As I only had stereo 3.5mm extension leads to my Line-In and Output sockets on my soundcard, I thought it was about time that I got a small mixer to save me the frequent trips under my desk to retrieve stuff. My boss agreed to me buying one, so I bought the above as I’d previously used a Behringer mixer both at home and for live stuff and was very happy with it.
I’ve looked at the diagrams for connecting it in various scenarios (such as “Project Studio”, “Small Band” etc.), but what I’d really like to do is this: control the volumes for both input AND output from the computer by using the mixer (the ouptut from the PC going into an input??). I just can’t get my head around it, I should be able to but I just have this huge mental block!
I’ve got loads of assorted cables here and could probably stretch to buying some extra kit if needed. Is what I want to do impossible as things are?
There are potential bear traps if you try to output from your computer sound card into the mixer while using the mixer as the audio input to your computer.
Also, unless you have upgraded the sound card in the computer then you will probably get better sound quality by using the Xenyx for both input and output and just use the computer’s internal sound card for making system bleeps and dings.
You’ve not said what sort of projects you will be working on, but in most cases something like the “Project Studio” set-up is likely to be best.
With this set-up, the playback level from the computer can be adjusted using the “Control Room” level knob.
Normally you would set the playback level in the computer software at a high level, then adjust the control room knob to give the required volume from the speakers/headphones.
To make computer playback go through to the Control Room knob (and then out through the Control Room outputs) you need to depress the “2TR/USB” button to the left of the “PHONES/CTRL RM” knob. To make the mixing desk microphone/line inputs go to the Control Room level knob you need to depress the “MAIN MIX” button.
Side note - remember to switch your speakers off when recording with a microphone - use headphones.
Thanks for the reply. I’ll have a go at configuring things as you’ve said as soon as I get the chance. The stuff I work with is really either interviews which are recorded on tape (I know!), or discs containing audio (usually noisy vox or telephone conversations), which I then have to clean up as best as I can, then edited according to the requirements of the job (i.e specific segments etc. as per a transcript).
The discs of course are easy and I just use the “WaveOutMix” to record whatever it is then edit using Audacity. I got by for ages using the Line-In on my soundcard then attaching various tape decks etc. via a simple stereo 3.5mm to phono’s lead, but got the mixer to make things a little easier for myself, which it has done. I’m waiting for a simple patch bay that I can wire up all my various decks, as although I primarily do video edits, there’s been a lot more audio stuff coming through the doors in the last 12 months, much of it of an urgent nature, so I decided it was about time to get things organised.
Thanks again. Back to the grind for me - I’m staring a 2 boxes full of video edits that need doing
What sort of “discs”?
If they are audio CDs it is better quality, quicker and easier to digitally rip them to WAV format rather than record them.
Some good free CD rippers for Windows include: C-Dex, EAC, Foobar2000 (and many others).
Sorry Steve I thought I’d replied - anyway the discs I get here come in many formats: standard audio CD’s, audio from CCTV, audio from standard DVD recordings, and also more lately, DVD’s that contain 24 hours or so of recorded audio which have a visual time & date stamp.
Audio jobs are getting more and more frequent for me to be honest, and owing to the nature of some of the recorded material, I can see the job having to stuff me away somewhere where it cannot be overheard. I’m really looking forward to writing up the “shopping list” when it comes to kitting out my new work area!
I’m keen to learn more about cleaning up speech recordings and hope to learn much more about it by attending a seminar in London later this month. Imperial College London are doing extensive work in this area, and as I’ve never seen any courses dealing with this subject here in the UK, I’ve got high hopes. Fingers crossed anyway.
Just an update - I’ve configured the mixer and the audio devices on the PC as per the suggetsions from Steve and I’m happy to say it all works really well - and with considerably less noise.
