Wanted: Routing Ideas

[ChuckU]

I just got a 32 channel analog Mackie 8-Bus to replace my 2 small Mackie vlz's.

What I want to do is route 16-20 mics into the first 16-20 channels and go out the direct outs into my sound cards (2 Delta 1010's) . Then I want to go out of the sound card's output back into the board, so that I can monitor what's going thru software. I am wondering which of the board's outputs to send to my nearfields, headphone amp, etc.
Can I set up my busses so that the first 16-20 channels go to bus 1-2 in such a way that when I turn down the fader on the bus, the direct outs still supply signal to the sound card?
I basically want to emulate what I used to do, but I used inserts on incoming signals and bypassed the main, then took the soundcard's output and ran it into my second mixer for monitoring.

[sjoko2]

I think you should look into aquiring one or two patchbays, which would give you long-term flexibility of routing

[DeadPoet]

The mackie8buss is an inline monitoring console, right ?

You have per channel a mic in, a line in, an insert, a direct out and a tape return, right ?

So why don't you hook the mics up, send that signal direct out to the recorder and send the signal from the recorder into the tape returns.

When recording you set the mic channel on the fader (normal operation) and when playing a track back (mixing) you 'flip' the faders, meaning you push the button at the top, so that your tape return channel comes up on the big faders (actually the mackie only has one set of faders and rotary thingies for 'little faders')

In this way I guess you can turn down the master fader, while still being able to record and have 4 AUX mixes for monitoring or effects or both.


Another way of working is through the busses, but then you can only record 8 tracks of course...

Oh yeah, and put the monitors on the ctrl room of course.


hope this helps,
Herwig

[ChuckU]

Well, I think I'm on to something. Thanks for the suggestions so far.

Right now (since I only have one Delta 1010 hooked up), I have mics hooked up to channels 1-8. None of those channels are assigned to either the L/R mix or any of the busses. Lines from the direct outs go to the corresponding ins on the sound card.

The sound card output goes into channels 31/32, then to buss 1-2. I also need to route this somewhere to go into the input of my headphone amp. Maybe 'phones' is the way to go there. Duh. I'm using the control room outs to my monitors. So far so good.

[Tonio]

couldn't you use an aux out for the cans? since you have a can amp .

[ChuckU]

The phone out works great. Turn control room volume down and phone out stays up. Perfect.

[DeadPoet]

Yes, it does, but what Tonio is trying to say is: you can hook your phones amp to each AUX output, so that you have individual phone mixes (up to 4) for your musicians..

Herwig

[ChuckU]

Good suggestion Herwig. I know I can route different mixes in software and I have the ability to send six additional outs (other than main mix) from my soundcard.

As I said, right now I'm able to do everything with this board that I want, including talkback. Unfortunately, this board (I bought it used) has some internal problems: the right side output cuts out occasionally when it's not getting a really strong signal. Mackie tech support and my local Mackie service center say it's probably the board , but not a serious problem (I know it's not the speakers). Any ideas?

[mixsit]

Ye ol' ribbon cables again?
Wayne

[ChuckU]

After having gone thru Mackie's 8-bus forum, yeah, it sure sounds like it.

We'll see what the local repair place has to say.

[Chris Tondreau]

.... running to distant corner so I can be heard, and not seen....

I thought only Behringer mixers crapped out. Mackie is tough as nails, right.....

..... runs and hides.....

Chris