Help needed with home recording

[Raymond4646]

My nephew purchased several pieces of equipmet to start recording his own music.
He got;
Behringer Eurorack UB1222FX-PRO Mixer http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=live/search/detail/base_pid/631229/

MXL MXL 990 Condenser Microphone with Shockmount
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=live/search/detail/base_pid/273156/?c_tid=topseller

and a midi cable to connect the mic to the mixer.

Hi goal is to be able to use the above mentioned mixer and mic and somehow connect it to his computer running Magic Music Maker 2005 His pc a pavilion 533w has the factory sound card with an input and an output. The only problem is they are small headphone style connectors while the input/outputs of the mixer are either MIDI or rca style. What is the best way to connect everything up? Thanks for any help with this.

 

[jkokura]

first of all - you're mixing up Midi with a bunch of things. Midi is a digital format, and everything you're talking about is analog...

The ins and outs on his soundcard are 1/8". Also, they are good enough to get sound in and out of the computer, but not the best option.

I would suggest getting something that will give him a better input into his computer than the stock soundcard. If this is for fun, than try a USB option like: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackUSB-main.html, or a PCI (installed into the PCI slots in the back of his computer) http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Audiophile2496-main.html, or http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Delta44-main.html.

With any of these options, your son would hook up his mic to his mixer, and then use the mixer's Main outs to go into the breakout box/cable which in turn sends sound into your computer. From there your son would use the software to record, mix, edit and then eventually record onto a CD.

There are differnt options than these of course, and if your not prepared to spend money, the easiest method is to use a single cable - on one end is a female XLR" connector, and the other is a male 1/8" connector. The XLR" out plugs into the main out of the board, or the direct out of the channel. The 1/8" end goes into the LINE in on the computer card...NOT the MIC in...

Ask anymore questions you have...Hopefully I or others here can help...

Jacob

 

[Raymond4646]

Jacob,
First off, thank you for the super quick responce!!!! We will probably go with the cheap option at this point, due to the few hundred bucks already spent. If he stays persistant with this than better equipmet will follow. So where do you recommend to purchase this connector? Does it have a specific name? Or do I just describe it as you did to a music store clerk? Again thank you very much.

 

[jkokura]

go in to a music store and ask someone for a female XLR to 1/8" cable...If you can't find one try Radio Shack...and if not there...get someone who can solder to make you one...

Jacob

 

[Raymond4646]

Once again Thanks!!