Members badgererer Posted March 30, 2006 Members Share Posted March 30, 2006 I've had my mixer (Behringer Eurorack MX2642A) for a couple of years now and I'll be honest with you, I've never really understood it. With my old computer, I ran the wires from my soundcard (Audiophil 2496) to the mixer in such a way that allowed me to record sound and play back sound, but I've never understood why which wire goes where and why! In addition to that, for some reason basic functionality on the mixer (such as the decibel meter) have never worked. However, I've always just been happy with the ability to record and play back, without needing to know anymore about the inner workings of my mixer and soundcard. However, now I have a new computer, and guess what? I can't get anything working! I had written which wires had gone where as such: - Soundcard: Analog INS (left and right) --> Mixer: 2 Track input (left and right)- Mixer: Main mix inserts and outs (left and right) --> Soundcard: Analog OUTS (left and right) I hope that makes sense...I also have my moniter speakers hooked up to "Ctrl Rm" left and right. I really have no idea what I'm doing wrong, obviously because I have little to no knowledge of how mixers are supposed to be hooked up to computers! I'm assuming it's a problem with how things are wired up, because I'm pretty sure the soundcard is installed ok. I currently have the "M-Audio Delta AP 1/2" selected for sound playback and sound recording in the control panel. At the moment I cannot record or play back sound. I'd be very grateful if any of you could help me to fix my problem, or at least nudge me in the right direction! The manual for my mixer can be downloaded here: http://www.behringerdownload.de/MX2642A/MX2642A_ENG_Rev_E.zip The manual for my soundcard can be downloaded here: http://www.m-audio.com/images/global/manuals/Audiophile2496_Manual.pdf Here's hoping you can help me! Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members skibob Posted March 30, 2006 Members Share Posted March 30, 2006 Originally posted by badgererer - Soundcard: Analog INS (left and right) --> Mixer: 2 Track input (left and right)- Mixer: Main mix inserts and outs (left and right) --> Soundcard: Analog OUTS (left and right) It looks like this is backward (if I understand it right). The Analog Outs on your soundcard should go to the 2 Track input on your mixer and the Outs on your mixer should go to the Analog Ins on your soundcard. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members badgererer Posted March 30, 2006 Author Members Share Posted March 30, 2006 Originally posted by skibob It looks like this is backward (if I understand it right). The Analog Outs on your soundcard should go to the 2 Track input on your mixer and the Outs on your mixer should go to the Analog Ins on your soundcard. Hope this helps. Thanks for the reply. Swapped 'em round...no luck. The more I look at it the more I think everything is plugged in the same as on my old computer - which makes me think either I've got some buttons pressed that shouldn't be on the mixer, or I have a problem between the soundcard and computer...any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kiwiburger Posted March 30, 2006 Members Share Posted March 30, 2006 Using a mixer for both recording and playing back is problematic, because if you do it wrong you risk feedback loops. For tracking, you need mic preamps between your mics and your soundcard inputs. Nothing else (unless you want to mess around with compression and eq). Buying some standalone mic preamps will not only greatly simplify your routing, you can seriously upgrade your sound quality. The mixer is best used for monitoring the output of your soundcard - so it isn't inserted into your tracking chain and can't harm the signal. If you really want to use the Behringer mixer preamps, you have to isolate them (so you don't get feedback). That's usually done by using the Insert jacks. Understanding Inserts is very important. They are usually a TRS jack, which is like a Stereo headphone jack, or like a Balanced TRS jack, but they are wired completely differently. They are Mono Unbalanced. They are designed to Insert a mono unbalanced device (like a compressor) After the mic preamp, and Before the mixer summing buss. (They might be pre-fader, or post-fader - that's either optional or hardwired at the factory). Normally you plug a special Y connector cable that has a TRS 1/4" jack, and terminates in two TS 1/4" jacks, for send and return. If you insert an unbalanced 1/4" TS plug into the insert, you are tapping into the output of the preamp. You are basically ignoring the Send, so the signal does not got back to the mixer summing buss - so the end result is basically isolating the mic preamp. It is practically the same as using a standalone mic preamp - just inferior quality. I hope this helps ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members badgererer Posted March 31, 2006 Author Members Share Posted March 31, 2006 Thanks for the advice kiwiburger, but unfortunately my budget (which currently rests comfortably at Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ethan Winer Posted April 1, 2006 Members Share Posted April 1, 2006 > I have little to no knowledge of how mixers are supposed to be hooked up to computers! Since your mixer appears to have direct out connections, I believe this article will help you: www.ethanwiner.com/mixer2daw.html --Ethan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members badgererer Posted April 3, 2006 Author Members Share Posted April 3, 2006 Originally posted by Ethan Winer Since your mixer appears to have direct out connections, I believe this article will help you: www.ethanwiner.com/mixer2daw.html --Ethan That looks like a very useful article, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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