Help with mixer connections to soundcard

MaxH wrote on 5/6/2002, 10:17 AM
Hi,
I am a video guy rapidly being educated by reading this forum. However, even the basics are getting the best of me currently!
I am doing a voiceover and have a Mackie VLC Pro, a mic with an XLR connection, a Soundworks Digital box and a SB Audigy card. Apart from the mic, the only other thing plugged into the Mackie are headphones. I can hear myself over the headphones, and the meters on the Mackie read ok, but I need to know what connections I need going out from the Mackie, and where do they plug in to in either the Soundworks or Audigy?

I have tried dozens of combinations and still cannot get anything in to Vegas or Sound Forge; I suspect that this is so simple if you know how...

Thanks in advance.

Max


Comments

VU-1 wrote on 5/6/2002, 11:47 AM
You didn't mention which mixer you have......is it a 1604, or what?

You have several options on mixer outs:
1) connect from the mic channel 'direct out' to the analog 'line in' on your sound card,
2) assign the mic channel to a subgroup & connect from that 'subgroup out' to the analog 'line in' on your sound card,
3) route some of the mic channel signal to an aux send (pre) & connect from that 'aux send out' to the analog 'line in' on your sound card.

There might be more options, but either of these will work just fine.

JL
OTR
jbrazier wrote on 5/6/2002, 11:52 AM
You can run a 1/4" TRS (or TS) from the mixer main outputs to the Line Input connection on your sound card (probably 1/8"). This should create a mono line to record from. That's the simplest way...

The VLZ series should have channel insert as well. I believe you can use a channel insert as a direct channel out as well, usually by soldering the ring and the sleeve together on the mixer side of the cable. You could also use the AUX sends as well. It's all your choice.
MaxH wrote on 5/6/2002, 1:29 PM
Ok. I have connected 1/4" TRS from the mixer "main out" to the line input on the sound card-not the Soundworks box. I get nothing when I arm for record and hit record in Vegas. I am using Sound Mapper in Vegas; is that correct? How do I check that Sound Mapper is configured for a signal on the line input?

Boy, you sound guys have so many more connections to choose from!

Thanks,

Max
MaxH wrote on 5/6/2002, 1:33 PM
It's a 1202. I am using "main out" into the sound card-not the Soundworks box.
No signal gets in to Vegas.

Regards,
Max
VU-1 wrote on 5/6/2002, 4:53 PM
Can you describe the I/O (input/output) features of your Soundworks box?

JL
OTR

BTW - which version of Vegas are you using?
Rebel wrote on 5/6/2002, 5:00 PM
Make sure you have the correct input selected for your card. You can check that by clicking on the volume icon and then under Advanced settings, choose recording and then check that the right input is selected. I have the same setup. Mackie 1202 VLZ going into the SB Audigy. I am using Tape out from the mixer going into the Analog "line-in" on the card.

Hope that helps.



MaxH wrote on 5/7/2002, 11:30 AM
Thanks for responding. The Soundworks box has two audio inputs and a digital in. The digital in is connected to the digital out the sound card.
I am running 3.0a Vegas.

Regards,
Max
MaxH wrote on 5/7/2002, 11:44 AM
Got it! The wrong box was ticked; simple, but you sound engineers have the most awesome number of possible connections and things that can go wrong. Keeps you all sane I guess ;-)


Thanks for all of your responses.

Regards,
Max
VU-1 wrote on 5/7/2002, 1:13 PM
>>but you sound engineers have the most awesome number of possible connections and things that can go wrong. Keeps you all sane I guess<<

Actually, no. That's what makes us lose alot of sleep at times.

FYI - the BEST connection you can make is the SHORTEST path thru your mixer, which would NOT be out of the Main Outs. If your board has 'direct outs' on some of the channels, I highly recommend that you use one (the one that the mic is plugged into). This will introduce the LEAST amount of noise into your signal before being recorded in the computer. You can use an 'insert', but it will disable your ability to use the EQ on your signal before it is recorded. BTW, you can use a regular 1/4" TS cable in the insert jack - just insert it only halfway, until the tip engages the first contact in the jack. Probably the next best point to tap the signal would be an aux send - Pre if you don't want EQ, Post if you do. After that, I would go for a 'subgroup out'. If you will look at the block diagram for the board, you will be able to find the shortest path from 'mic in' to '(whatever) out'.

Hope this helps.
JL
OTR
MaxH wrote on 5/7/2002, 2:34 PM
Thanks for the info. I will give it a whirl...as they say.

Regards,

Max