Mixer to Audio Interface via RCA - Please Help

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Damian227

New member
Ok my music quality has improved to the point I'm on radio now, so I opted to finally put some money into my "home studio". I just moved from a bog standard Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS to the M-Audio Audiophile 2496.

Now the connections are different to what I've become used to, instead of a dual RCA/phono from my Mixer into my old soundcard, it's now Dual RCA into Dual RCA.

I've been shopping around for a quality cable and am I right in thinking these are what I'm looking for?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-Audi...7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1264174817&sr=1-7

I've seen several that all look the same, but have different prices, some say AV, some don't and if I'm honest... cables were never my strong point lol.

Also the interface has optional Digital Recording through S/PDIF... so which should I use as I've never had that option before.

My set up is as follows;
Audio Technica AT4040SM > Phonic MM1002 Mixer > M-Audio Audiophile 2496 > Silent purpose built pc. I also just upgraded to Cubase 5.1 from Cool Edit Pro 2.1

If anybody can confirm it's those cables and the digital option is for other add ons, i'd appreciate it :D
 
If you can do s/pdif, do it.

Thats a direct digital transfer, meaning that no futher conversions will take place to alter your sound.

As for RCA > 2496, just use any Radio Shack 1/4">RCA cable or 1/4">RCA adapter plugs and you're in business....
 
Ok so that cable is the right way to do it if I want a stereo analog set up.

As for the optional s/pdif... now I have one in and one out for that but my mixers in and outs are dual RCA. So do I need a Dual RCA to Single Coaxial Spdif cable for the connections instead?

I've never used this digital method but the cables seem cheaper, which is why I originally shyed from using it (assuming it's not as good as the dual RCA to dual RCA connections of the mixer/interface). My recording is for vocal work which is then mixed down on the instrumentals.
 
Hate to be pushy but if anybody can answer my question above I'd be very greatful. My project is already delayed and the only other people I can ask work in the local music store... they've clearly had no training as they sold me the wrong cables to begin with on my previous soundcard... despite the fact I brought the mixer to them lol.

Basically my mixers ins and outs for recording and return are dual RCA (left and right channel) my soundcard is the same for analog. I'm just curious on this whole Digital deal as above, or does my mixer need a specific Digital Out port?

And again if anybody can confirm my cables from the first post, I wanna snap them babies up quickly. Thanks in advance :D
 
Your mixer doesn't have spdif so don't worry about that. Just use the audio cables.
 
I just purchased a 2496 and am goin through the same stuff you are, i was looking at theese cables

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/AV-Link-Dual-RCARCA-Cable?sku=339008

I have a surround sound system that is spdif. If i have the mixer going into the sound card with the rca's in and out. I would want to connect my speakers to the mixer, but since i have in and out could i hook them up to the spdif connection on my sound card and still hear everything going through the mixer
 
Usually the manual will tell you all the cables you need

From what I gather, one set of I/O is analog and the other is digital (SPDIF)
Unless you have a SPDIF device, you won't be able to use Input 2 (3&4)
Therefore, the 4 In/ 4 Out definition is true, but not analog 4, it's 2 A + 2 D.
A few other device work the same way

I used to have a SB Audigy 2 ZS (noisy, eh, with built-in Niagara Falls FX on the inputs) and upgraded to TASCAM M-164UF over the Xmas break. The USB 2.0 interface is builtin to the mixer. Channels 1 to 10 direct, 11-16 are FX 1/2, Sub LR, Stereo LR
More channels than I need, but I have the flexibility of one device that does mixing and interface combined
 
Yeah the manual does tell me, saying Dual RCA male, the only thing confusing me is why Belkin have two different looking versions

These I want;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-Audi...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1264174289&sr=1-1

But then these also;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-AUDI...5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1264383008&sr=1-5

So what I mean is the plug looks different despite also being an RCA cable, so I was worried there were two different kinds of Dual RCA and didn't want to buy the wrong ones lol
 
Damian227 said:
Yeah the manual does tell me, saying Dual RCA male, the only thing confusing me is why Belkin have two different looking versions

These I want;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-Audi...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1264174289&sr=1-1

But then these also;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-AUDI...5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1264383008&sr=1-5

So what I mean is the plug looks different despite also being an RCA cable, so I was worried there were two different kinds of Dual RCA and didn't want to buy the wrong ones lol
Click to expand...

They are the same thing.
 
Thank you :D
I know a lot when it comes to mixing/mastering... but my hardware knowledge is umm.. not great as you can see.. cables being my weakness :D
 
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