Audacity Forum

Whats the easiest (and cheapest!) way to record to Audacity on a laptop direct from a basic, 12 channel mixing desk? I presume it can be done? Doesnt matter if it isnt multi-track, as long as i can get a good mix on the desk before recording.

I've been trying to figure it out but its been confusing me somewhat. I think it may involve the direct outs of the desk possibly...

Any help / guidance would be muchly appreciated!

Thanks!

Get a Behringer UCA-202
It's a stereo USB audio interface - the input is fixed at line level, and it's just "2 in / 2 out" with no other features (apart from a little LED that lights up when it's plugged in).
There are other USB audio interfaces, but this one is about the cheapest, and I find it works very well.

Excellent, thanks for that. I've had a bit of a look into it and it sounds like just the kind of thing im after.

Just out of interest, where does it connect to on the mixing desk?

Main (stereo mix) out from the mixing desk to the UCA-202 inputs (you will probably need a pair of 1/4" jack to RCA plug leads, or XLR to RCA, depending on the mixing desk), then the UCA-202 plugs into a USB port on your computer. Note that this completely bypasses your other audio card.

The RCA outputs on the UCA-202 plug into your amplifier / powered speakers.

If you want to use headphones, you will need to configure your sound system to use your existing sound card for playback, or get a USB audio interface that has a headphone socket as the UCA-202 does not have any other controls or connections other than Line-in and Line-out (plus the USB lead).

stevethefiddle wrote: If you want to use headphones, you will need to configure your sound system to use your existing sound card for playback, or get a USB audio interface that has a headphone socket as the UCA-202 does not have any other controls or connections other than Line-in and Line-out (plus the USB lead).

The Edirol UA-1EX has headphone output.

WC