getting crappy sound with current setup

[cobweb]

I incorporated a Mackie 1202 VLZ Mixer into my setup; so you'd think I'd get better recordings....WRONG. I have a Gina soundcard and a keyboard and drummachine. I have the keyboard hooked up to line 7/8 of the mixer, the drummachine is on line 5/6, the line in from the Gina breakout box is connected to the Main out, the line out labelled channels 1 and 2 from Gina are connected to the Tape input on the mixer (RCA plug), the amp is connected to the Control Room.
I had better sound when I recorded into Acid when I just connected the line out from the instruments into the line in on the Gina; without the mixer. I am watching the record levels in Acid and also I set the levels in the Gina mixer.
In the new setup incorporating the mixer the drum sounds sound muffled. The levels on the mixer are all set at Unity; except for the volumes. Like I said I had better recordings (wav files) when I just plugged the instruments into the line in on the Gina and recorded into Acid. Oh yeah I should mention that in the new setup which incorporates the mixer, I am doing something else a little bit different also..... I am now using the drummachine to sequence the drums I loaded into the keyboard (midi) instead of using the keyboards onboard sequencer. From there I record into Acid. I have noticed now for several day taht the sounds of my recordings sound different and are not as clear as before. The sound not only is muffled but sounds lifeless and boring/weak etc. etc. I am monitoring the sounds with Yammy NS 10s. I should also mention that the sounded better thru headphones but didn't translate well to the monitors. Help.

[This message has been edited by cobweb (edited 04-15-2000).]

 

[mojoshmoe]

Throw away your mixer if you get better sounds without it. No one said you had to play by the rules.
Are you mixing while listening to your monitors or mixing through headphones and then listening to the monitors? Everything sounds better through headphones.

 

[dobro]

Initally, I'd go along with mojo and trust your results - in other words, if it doesn't sound as good, then you've learned something valuable.

But it doesn't make sense to me that the Mackie is muffling the drum sounds. Not sounding as good as a better mixer, sure, but *muffling* the drum sounds? Keep in touch.

 

[tutton]

yeah i agree with mojoshmoe and dobro

Gina,s are the fussyest card out of the three
i dont think it likes the Mackie thats all
it,there wont be anything wrong with the Mackie but.
ive got a behringer and had major dramas with the Maxi Studio ISIS ...just make sure you do a round of PFL ing ,dont have too much Gain going into the Gina rack from the Mackie they tend to clip before the mixer does.. take those Phones off you should mix at 60 deg not 180 deg speakers will giv you 4 arrivals Phones only give you 2 arrivals
seems a strange one though
Tony