recording with Mackie Mixer

  • Thread starter Thread starter LiveRust
  • Start date Start date
L

LiveRust

New member
Hi. I'm new to Cakewalk and desktop recording.

I am unable to get any input level when I am trying to record. I've plugged the Main Out from my mixer into my Creative SB Live! soundcard and I get no level response when I arm an 8-track Audio file on Cakewalk.

The only time I can get any green light to come on to to the input level is when I plug into the mic input. I understand that this is wrong, and it only shows a half-inch of green level anyway, so it is useless.

What am I doing wrong? I've tried plugging in to every other input in the soundcard -- because I am unsure what input is actually the "line in" -- but no luck at all with any of them.

Any help would be most appreciated.
 
There should be a software mixer that came with your SB card. Open that mixer and make sure the recording source is set to "Line In." Then be sure you are plugged into the Line In port on the SB Live. I believe the inputs connections are color coded. If you didn't get a manual with the card, try the Creative web site,

BTW, with an SB Live, the most tracks you can record simultaneously will be two.
 
Thank you very much for the quick reply!

Unfortunately, I'm unable to locate the SB Live mixer on my computer. The information about the software does not exist on my hard drive. If I click on the Creative Recorder (or Mixer) it returns a pop-up window showing "C:\Program Files\Creative\SB Live\Recorder (or Mixer) refers to a location that is not available."

Then, the little flash-light does its search, to no avail.

I do not have the original software disc that came with the soundcard. Am I out of luck? To be honest, I don't even know which version of the program I have, since any attempts to click on the registration or any file simply brings up the " . . . refers to a location that is unavaiable" pop-up.

Very frustrating . . . any additional help would be most appreciated!
 
Well then, do you have the Windows Mixer operational? (The speaker icon in the systray.) You can do the same thing using that mixer.

Open it and select Options > Properties > Recording and set the input to Line In.
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you . . . A hundred times thank you!

I don't mean to overreact, but I was just about pulling my hair out trying to get Cakewalk to record off my mixer. Finally, a solution!

Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to ask another question: when overdubbing parts, should I be listening to the recording via the headphone output on my soundcard, or should I be listening from the headphone output on the mixer?

Obviously, listening from the soundcard is easy enough -- just plug the headphones into the headphone jack on the soundcard . . . but to listen via the Mackie I assume I would have to run lines from the stereo outputs of the soundcard to a mic input on the mixer. Is this preferable? Is this even correct, or would would I run the soundcard line output to some other input on the mixer?

I have a Mackie DFX-6, if that makes any difference. I'm recording all acoustic audio . . . most guitar and vocals, but the occassional hand drums and other simple percussion.

Any thoughts here would be much appreciated!
 
Personally I run the headphones off my mixer. There are a variety of reasons for this for me, as I am setup to record as many as 8 channels and the mixer serves as sort of the command center for everything.

In your case, I suggest you just do whatever works best and easiest for you. And yes, in order to use your mixer's headphone connections you will need to run cables from your soundcard back to your mixer (at least you will if you want to hear anything that was previously recorded :) ).

BTW, where are your speakers connected? From your description I would have to assume they are connected to the sound card. In that case, what do you do with them while you are recording?
 
Thanks for the info! I think I'll try listening to the headphones off the mixer. How do you set up yours? Do you run stereo line outputs to two channel Line Ins on the mixer? Or do you get a cable that combines the two outputs into one line input and do it that way?

Or, do you NOT run the soundcard output to a line input, but instead somehow utilize the stereo aux return or aux send inputs? As you have obviously realized, I have very little idea what I'm doing here!

As far as my computer speakers, I never use them. I disconnected them after about a week of owning the computer -- I listen to all audio from my PC via headphones. The sound is just so much better that it's worth any inconvenience of having something around my head . . . And if I've got something on disc I just play it through my stereo in the same room.

Anyway, thanks again for the tips. I'd love to hear any advice you may have.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top