Behringer UB1202 + Creative Sound Card = Feedback and NOTHING

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Member Since: Aug 31, 2005

Hello everyone, This is my first venture into legit multi-track recording. Ive ran 1/8th into my computers crappy on-board audio and mixed down in acid pro before, but I got tired of the sound quality and the hassle of trying to mic drums and all of that. So I went out and bought a behringer UB1202 mixer and a creative blaster live 24bit/96kHz sound card.


http://images.creative.com/iss/images/products/headers/prod10315_hdr_1_6_1.jpg




Right now my set up is:
1st line out 1/8th inch connector going into the 5/6th line in's on the mixer.
Main Out's on the mixer are going into a dual 1/4th inch male to single 1/4th inch female adapter then running into the digital I/O on my sound card.
Then I have tape out RCA jacks going into the 1/8th inch jack in the back of my speakers.

now my problem is when ever I try to listen to music I get this terrible feedback, and then when I try to record (using acid pro 4) I get a very faint signal. I have to boost it by almost 18dB to even hear it.

I'm not sure if I need to change the set-up or what,but I'm lost. I know this is alot to try and diagnose, but any feedback would be helpful.
Thanks in advance to everyone!
-Kyle

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Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


Sep 02, 2005 09:22 am

I'm surprised you get any signal at all while recording, going into a digital source, from an analogue... wow . What you're trying to do by running the soundcard out back into the mixer is not possible with your current setup . What you want to do is go from the mixer to the soundcard, from the soundcard to the speakers . This will eliminate your feed back loop . Also, don't plug any analogue line-out into a digital line-in, or vice versa... they don't share, or play nice together . Eventually, if you want to have a setup where the soundcard does run back into the board, you'll need a mixer with a sub-bus to accomplish it, but it's not necesary to get started... just remember if you monitor through your speakers while recording, not to point the mic at 'em... more feedback .
Good luck Kyle, and welcome to HRC !

Member
Since: Aug 31, 2005


Sep 02, 2005 04:57 pm

Thanks alot Hue!
I dont exactly understand how to run the mixer to the board how you stated. I only have four ports on this sound card : 3 line outs, and one line in/mic/digital I/O for SPDIF (which is currently turned off). Now is what I want to do even possible with this set up, or will I have to get an E-MU 0404, or Audiophile 2496 or am I still not heading in the right direction? Thanks again!
-KYle

jimmie neutron
Member
Since: Feb 14, 2005


Sep 02, 2005 06:20 pm

I believe that's a "combination" "port", line/mic in or s/pdif, depending on how you configure it in the Creative software (?)... You want to take your mixer to the soundcard, 1st off. And it sounds like you're trying to monitor your recording thru the mixer, but not record that signal again...

Use your 4 mic inputs and line inputs as desired, panning and EQing the way you want the sound to be recorded (2 track stereo). Be sure and get a good signal thru the mixer, using the LED meter to aid in NOT "clipping". Since your RCA Tape Out jacks parallel the Main Outs, take an 1/8" stereo plug to 2-RCA "wye" cable (a rather common cable & usually available at Radio Shack and other like stores) and go to your Line In jack on the sound card (Blue?). There is your recording path. It also leaves the Aux Send open for FX, if desired. Be sure you have the sound card configured for analog input, if necessary, and set the digital record levels in the sound card's (Windows?) mixer application. Then setup your recording app's levels, etc...

Use another 1/8" stereo plug to 2-RCA "wye" cable, and go from the sound card Line Out (Green?) to the Tape In jacks on the mixer. Do not press Tape To Mix, use the Tape To Control Room, and use your headphones for monitoring, or the 1/4" jacks to send a signal to amp & speakers. If you're using your computer speakers, and they've got an 1/8 plug, you'll have to do some inventive gender changing & wye cabling... But the folks at the electronics store where you get your wye cables from *might* be able to help?. Just describe what you're trying to connect and...

Be forwarned: If you press the Tape To Mix button, you run the risk of not only get massive quantities of feedback, but also the possibility of blowing your mixer, or soundcard, or amp, or speakers, or ears, or all of the above!!!
Edited: spelling (what a surprise!)

