Mixer connections? Integrating my mixer into my studio.

[Zach]

Ok, so it's not really a studio, it's my PC in my bedroom. Here's what I want to do, and how I think (in my small experience) it should be done.
I have a Mackie 1202 that I want to hook-up to my Sound Blaster Live. So here is what I came up with:
I will go from the Mackie's main out to my sound blaster live line-in(two 1/4" mono plugs to 1/8" stereo).

Then I will go out from the Mackie's Control room out to my studios poweramp (two 1/4" mono to two rca).
Now, from my Soundblaster speaker out, I want to go back into my mixer. Can someone explain how and why I do this?
I'm very new to all of this, any help is appreciated. Does this setup look correct to everyone? If not, please tell me what you would recommend.
Thanks!
--Zach




[This message has been edited by Zach (edited 09-01-1999).]

 

[sonusman]

Your setup is just fine. But what mixer inputs are you going to be using from the soundcard output to the mixer?

You would really want to use something like an effects return or an aux return, or one of the stereo line inputs. The reason you DON'T want to use the microphone inputs is that then your soundcard output, which is a line level signal would be running into a Microphone Pre-Amplifier. This is not required to do because it is the job of a mic pre-amp to covert the microphone level into a line level signal. And since your soundcard already is outputting a line level signal, you don't need it coverted.

Effect returns and stereo inputs on mackie mixers typically use an OP amplifier at the input. An OP amp is idea for strong line level signals. Far more linear than any pre-amp.

The reason you are running the sound card output to the mixer is so that you can possibly mix other sources with what is coming out of the soundcard. For instance, you may be using sound modules instead of the sounds on your sound card for midi parts that you may have stored on you harddrive. Also, the mixer offers a way to use a simple equalizer on what is coming out of the soundcard. Also, the mixer is acting as an interface to whatever kind of duplication device you are using. (CD, Cassette, DAT)

Hope this helps.

Good luck.

Ed Rei
Echo Star Studio www.echostarstudio.com

 

[sonusman]

I forgot to say, that the reason you are running the mackie main outputs to the input of the sound card is so that you can use the mixers mic pre-amps and record to the computer. You will be able to mix as many sources as your mixer can handle and output it in stereo to your soundcard for recording.

Ed

 

[Zach]

Ahhh, I never even considered the fact that the Mic input channels boosted the signal. I can't decide whether to go from the soundcard into a stereo line-in or into the aux return.
I guess at the moment since I'm not doing anything fancy, it really won't matter, but I'm really beginning to see some useful ways of using both of them.
Thanks for shining light on a dark subject!
--Zach