Mackie 1202 alt 3/4 out to soundcard help?

[rbathsheba]

I want to listen to what has been previously recorded coming through the audiophile 2496 to my Mackie 1202 while recording something new. But I just want to record the new. I don't want what I'm listening to to be recorded. Naturally for processing I want the tracks seperate. Right now I use alt 3/4 out with the mute button to record. On the return I put the stereo into an unused stereo input on the Mackie. I'm guessing the mute button should not be down on the return because then I would be recording that for sure. How is the control room section (buttons on the right) supposed to be set up? Is this kind of how you people do it?

 

[Creamyapples1]

If you have the Mackie 1202-VLZPro, you would want to run the outputs on your soundcard into (for example) tracks 1 and 2, make sure that Aux 1 and Aux 2 knobs are all the way DOWN on those two channels. Run Aux 1 and/or Aux 2 to the inputs on your soundcard, then plug in your mic/guitar to channel 3 on the board, and turn up the knob for Aux 1 and/or Aux 2. This will allow you to monitor your mix in channels 1 and 2, while sending your current signal to the PC and keep it isolated in the process, while allowing you to either use the headphone jack or the main mix outs to monitor the whole mix (including what you are recording at that time) I wouldn't worry about mute buttons, etc.

 

[rbathsheba]

Thank you! I'm at work on graveyards this week but when I get a chance to try it I'll let you know.

 

[rbathsheba]

I don't know if there's anywhere to post answers to frequently asked questions but I found this at the mackie site I'' probably give this a try also.

How do I hook my 1202 or 1402 VLZ-PRO up to a computer for recording?
This setup is going to utilize the dual bussing available on the mixer via the Alt 3/4 Mute function. This will allow you a separate bus for tracking (recording) and another bus for monitoring (playback). Having 2 separate busses allows more flexibility with recording and avoids feedback loops that can occur when tracking or overdubbing. The most efficient way to do this is to use the Alt 3/4 bus for tracking (the Alt 3/4 bus is any channel that is Muted) and the Main Mix bus for monitoring (simply leave the channel un-Muted). So for a simple 2 track or stereo recording setup with a computer, connect the Alt 3/4 outputs on the back of the mixer to the inputs on the computer's soundcard. Next take the output from the computer (this will be the playback) and bring it into any empty channel(s) on the mixer (more than likely you will use one of the stereo input channels). If you have studio monitor speakers, connect those to the Control Room outs on the back of the mixer. Any CD burners, DAT machines, or other mixdown destinations can be hooked into the Main Outs for a final mixdown from the computer (if needed). Plug your mics and instruments into the remaining channels for recording as needed. Now that the connections have been made, it's time to get some of the basics of the bussing system and Control Room source functions down for easy recording. You will simply Mute any channel you wish to record on the computer. There is one exception to this: do NOT Mute the channel that has the computer's output connected to it. Doing so will create a feedback loop since you're running the output of the computer back into the computer, which goes back into the mixer to the computer in an infinite loop that results in a LOUD squeal. (Note: exceptions to this rule can be made by utilizing software muting on your computer's recording software or hardware controls; check your software documentation on this and feel free to ask Tech Support for details). You will leave the computer's output track un-Muted for monitoring. Monitoring will be done through speakers or headphones via the Control Room section on the mixer. The buttons in the Control Room source section will control which busses you're listening to: Main Mix is computer playback, Alt 3/4 is channels being sent into the computer for tracking, and Tape will monitor anything plugged into the Tape Input. Assign to Main Mix will not be used in this setup, so you can leave this button in the up position. If you're doing an overdub and need to hear both the tracking and playback channels, you can easily accomplish this by pressing both Main Mix and Alt 3/4 down at the same time. Using the Control Room section for monitoring allows you to monitor most signals on the mixer and to also listen to multiple busses at once without running into a feedback loop.

I don't know how to hyperlink but here's the link if anyone is interested.
http://www.mackie.com/support/FAQ/1202_1402vlzpro.html#1