record monitoring is off in Reaper.  I did that by hitting the mute button on the track itself.  I only have one track in the project.  Could it be leaking sound in some other way?

4 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2023-09-08 10:29:49)

  • waedi
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Re: Feedback when using loopback to record in Reaper

With only one track and mute button is clicked there should be no feedback.
But there seems to be a feedback, there is no other app or plugin active, right ?

Shure that feedback is in the computer and not in your headphone ?
Do you use a headset and the mic did bleed in ?

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Re: Feedback when using loopback to record in Reaper

Do you use a headset and the mic did bleed in ?

I was using a headset when this happened yesterday, but the headset doesn't have a mic.  At the moment I have no mic connected to the computer (I physically disconnected my USB mic).  Since the sound is quite loud when the feedback happens I haven't dared attempt a fix with while using my speakers as output.

The feedback is affected by volume, and only happens once I push it to around -6dB and up.  Does that give us a clue or is that to be expected?

But there seems to be a feedback, there is no other app or plugin active, right ?

No plugins and no other audio apps open.  I'm on Win11 if that matters.

  • waedi
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Re: Feedback when using loopback to record in Reaper

No clue what's going on there.
A feedback typically is building up from anywhere and ends up in full clipping horror until a software hits the break.
Did you try with another output channel in Totalmix ?
May be a Total Reset in Totalmix is worth to try...?

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7 Reply by oli77sch (edited by oli77sch 2023-09-08 11:40:02)

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Re: Feedback when using loopback to record in Reaper

Disable software monitoring and muting a track is not the same in my opinion. I don’t know how it exactly works in Reaper, but in Logic pro these are independent options. Muting is for playback only, it doesn’t disable input monitoring while recording I think. I’m not 100% sure, no access to my computer at the moment. Anyway it’s worth to check that in Reaper.

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  • waedi
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Re: Feedback when using loopback to record in Reaper

oli77sch wrote:

Disable software monitoring and muting a track is not the same in my opinion. I don’t know how it exactly works in Reaper, but in Logic pro these are independent options. Muting is for playback only, it doesn’t disable input monitoring while recording.

I had the same thoughts. That's why I tested it.
The Mute in Reaper is absolute power, it mutes output and monitoring and routing to further targets.

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Re: Feedback when using loopback to record in Reaper

Did you try with another output channel in Totalmix ?

I just tried using ADAT 5/6 instead of 3/4 as the loopback and got the same result.

May be a Total Reset in Totalmix is worth to try...?

Yeah, I'll try that later today when I have some more time.  So Options -> Reset Mix -> Total reset, right?

  • waedi
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Re: Feedback when using loopback to record in Reaper

exactly !

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Re: Feedback when using loopback to record in Reaper

I just made a recording of the loopback channel using the built-in windows sound recorder.  That worked fine at 0dB, so it seems like I've indeed managed to do something I didn't intend somewhere in Reaper hmm