Mackie to MD walkman

[audiofreak]

Could anyone please help? I'm a novice.

I would like to connect the output (mono XLR) of a Mackie 1202 VLZ Pro mixer to the input (stereo line-in, mini jack) of an Aiwa Mini Disk walkman. How can I do it?

I just want to record a voice into the MD walkman, using a mic plugged into the Mackie mixer. I can't plug the mic directly into the MD walkman, because I need the gain and control of the Mackie.

I probably need a cable or connector that can -
(a) connect the XLR output of the Mackie to the mini jack input of the MD walkman;
(b) distribute the mono signal from the Mackie into left and right, so that it is recorded as a two-channel (left and right) signal in the MD walkman.

I'm sure someone in this forum has tried this set-up, and would appreciate some advice. Many thanks.

[Track Rat]

What you want to do is to drive the input of the MD from the "insert" for the channel the mic is plugged into the Mackie. You'll need a cable that has a mono 1/4" mono phono connector on one end and stereo mini connector on the other with the tip and ring of the connector shorted together. This will split your mono signal to the two inputs of the MD. Obviouly not stereo but it'll print to both channels. Here's how you hook it all up.
Say your mic is plugged into channel one. Plug the 1/4" end into the hole at the top of the channel strip labeled "Insert" but don't seat it all the way, only to you feel the first "click". What this does is to tap off some signal from the mic preamp right after the gain controll but before the EQ/fader section of the channel strip. What that means is the gain pot at the top of the strip will controll the signal level (use this to set the input level to the MD from the mic) but the EQ or fader adjustments won't affect the signal on its way to the MD.

[audiofreak]

Thank you, Track Rat, for the reply. Sounds like a neat trick. I'll try it out.