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Stukh's avatar
Stukh
Copper Contributor
Mar 30, 2020

Usb problems with Teams

I teach music through Teams and use a Focusrite sound interface. I have two questions... 1- When using the interface with Skype and Zoom I am able to have 2 channels working together, one for instr...
Focusrite
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Interface
Sound
teams
usb
Juhoelli's avatar
Juhoelli
Copper Contributor
May 19, 2020

Stukh 

 

Hi!

 

I was experiencing similar problems and I think I found a solution. 

 

I'm working on a Macbook Air and my USB-audiointerface is actually a mixer (Allen & Heath QU 16).

 

  1. I turned on Teams and selected the Qu 16 as my audio device for both speaker and microphone.
  2. I turned on GarageBand (any other DAW should work) and enabled the tracks to display the Record-button.
  3. I made 3 tracks for 3 different inputs on the mixer. I assigned each track to have a different input channel (7, 8 and 13). 
    • For testing I used a dynamic mic, a condenser mic and an electric piano. 
  4. I then activated the rec button on each channel and Voila! Now I can use multiple channels on Teams meetings and calls.

 

I'll test this with another USB-interface (Steinberg UR22 mkII) and PC on Friday. I will also test with Teams live-event next Monday and try to remember to report back. 

 

BR,

Juho

Juhoelli's avatar
Juhoelli
Copper Contributor
May 28, 2020

I now tested this with a PC and a 2 channel audio interface (Steinberg UR22 mkII).

 

Connected the UR22 into my PC and turned on Audacity. Then made 2 channels in Audacity, one for each channel and enabled listen to playback.

 

I went to Teams and selected the UR22 as my input and output. Called a friend and both channels worked.

 

In conclusion: use a recording software with the number of channels you want to use. Have it on all the time as you're using Teams and have the playback enabled in the recording software. 

 

Works like a charm!

 

  • thefatraconteur's avatar
    thefatraconteur
    Copper Contributor
    Aug 31, 2020

    Juhoelli 

    Hey mate, I'm trying to use this as a work around but I'm getting lost a bit with the instructions. Perhaps you could help me out!

    I have the same UR 22mkII audio interface and Audacity installed (ver 2.4.2).

    I just don't know how make 2 channels in Audacity. The best I can find is the drop down menu which changes it from 1 recording channel to 2.

    For the life of me I can't find any option that looks like "listen to playback" - the closeest I get is in the "Transport" menu where I can select the option Software Playthrough. It creates a kind of echo as it records. In any case I tried recording in Audacity and using Teams, I tried just letting Audacity sit with those settings and no luck on either.

    I'd love to get more instructions on how you get the workaround. Currently, I can use the Browser version of teams to get both mic and piano to work together (for some reason the Browser version has no issues with multichannel audio interfaces). But th browser version can't share system audio! Which is needed when I want to share music examples with my class.

    Your help would be much appreciated.
    Carlos

    • BobP980's avatar
      BobP980
      Copper Contributor
      Aug 31, 2020

      thefatraconteur Hi. I finally solved my issue doing the workaround shown in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxZ3o1aTyPY&t

      Using Reaper (free to try DAW for 60 days) you have te possibility to enable all your interface channels in separate tracks. So you just have to add the Reastream plugin in the master track and follow all the instructions of the video. It works perfectly for me no, I even have the functionality to change scenes in OBS which is great for video calls. Give it a try and let me know if it worked for you.

      • thefatraconteur's avatar
        thefatraconteur
        Copper Contributor
        Sep 01, 2020

        BobP980 

        Thanks so much for the recommendation. The solution worked perfectly!

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