Help Please!!!

I just got a Mackie 1604 to use with my MPC, I want to connect the 8 outs of my MPC to the Mackie then connect it to my Powerbook and record all the stuff to a software like cubase or pro-tools, how can I connect my Mackie to my Powerbook, do I need something like a patch bay or just a soundcard (if any, please give sugestions) thanks a lot for the attention

that mackie is a mixer, right? if so, it should have main outputs on the back. get a cable and connect the main outputs into the input on your powerbook (i think this is how you should do it)...

it has a soundcard right? if not then you'll need one

..... I would say...for best results get a good soundcard or interface like one of them Tascam or Maudio joints. That sh*t should hook up either USB or firewire to your computer, whichever you have available on your PC. In your case I'd get one with 8 ins and 8 outs(or at least 8 ins and 2 outs if you don't need 8 outs) and go direct from the MPC to the interface and then use the Mackie to reference the track in post (2-track).

I do the same thing with a 1604VLZ, except I track out in Protools instead of using the 8-outs on my MPC. Any correspondence (audio recording or I/O) to and from your MPC and computer should have a decent interface to handle the job. Preferably with a good A/D converter like one of them Apogee joints, but that's another story.

You could use the inputs on your computer already if they allow you to record audio into the destination software, but a good interface will provide better quality. I am not even sure what software is receiving the audio from your MPC, so it is hard to provide a 100% solid answer.

tombstone, good info...

would you just recommend that interface for the powerbook or any computer or pc? i wanted to try to find another way to get my audio to my computer instead of using the input on the soundcard. i think thats where some of my noise comes from..

if i were to do something like this I would go with something like digi 001, or delta 1010.

i was going to upgrade to something like this for my setup. but didnt need to thank to smoo.

good looks mayne

...sorry been away a few days. To answer the question, I would say most definitely a good interface is a must when recording from hardware to a computer. Any computer. I lucked out in that I bought an 001 so my software came with a decent interface. I still bypass the analog ins though and use the Rosetta to convert A/D via SPDIF.

But I would say most average stock computer soundcards are not properly equipped for quality audio recording. That's IMO of course, and I'm sure as always there are exceptions. If money is a concern I would cop the most affordable quality interface with the least amounts if I/O's (ya know like 2 ins, 2 outs + SPDIF). Multi outs and all that is not necessary without a mulitrack console setup.

Ultimately, I would get a converter. The Rosetta 200 is nice because it has A/D and D/A so its quality in, quality out. I got the old plain Rosetta which is just A/D. At the very least look into digital conversion, it'll boost the quality of your audio, especially when recording to software and what not.

the mackie has 4 sub groups and as well as direct outs for channels 1 to 8 (I think). Your best bet in terms of functionality/ease of use/budget is to go for a soundcard with four ins so that you can hook the sub group outs to individual soundcard inputs. Maybe m-audio do something good for you... www.m-audio.com

thanks tombstone

I was going in through my cheap soundblaster audigy platinum analog ins for a while before I started using the optical (NO NOISE) interface on it. The analog ins were letting emi into the audio picture.

Now I got the digi001 w/ my pc, I STILL use the optical ins and I have NO noise whatsoever.

lamp how much did that interface cost you?