Recording with a Microphone to Adobe Audition Waveform Editor - Mixing Bench

Overview

This article describes recording a microphone with the Apollo x8 interface into the Adobe Audition Waveform Editor. This is a quick way to record a mono audio file but will not work for recording overdubs.

• You will need to get a microphone with an XLR connector from Media Loan.
• You will also need an XLR mic cable

Audio Interface

The Mixing Benches have an Apollo x8 audio interface. The Audio Interface - Mixing Bench article has additional information about the Apollo x8.

• On the front there are two HI-Z inputs inputs (labelled HI-Z 1 and HI-Z 2)
  • Theses are for low level signal like electric guitars.  Only use mono 1/4 cables.
• There are 4 XLR mic inputs on the back of the interface.
  • There is a panel with 4 XLR jacks below the interface.
  • These are connected to the 4 mic inputs.
  • Microphones can be connected to these inputs using XLR cables (not included in the room).
  • Each input has:
    • Trim control knob for setting input levels
    • Pad for reducing input levels
    • 48V Phantom Power for powering condenser microphones
    • Low cut filter.

Recording

Setting Mic Levels

1. Connect the microphone to Mic In1 on the XLR panel
2. Set the Input for channel 1 of the Apollo x8
   • Press the Preamp knob to toggle until the 1 appears on the LCD panel
   • Press the Input the button until Mic appears on the LCD panel
3. If it is a condenser mic turn on the phantom power
   • Press the +48V button to turn on or off the phantom power
4. Talk into to the mic
5. Adjust the Preamp knob while looking at Input 1 meter on the Apollo x8
6. Set the levels so that the signal is a little bit into the yellow.

Monitoring

• Turn down the silver knob on the Mackie Big Knob monitor controller
• Connect the headphones to the headphone jack (HP 1) on the Apollo x8
• While talking into the mic turn up the HP 1 knob until you hear the mic in the headphones.

Audition

Create and record an Audio File

1. Open Audition from the dock
2. If prompted sign to the Creative Cloud Desktop app with your Evergreen email and password.
   • Adobe Creative Cloud Sign In
3. In the Editor window click the red record button.
4. Go to File > New > Audio File
5. In the New Audio File window set the following settings
   • File Name: use a meaningful name.
   • Sample Rate: 48000
   • Channels: Mono
   • Bit Depth : 24
6. Click OK

Recording

1. Put on the headphones
2. Talk into the microphone and adjust the Preamp knob on the Apollo x8 while looking at the meters on the Apollo x8
   • Try to get the signal in the yellow but not in the red.
3. Click the Record button (Red dot) at the bottom to start recording.
4. Hit the Stop button to stop recording.
5. Repeat as needed.

Playback

• Take off the headphones.
• Now you can turn up the Mackie Big Knob monitor controller to listen with the speakers.

Editing and Saving

• After recording you can edit the audio.
• Go to File > Save to save the file.
  • File Name: use a meaningful name.
  • Location: Click Browse and select your folder on your Desktop.
  • Format: Wave PCM
  • Sample Type: 48000kHz, Mono, 24 bit
  • Format Settings: Wave uncompressed 24 bit integer
  • Click OK