Soundcards/Interfaces???

[Jamesie]

Hi everybody!!

I would like to record 8 tracks from a mixer simultaneously to Cakewalk on my computer. What type of soundcard/interface would I need with what type of I/O?? What I'd like, is that when all the 8 tracks have been recorded, or during recording of other band members, I want to able to adjust the gains of each channel separately using the mixer which is a Mackie Onyx 1620 I'm lending. This mixer has direct outs in the form of a new connector to me. See the bottom right of this page http://www.mackie.com/home/showimage.html?u=/products/onyx1620/images/1620_top_lg.jpg to see the type of thing I'm talking about.

Thank-you in advance

Jamesie

 

[guttadaj]

That mixer looks pretty sweet!

As far as a soundcard/interface goes, you would need an input for every individual track you hope to record simultaneously, so 8 in this case. Take a look at the Delta 1010LT from M-Audio as an example.

HTH,
-Jeff

 

[wheelema]

If you look at the PDF manual for this mixer the instructions are pretty explicit.

The digital outs that are causing you concern are used when outputting to a digital multitrack recorder, not to a PC. The two attached images show the Onyx attached to Digital Recorder (Mackie Onyx 1620 to digital) and attached to a PC (Mackie Onyx 1620 to PC).

Offhand, the firewire option may be THE way to go. Regardless of whether or not you are using a laptop.

 

[wheelema]

Here is some more info from the Onyx 1640 PDF manual. Image attached.

Sorry the image quality is so poor... a sacrifice made for speed. At least you know where to look.

 

[Zona Mona]

Question about this, couldnt you run the 25 pin out from the mixer to this analog in on that soundcard you showed, woudn't this be the same as running into a hard disc recorder?

 

[Jamesie]

Thanks guys for all your help! And an interesting question by Zona Mona too.

Thanks

Jamesie

 

[tedluk]

I don't understand ZonaMona's question.

The mixer has a TDIF digital output on it. This is a different, arguably superior to ADAT, but less common digital format created by Tascam. Some equipment manufacturers still offer adapters for it, notably Yamaha on their AW2816 and AW4416 recorders. If you want to connect it to a soundcard, the way to go is the Soundscape Mixtreme . It offers 16 channels of I/O on TDIF connectors. The link I show has the PCI card with 2 analog breakout boxes. It sells for $620.00.

I've been using the Mixtreme cards for a number of years and they are simply great. Extremely well engineered, solid drivers and excellent support. It's a shame this company has had so many problems. Their higher end equipment, in many ways, surpasses Protools and costs much less.

If you get the Mackie, I encourage you to give the Mixtreme card a look.

Ted

 

[Farview]

That isn't a TDIF connector. It is a D-sub connector. It is the way Tascam DA-xx have their balanced analog i/o configured. You just need to buy the right cable for it, they make them with all kinds of different ends. (1/4, xlr..etc)

 

[tedluk]

You're right! I should have looked at that drawing wheelema posted a little closer. I saw "TDIF" in the print, but didn't see the word "not" in front of it!

Well, everything I said about the Mixtreme is still true! It's a great card and the other offerings from Soundscape are excellent as well.

I hope 2005 finds them with US distribution and an advertising budget!

Ted

 

[Zona Mona]

Ok, this is what it looks like to me. I am just trying to understand all this. It klooks like you could either take the two balanced outputs and connect them to two balanced inputs and do a live to two-track or you could take a 25-pin connector from that thing on the mixer labeled "recordin outs" and input it into the 25-pin connector on the M-audio card. Would this work? Sorry for the headache and thank for bearing with me.

 

[MadAudio]

No, this is an analog connection. One end is the 25-pin connector, the other end is balanced TRS or XLR jacks.

 

[tedluk]

The connector on the Delta is a 44 pin, not 25, so it wouldn't be possible to connect them directly.

If you had the pin-out for the M-Audio, then I suppose it would be possible to make your own cable that would work, but that sounds like a lot of work.

Ted

 

[Zona Mona]

Then how could I get all of the channels from the mixer to record as independent tracks on the computer?

 

[tedluk]

You can only record as many simultaneous tracks as you have inputs on your soundcard. That's assuming that your computer is up to the task.

If you look at the soundcard I mentioned, the Mixtreme, it has 16 channels of I/O so you could record up to 16 tracks at one time using it. You would need a cable to go from the mixers DB25 to 8 unbalanced RCA connectors x 2. You would connect those to the breakout boxes of the Mixtreme and then to the soundcard via the TDIF connectors.

With the Delta 1010LT you would only be able to do 8 tracks at a time since that's all the inputs it has.

I hope that helps make some sense of it for you.

Ted

 

[Zona Mona]

sorry but I can't see where the outputs on that mixer are to go to the RCA inputs on that card

 

[tedluk]

There are two DB25 connectors on the back of the mixer. Each one carries 8 channels of output. You can get cables from Mackie that breakout to XLR, 1/4" TRS or TT connectors (patchbay). From there it's a simple matter to connect these to whatever gear you're using.

NOW does it make more sense???



Ted

 

[Zona Mona]

Yeah I unerstand now. Thanks to everone who has helped me out here and in other forums as well. I seems like manning, tedluck and farview just keep looking at my post and helping me out, thanks a lot guys.