Help!... mixer woes

  • Thread starter Thread starter MadStrum!
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MadStrum!

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Hi, I just got a Crate CMX32 mixer and am trying to record the signal from it into my sblive...
I have connected the mike to the mic in on the mixer.
Then for the "tape out" on the mixer I have connected a left and right male 1/8" cable to it which runs into the sb live line in.
However, there is no sound in my computer at all, even though the master signal on the mixer shows a signal when I test it.
Or should I use the Main Output 1/4" on the mixer instead? I don't have the 1/4" cable for this...
Argh.

Pier.
 
I'm not familiar with that specific mixer, however I would imagine that like most mixers I have encountered you should be using the Main outputs.

:cool:
 
Several possibilities --
  • the soundcard line in might be disabled (often is by default when first installed)
  • nothing might be routed to the tape out
  • mic requires phantom power and is getting none, hence you get a very, very low signal
By the way, that Tape Out must be a pair of RCA jacks, not 1/8"...
 
Alchuck is probably right with the first suggestion. Open up the Creative Mixer control panel and unmute the Line in. I forget to do that sometimes.....
 
Just to be clear (since "cassette player" often means a portable to most folks, and many portables don't have RCA jacks) -- RCA jacks are the ones on the back of a component audio cassette deck, CD player, stereo receiver... also on the front of most modern VCRs and TVs as well as on the back...

... and 1/8-in. jacks are the kind you plug headphones into on portable CD players and MP3 players...

Since you weren't clear on the difference, MadStrum, you also might not know that most minijacks (including the SB Live's Line In) are stereo jacks that require a stereo 1/8-in. plug. In your setup you would use a pair of RCA jacks that connect to a single stereo 1/8-in. plug.
 
Ok let me get this clear, RCA jacks are mono, one left and one right ... yes/no?

Pier.
 
You are correct. On a small mixer like the Rane the tape outs should be fine to take the signal from and they are most likely RCA connections. What you would need is a cable that has two RCA plugs (the "male" part) at one end and a single stereo 1/8" plug at the other. And, like the others said, check to make sure the mixer doesn't have the Line In input muted or the fader shown all the way down. You don't say what software you are recording into, is it Windows sound recorder or another program?
 
Well, I am using creative recorder for recording.... just for testing.
A question, is there any difference between the microphone jack and line-in jack on the creative sb live after I disable the 20db mic boost on the mic jack?
Thanks.

Pier.
 
Big difference. The mic jack input still runs through the crappy preamp circuit, and it's only mono.
 
Ok, I need some help here from sb live users....
The jacks into the sound card are colour-coded right? I need to know what colour is the line-in coz I lost my manual...

Thanks.

Pier.
 
color codes

i'm not sure the exact color, but there are pictures etched on the back of the card...the "line-in" will have an arrow going inside a couple rings (i suppose it's supposed to be a resonating sound or something)...also..it doesn't sound like you are using this, but just in case you have the live drive it will be line in 2 and not the regular line in. Also, one other thing I don't believe has been mentioned...not only should your line in be unmuted but you also must select it in recording properties...if you double click on the speaker at the bottom to get to your volume properties, then go from there to options/advanced, you can select which volume control you want to see, the playback or recording. Go to recording and hit ok...then you will see the recording levels of the different inputs and the line in must be selected there as well...otherwise while you're playing into your mic it might be listening in on the cd audio channel and not pick up anything you did.

hope this helps
dlv
 
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