Recording Scenario : All wrong?!

[Kalvarium]

Hi guys...

I have purchased the M-Audio Delta 44 and a Behringer mixer.
I thought I could insert the Behringer mixer from the Main Outs into the Input of the M Audio Interface.

I didn't do anything yet as I don't know if this method is good or bad and I dont know what I need to connect the two together.

I feel like a real idiot as I'm spending alot of money to fulfil my dream to become a sound engineer by getting some on hand experience before I attend a college. But as you can all see, I still need to grasp the basics.

Is it possible for me to plug a left and a right cable from the output of the MAIN OUT and insert it to the sound card using a TRS jack?

So basically the left/right RCA plugs and the TRS plug are in one wire. Am I imagining and being stupid?

What must I do to plug the mixer into the sound card? Please help people.
Very much appreciated. Thanks.

[shayne_122]

Don't worry, don't worry.

The answer's quite simple. Take two mono 1/4" cables (TRS or guitar cable, whichever) and plug them into the main outs on the mixer, and into whichever inputs on the soundcard.

[vizo]

I had the same setup a few years back until I trashed the trashy Behringer preamps for even less trashier Studio Projects preamps. And yes, do what shayne said, it's the way to do it.

[pitchfork]

get something like this:
http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/options.php?id=66387

[snoop-au]

He he don't worry about it mate, I had the same problem when I got my mixer and MTR; I had read the manual as was confident in using them, but when it came to plugging it all in I felt like a total n00b - spent hours researching impedance, level matching, why things have different line levels, balanced lines and other stuff.

So basically just saying you're not alone. Well, yeah actually you are now cuz I've done my research :)

I've got a book coming from Amazon - Sound Engineering 2 or something; I'll let you know if it's any good.

[Kalvarium]

Hehe thanks guys, I was feeling pretty desperate. But won't two guitar leads like Shayne kindly suggested means that it will take up 2 slots in the soundcards inputs? Or would a wire like pitchfork displayed solve the problem?

And just for knowledge, what is the Direct Out from the mixer used? I read you need to plug the direct out to the input of the soundcard? But whats the point if you can just use up 1 or 2 inputs of the soundcard and plug all the mixer in?

Thanks again :)

[vizo]

Which Behringer do you have? On the one I had the Main Outputs were XLR, not TRS 1/4".

[jurialmunkey]

How many tracks are you recording? What are you recording? What recording program are you using? What is your mixer, how many tracks, model etc.

But won't two guitar leads like Shayne kindly suggested means that it will take up 2 slots in the soundcards inputs? Or would a wire like pitchfork displayed solve the problem?
Yes it will take up 2 slots. The 4 inputs on the M-Audio are MONO. The idea of recording the main outs to 2 tracks on you soundcard is so that you can pan things on the mixer, then record on the two independant MONO tracks from the soundcard and pan one left and one right so that you get a stereo mix.

Going down from two MONO plugs to a STEREO plug like pitchfork showed would not work in your setup because the input on the M-Audio is MONO so you would get all sorts of weird phasing effects from a STEREO plug.

If you do just want to mix down to mono then just PAN all the channels LEFT and take a mono guitar lead from the LEFT out on the MIXER to the INPUT on the M-AUDIO.


And just for knowledge, what is the Direct Out from the mixer used? I read you need to plug the direct out to the input of the soundcard? But whats the point if you can just use up 1 or 2 inputs of the soundcard and plug all the mixer in?

When you say "Direct Out" on the mixer; Do you mean for each individual track?? The idea of recording to seperate inputs is so that they are seperate tracks on the computer when you mix them. The point of the direct outs is for when you want to control your sound source levels via the mixer but you still want to record 4 tracks individually, then you take the 4 direct outs and plug them each into an INPUT on your sound card. Then you can record 4 tracks simultaneously but still have them all seperate on the computer.

[Kalvarium]

Thanks for your replies. Vizo, my Behringer is a UB 2442 FX PRO.

Jurialmonkey- I am recording a maximum of 10 tracks with drums. I got a 8 piece drum kit plus 2 overheads so the UB 2442 FX Pro is perfect.

Im recording drums, guitar, bass and vocals. The program I intend to use is Sonic Foundry Acid Pro 4.0.
Yes, the direct outs are for each individual channels ( but its a 10 channel but its got 8 direct outs).

So basically, If I plug the mixer like you told me with 2 tracks on my sound card to pan them together will work just as well as using direct outs (using 4 as my maxium since my soundcard only has 4 inputs.)

I will go for the first option of getting 2 guitar cables from the Main outs to 2 channels from the mixer, is that right?

Thanks

[shayne_122]

That's correct, yes.