haing problems setting up new sound card

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samich17

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having problems setting up new sound card

I should start this problem out by explaining my old set-up..and that I am posting this here, because it seems like the right place.

I plug my instruments and microphones into my Fostex XR-5 4 track.. i go (stereo out) via A/V-1/8" cables into the Soundblaster Live and out of the Soundblaster via A/V cables into my tape deck and listen to everything with my stereo speakers..I use Cool Edit 2000 to record and mix. Everything works fine.

Now I just got and installed my Echo Mia card, keeping the Sounblaster in with it. Everything setup fine. Now I'm not sure how I alter my set-up. I'm bringing this problem here, because you guys are more helpful than the manual.

This is what I've tried so far and still can't get a signal with Cool Edit 2000, though I am getting a weak signal in the Mia console.

I unplugged the cable from the Soundblaster that was coming from the 4 track, put on a 1/4" adapter, and plugged that into one of the inputs on Mia. I also changed the Recording Device in Cool Edit 2000 from Soundblaster to Mia. That's all I've done so far and am not getting a signal.

Please help me fix this.
Also, am I suppose to unplug the cable connecting the tape deck and Soundblaster and connect the tape deck to Mia? The Mia has 2 outputs, though I'm not sure if I have to use these or if I should just keep the Soundblaster plugged into the tape deck. Will the quality of sound differ depending on what card it is coming out of?

I know these questions might sound dumb to some of you, but I'm asking you guys because the manual is confusing. I did check all the passed Mia posts and found nothing to help me with these problems. thanks a lot
 
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First off, if it used to work right with the SB Live, the cable that used to go into the SB Live must terminate in a 1/8" stereo miniplug. The 1/4" inputs on the Mia are mono. You need to split the stereo signal out to two 1/4" mono jacks. That's one problem.

Another problem -- I presume you are going to use the SoundBlaster for MIDI instruments. In that case, you can't route the MIDI synth output anywhere but out the SB Live's outputs. Or you can record them to audio using the SB Live's internal WAV device and then play the resultant file out the Mia. But that is a hassle. It's probably better if you use your Mia to record audio, but play everything out the SB and leave it plugged in now. The recorded tracks still would get the benefit of the better converters, and you'll be able to hear everything from the one stereo output.

It's better if you can route them both out to a mixer before going to the tape deck/amp/speakers. I doubt you can use the Fostex as both a mixer for incoming signals to the Mia and for outgoing signals too, because it won't have any separate submix or alt bus to keep the stuff separate.

What kind of tape deck are you using? It's entirely possible the noise and inherent distortion of the tape machine's signal path is such that it doesn't matter whether you are recording off the Mia or off the SB Live.

Why not get a $100 CD burner and use that to master to?
 
"First off, if it used to work right with the SB Live, the cable that used to go into the SB Live must terminate in a 1/8" stereo miniplug. The 1/4" inputs on the Mia are mono. You need to split the stereo signal out to two 1/4" mono jacks. That's one problem."

why would i have to spilt it into two inputs? splitting it won't make the signal stereo, it'll just be two mono signals. couldn't i just go into the Mia card with one mono signal, with the 1/4" adapter on the A/V-1/8" cable?


"Another problem -- I presume you are going to use the SoundBlaster for MIDI instruments. In that case, you can't route the MIDI synth output anywhere but out the SB Live's outputs. Or you can record them to audio using the SB Live's internal WAV device and then play the resultant file out the Mia. But that is a hassle. It's probably better if you use your Mia to record audio, but play everything out the SB and leave it plugged in now. The recorded tracks still would get the benefit of the better converters, and you'll be able to hear everything from the one stereo output."

I don't use midi, so the first part isn't a concern, but the second makes sense. i could use the Mia to record and the SB Live to play, but as of now the signal is very weak on my Mia console an it isn't reading at all in Cool Edit 2000.


