Why Can't I use my RNP w/ my Mackie mixer?

[ridgeback]

Recording or rehearsing, what 's the difference? You are missing my question. I said that I can't figure out how to get a signal from the mixer to the recorder. Assume I want to track the whole band playing at the same time in my basement. I can't get a signal from the Mackie to the recorder, and I don't have enough inputs on the recorder to not use the mixer. Yea, it's probably my own stupidity, but none of the outs on the mixer seem to send a signal to the recorder. Plus, all the mixer's outs are left and right, and the recorder has only single line-in jacks. I want to plug a mic into the mixer and actually be able to record something with the recorder. If I use one of the main outs, that does not work, and neither does using one of the tape outs or one of the aux sends.

Roz, please goto Mackies site and download the pdf manual. The answer is there. Sorry about your frustration but maybe it's better if you read the info at your own pace. I find myself screaming at my gear sometimes only to find out if I relax, and re-read I get the picture. The key is first click. Think TRS/TS. Good luck and you'll get it.

 

[ellery]

However, it seems this stupidly simple plan is futile because one can't totally bypass the Mackie's internal preamps, so you end up, in effect, stacking the preamps. With a loud signal, you can turn the Mackie fader down and get mainly RNP, and it sounds good. With a vocalist using a condenser, you can't get enough gain out of the RNP before it clips. You have to turn up the Mackie's channel fader and that brings in the Mackie preamp, so what's the point of using the RNP. Am I nuts? I have tried the insert jacks and the mic/line jacks but its all the same. I need a "power amp in" analogous to an effects return on a guitar amp, but there isn't one. Is any bargain or mid-priced mixer compatible with using standalone preamps??? Thanks.

Check out this page on signal flow.
http://emusician.com/consoles/emusic_mixed_signals/

Here is the key. The fader/slider has nothing to do with the Preamp. The trim Pot does. (Very top of the board you will see a knob labled trim) There is a white box about one third down from Top dead center. Set the trim pot there. Do the same with the fader. This will set the board to unity gain. Now listen. How does it sound? What model Mackie board do you have?

This might help some.
~MIC Input~ --- ~Preamp/Trim knob~ -- ~insert point~ -- ~EQ~ -- ~sends~ -- ~fader~ -- ~mixbus~ -- ~Master Fader~

 

[johnsuitcase]

I do something similar all the time when tracking bands.

The mics go into the mixer>XLR

I use a 1/4" patch cable pushed halfway into the insert for each channel.

I plug the other end of the 1/4" patch cable into the inputs on my audio interface (the VF160 has 8 inputs, so you should be able to track eight channels at once)

I take the main outs of the board to my headphone amp.

I've done this on Soundcraft and Yamaha Mixers, Mackie should be the same.

The key is the half-click on the insert channel. This allows you to tap the signal after the pre, but generally before the EQ and fader (though on the yamaha, the eq is before the insert point). It also, if you carefully push only halfway in, allows the signal to continue through the mixer to the main outs.

If you're using a VF160, you don't need to submix anything, really. If you want to record more than 8 channels, get a Behringer ADA8000 for $150 on eBay.

As far as using the RNP, you may just have to use a splitter cable. Send the 1/4" out to the splitter, then send one directly to the VF160, and the other to the mixer on whatever channel. You'll be recording directly, but still be able to monitor the signal.

I've done that with other Pre's to get a little cleaner signal.

Good luck, experiment, and keep in mind that learning to record well is just like learning any other art form. It may take you a long time, or it may not. It's like playing drums.

 

[Seeker of Rock]

Who's bad talking mackie boards??? They're good boards for people who know what they are doing.

There are good and bad in a lot of gear, or good and better with some. I wonder what model of Mackie he is using?

Anyway, I have a 24.8 that sounds great, so I'm with you. It's like saying, "yeah, stop using your crappy Soundcraft or Allen and Heath board and get a Trident"