Carnegie Mellon University
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Get Started with Audio Recording

Follow these steps to use the equipment in the CFA 321 Sound Room.

Choose Your Microphone

The following microphones are available in the sound room:

  • Shure SM7dB (Desktop): This microphone is plugged into the Apollo X4 (Input 1) and can be controlled using the physical hardware or the UAD Console App.
  • Lewitt LCT 640 TS (Booth): This microphone is plugged into the Apollo X8P (Input 1 and 2) and can be controlled using the physical hardware or the UAD Console App.

Or, to use your own microphone:

  • Plug the cables into the back of the Apollo X4 Interface (Channels 2-4) or use the input panel in the isolation booth. When you connect your microphone to the Apollo X4, toggle through the channels with the Preamp button to select the correct one.

Choose Your Software


The following software is available for use:

  • Audition (recommended)
  • Logic Pro (recommended)
  • Audacity
  • GarageBand
  • Avid Pro Tools

Create a New Project

  1. Click File > New, then select Multitrack Session.
  2. Enter the File Name.
  3. Specify sample rate, channels, and depth.
  4. Click OK.

Note: New Audition projects include six empty stereo tracks. We recommend deleting these and leaving only the master track.

Use Audition Features

  1. Click the track to arm (the R button) and enable it, then click Record to begin recording.
  2. Click Input Monitoring (the I button) in the track header to turn on input monitoring and hear the live mic in the headphones. Deselect the button to disable.
  3. To reduce latency:
    1. Choose Adobe Audition 2025 > Settings > Audio Hardware.
    2. Under I/O Buffer Size (CoreAudio), adjust to the lowest setting possible without interrupting playback. You may need to adjust this several times before finding the best setting.
      1. Note: Buffer size can also be adjusted globally within the UA console app.

Save and Export Your Work

  1. Click File > Save As.
  2. Enter the filename, location, and file format.
  3. Set the Sample Type, Format Settings, and indicate whether to include Markers and Other Metadata.
  4. Click Export > Multitrack Mixdown.
  5. Select Entire Project.


Visit LinkedIn Learning Adobe Audition Training for more information.

 

 

Create a New Project

  1. Open Logic Pro.
  2. Select Audio (Mic or Line) to open a new project.
  3. Leave the inputs and outputs set to their default selections.
  4. Click Create.
Note: To modify settings in an existing project, click Logic Pro > Settings. Click Audio and select the appropriate Input Device. It may take a few minutes for the change to take effect.

Use Logic Pro Features

  1. Click the track to arm (the R button) and enable it, then click Record to begin recording.
  2. Click Input Monitoring (the I button) in the track header to turn on input monitoring and hear the live mic in the headphones. Deselect the button to disable.
  3. To reduce latency:
    1. Choose Logic Pro > Settings > Devices.
    2. Under I/O Buffer Size, adjust to the lowest setting possible without interrupting playback. You may need to adjust this several times before finding the best setting.
      1. Note: Buffer size can also be adjusted globally within the UA console app.

Save and Export Your Work

  1. Click File > Bounce Project.
  2. Choose WAVE or AIFF for uncompressed audio and higher quality, or choose MP3 for compressed audio and lower quality.
  3. Click OK.
  4. When prompted, browse for a location to save your file.


Visit LinkedIn Learning Logic Pro Essential Training for more information.

 

Resources

Control the Sound Room Equipment

All microphones can be controlled using the physical hardware where they’re connected. For more advanced control, we recommend using the Apollo UAD Console App.

The Lewitt LCT 640 TS (Booth) microphone is connected to and can be controlled by the rack-mounted Apollo X8P (Inputs 1 and 2).

Note: In the event of unexpected feedback or high volume, pressing the Monitor knob will immediately mute the speakers.

Apollo 8XP hardware controls


  • Input Control: Push the Preamp knob to cycle through and select the proper input (1 or 2), then turn the knob to adjust gain.
  • Master Volume: Use the Monitor button to control the master output volume.

 

The Shure SM7dB microphone is connected to and can be controlled by the tabletop Apollo X4 (Input 1).

Personal XLR microphones can also be connected to and controlled by the Apollo X4 (Input 2-4). 

Note: In the event of unexpected feedback or high volume, speakers can be muted from the Apollo X4 in Monitor mode.

apollo-x4.png

  • Input Control: Use the Preamp button to cycle through Inputs 1-4. The Shure SM7dB microphone is plugged into Input 1 by default.
  • Output Control: Use the Monitor button to cycle through the headphone or studio monitor outputs.
  • Volume/Gain Control: Use the knob to control volume or gain on the Preamp or Monitor selection.
  • Talkback: Press the Talk button to speak into the isolation booth in Monitor mode.

On the studio Mac, launch the Apollo UAD Console App by clicking the UA icon in the menu bar.

Note: Lewitt mic controls are on the left side of the screen, and Shure mic controls are on the right.

  • Use the input gain knobs to adjust microphone input levels.
    Note: The digital knobs function the same way as the physical knobs on the Apollo X8P and X4.
  • Use the faders to adjust microphone output to speakers.
  • To use the Talkback function, click CTRL ROOM at the bottom right of the screen, then click Talk. Ensure that Monitor is the source.