"It's better if you can route them both out to a mixer before going to the tape deck/amp/speakers. I doubt you can use the Fostex as both a mixer for incoming signals to the Mia and for outgoing signals too, because it won't have any separate submix or alt bus to keep the stuff separate."


the Fostex has a "Stereo Out" (which is what i have going into Mia) and a Monitor Out (which is what i have going to my receiver)...is that what you mean? this is how it worked with SB Live. Mia has 1/4" outputs...i'm not sure where i would plug that into on the Fostex, it has an "Insert" 1 and 2, Auxillary Return 1 Left and Right, Auxillary Return 2, Left and Right, Auxillary Send 1 and 2, FB, Tape Out 1,2,3 and 4/Sync (all these 1/4") and the stereo and monitor outs.

"What kind of tape deck are you using? It's entirely possible the noise and inherent distortion of the tape machine's signal path is such that it doesn't matter whether you are recording off the Mia or off the SB Live."


Pioneer CT-W503R tape deck.....Pioneer SX-303R receiver..
there's never been any problematic distortion or noise in the signal before with the tape deck.


"Why not get a $100 CD burner and use that to master to?"


I do have a cd burner nad i do use it for mastering..i never mentioned anything about having mastering problems, but i thank you very much for responding..i hope i was able to help you help me..
 
why would i have to spilt it into two inputs? splitting it won't make the signal stereo, it'll just be two mono signals. couldn't i just go into the Mia card with one mono signal, with the 1/4" adapter on the A/V-1/8" cable?
Click to expand...

Two mono signals is what stereo is. Two complementary signals sent down two wires (at least while it's analog).

I can't really picture the Fostex and how you would best wire this up, but if you are going from a L and R output (RCA? or 1/4" like the direct outs?), you need two cables, with RCA->1.4" or 1/4" -> 1/4." One goes in one of the Mia's analog ins, the other into the other.

Another, possibly better approach (if you're only using the Fostex as a mic preamp or have only two things happening at once that you want to record) is to go straight from the direct outs of channels one and two with 1/4" to 1/4" cables. That avoids you going through the cheap mixer signal path in the Fostex. And you can only get 2 analog parts simultaneously with the Mia anyway, no? So you are already limited even if you do run them through the mixer to the stereo buss.

I'm not sure about the monitor out, I think it's probably only an extra copy of the stereo bus, it can't have channels routed to it seperately in all likelihood.

If you don't use MIDI, why are you even bothering keeping the SB Live, if you don't mind my asking?

there's never been any problematic distortion or noise in the signal before with the tape deck.
Click to expand...
The inherent hiss in the tape deck is probably louder than the noise level of the Sound Blaster, and certainly louder than that of the Mia. So the difference in quality between them will be pretty much washed out by the noise of the tape deck, that's what I meant. If you master to CD on your computer, then the better converters on the Mia are an advantage, and the data is not being routed out of the computer again before going to disk, so that's cool.
 
Alchuck - i don't use my tape deck for anything but playback.


there aren't direct channel outs on the 4 track, just "stereo out and "monitor out" Gidge suggested that i get an RCA with two seperate 1/4" jacks on the other end and go into Mia's 2 inputs. Does this sound accurate? i think this is basically what you suggested.

I'm not sure why i should keep the SB Live, i just read a lot of responses that said it is better to keep SB Live for playback, but if i can play everything back with Mia, then i'm not sure what else SB is good for, considering i don't use Midi Either..??
 
The ONLY reason one would keep the Soundblaster is for its Midi uses.....
 
assuming the 4 track has RCA jacks as outputs, use the wires i suggested in the other post to go from the main outs of the 4 track to mia....then go from the main outs of mia into the reciever or tape deck.....viola.....you should be in business......
 
gidge - i got the cables and hooked everything up...i am getting a good signal from the 4 track into Mia, but i am not hearing anything...i have two seperate 1/4" jacks coming out of Mia and going into my tape deck, similar to how my SB was setup, do you have any suggestions?
 
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