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Sep 03, 2005 12:53 am

Good catch jmail, I looked at the mixer and didn't think there'd be a way to hook it up like he's thinking. I saw the tape to mix button, but didn't put that part together.

Just as an added note, you can separate the signals (two) by panning the channel 1 hard left, and channel 2 hard right. This will keep the signal coming from chan 1 and chan 2 separate in your recording software. There should be a setting in your software that will let you create two mono tracks from an incoming stereo signal. Otherwise, you won't be able to mix the two signals separately.

Member
Since: Aug 31, 2005


Sep 03, 2005 10:07 pm

Alright, well I'm going to run out and grab two RCA to 1/8th inch cables here shortly! :-)

Now my second question is that, will this set-up give me good results, I'm not asking for studio prefection, but I dont want it to sound like I just ran a patch into my onboard audio on the motherboard and recorded that way.

And then, in your guy's honest opinion, what software would be my best bet. I want to do vocals/guitar/bass/keys and eventually drums, so I need something that will throw down multi tracks at the same time and not be a piece of junk. :-? I know my computer can handle it no problem (2.4 gig pentium 4 processor, 1 gig of 3200 ram, 300gigs of drive space) so the size of the application isnt a problem either!

Thanks a million guys! You've really been a great help.
-Kyle

UPDATE: Alright, I got the two y cables, it works great. Records fine, just have to get the EQ's all taken care of. BUT I do have one problem, I have a 2.1 speaker system on the machine. And I get signal to my sub and my right speaker, but not my lef. Does this have something to do with the tape out, or is something just not playing nice in the set-up?

Thanks again.
-Kyle

jimmie neutron
Member
Since: Feb 14, 2005


Sep 04, 2005 08:21 am

Try

www.kreatives.org/kristal/

for the multitrack recorder (freeware) to get the idea and hang of it. Then go for Cubase LE or Cakewalk Guitar Studio or the like *after* you read up on the all the programs and decide what you want and what your budget will be.

Try

audacity.sourceforge.net/

for a freeware audio editor. Between these 2 programs, you'll get an idea of what you're dealing with. They are by no means a convenient solution. Other programs offer an all-in-one product that is much easier to use, and they don't crash (generally) as easily. Read up on this site from the links in the right column. Do some research at other sites (none better than this, tho).

You'll only be able to do 2 tracks at a time into your sound card, until you'd purchase a multi-track specific card. As for sound on the right only, which program did you use? Windows Recorder might only do mono on one side... Check your "Pan" controls on your mixer, and/or swap your cables and make sure you've got a good one. Be sure the cables are in the jacks all the way and making good contact, and be sure you've got "stereo" cables, TRS (Tip Ring Sleeve). Three separate contact areas on the 1/8" plugs. Check your Windows Audio options (I can't remember where - Control Panel, Sounds?).

Member
Since: Aug 31, 2005


Sep 06, 2005 04:02 am

Well I've downloaded a demo of Acid Pro 4, which I like alot, and was the program I've been using to test out the gear.

I am using stereo RCA to mini 8th plugs. I believe the problem might lie in teh fact that I'm going through a 2.1 system. The line in is in the powered sub, whuch then has two rca jacks going out to each speaker. So I'm thinking of trying it with just 2 full range speakers.

Now, for a multi track specific card, I'll be more then happy to pick one up, what do you guys suggest?!

Thanks!
-Kyle

jimmie neutron
Member
Since: Feb 14, 2005


Sep 06, 2005 06:24 am

Be sure you've got your "Pan" controls on the UB mixer AND in the software mixer, AND in the recording software set where you want them. Be sure your cables are inserted all the way, otherwise you'll end up with audio on one side only. Also, some demo programs are limited to mono recording, maybe Acid is?

As for a new sound card, I'd start a new thread to ask that in Gear Gab, and have a budget set, and how many tracks you want to record at a time. There are so many options out there, it's almost unbelievable...

The fat one always watches us.
Member
Since: Nov 08, 2002


Sep 06, 2005 11:09 am

Heres how i go- behr 802 mixer to SB live
From the mixer- RCA outs (left/right) to a radio shack RCA ins, 1/8 stereo out. (it cost about 4 bucks) That adapter goes to the line in on my soundblaster. it means you can only record 1 track at a time, but its in stereo and theres no noise. I

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