Accurately monitoring your voice while recording is crucial for capturing the desired tone and dynamics. Adobe Audition offers two methods for hearing your voice in real-time while recording: input monitoring and smart monitoring.

Method 1: Input Monitoring

Input monitoring allows you to hear the audio signal directly from your microphone as it enters Audition. This method provides a direct and immediate representation of your voice and is ideal for capturing natural dynamics and nuances. To enable input monitoring:

1. Open Adobe Audition and create a new multitrack session.
2. Arm the recording track by clicking the “R” button in the track header.
3. Enable input monitoring for the recording track. You can do this by clicking the “I” button in the track header or the “I” button in the track mixer.
4. Start recording by clicking the red record button in the transport panel or pressing the spacebar.

You should now be able to hear yourself singing or speaking through your headphones or speakers as you record. Input monitoring is the most accurate method for monitoring your voice, but it can introduce latency, which is the delay between when your voice enters the microphone and when you hear it in your headphones.

Method 2: Smart Monitoring

Smart monitoring combines input monitoring with playback monitoring, allowing you to hear both your voice and the playback of previously recorded tracks. This method is particularly useful when overdubbing or adding layers to your recording. To enable smart monitoring:

1. Open Adobe Audition and create a new multitrack session.
2. Arm the recording track by clicking the “R” button in the track header.
3. Go to Edit > Preferences > Multitrack.
4. Under the “Monitoring” section, enable the “Enable smart monitoring” checkbox.
5. Start recording by clicking the red record button in the transport panel or pressing the spacebar.

Smart monitoring will automatically switch between input monitoring and playback monitoring, depending on whether the transport is stopped or running. This allows you to hear both your voice and the playback of previously recorded tracks while maintaining a low latency.

Adjusting Latency

Latency can be an issue, especially when using low-latency monitoring techniques like input monitoring. To minimize latency, consider the following factors:

1. Audio Interface: Select a high-quality audio interface with low latency drivers.
2. Buffer Size: Adjust the buffer size in Audition’s preferences. A lower buffer size will reduce latency but may increase CPU usage.
3. Sample Rate: Use a higher sample rate, such as 96kHz or 192kHz, to reduce latency. However, higher sample rates require more processing power.
4. Hardware Buffer Size: Check the buffer size settings on your audio interface if available. A lower buffer size on the interface can further reduce latency.

By carefully monitoring your voice in real-time and adjusting the latency settings, you can accurately capture your voice and achieve professional-sounding recordings in Adobe Audition.

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