My mixer.. Please help!!

[ScroogeMcDuck]

Hello everyone!!

I just have this issue when I want to record through my mixer. I have an Allen & Heath Zed-14 mixer and I record into Cakewalk Sonar via USB. Let's say I record something, for example some drums to Track 1 in Sonar. Then, I create a new track, let's call it "Track 2". Now I want to record some keyboard on Track 2. And here comes the problem: I want to record the keyboard to Track 2 but of course I will need Track 1 to play while recording so that I can play along with the drums. The problem is that the mixer also records the returns/feedback from the computer, which means that Track 1 will be recorded into Track 2 along with the keyboard. The same happens if I connect the "Main outs" to a recorder and the recorder outs to 2 mono channels on the mixer.

To say it short: How can I avoid that the return/feedback signal from the computer or recorder comes in the mix? I only want to hear it when recording so that I can play/sing along with it but it must not be re-recorded.

When I connected my equipment I made this drawing to remember what to do. This is how I connected my equipment, maybe I did it wrong?:



I hope someone can help me out of this n00b trouble =(

Thank you!!
Scrooge

[ScroogeMcDuck]

Thaught I found out how.. But no :-(

[bjarkedk]

in line input on mixer. if you put the cables half way in, doesnt that mean bypass but still line still comes thro speakers.

or

where i wonc recorded thay had a output group for headphones and for monitor.
right now both of yours are same output.
cant you make a master track in your software and send it out to the mixer. thats maybe what you allready have done? im confused

or wait a minute....
Narh im no good

[richiebee]

From your diagram, your Boss BR (?) is causing a loop - you have the main outs from the mixer going to the in on the Boss BR, and the outs on the Boss BR going to the in on the mixer.

I don't know what the USB features of your mixer are, but it looks like there's a button to route the output either to the main outs or two other channels. Don't route it to the main outs.

There may be other problems. I'd start by simplifying your set up - then introduce new bits as you get everything ironed out.

[mike4sound]

try recording via the group outs.dont buss your playback channel to the group outs.
If you dont have group/buss outs,use the aux outs to drive you sound card inputs.Open the master aux out and the corresponding aus control on the channel you want to record.

[ScroogeMcDuck]

Hello, first of all thanks for your replies!

mike4sound:
Heey that's right! You solved my problem there!! I could just record into the Micro BR from the AUX 1 and 2, turn AUX 1 and 2 all the way down on Channel 1 and 2 (because the return signal from the Micro BR comes here) and all the way up on the channels I want to record! And I can send the AUX 1 and 2 to the computer via USB as well coz the USB return is not recorded through the AUX'es! I wrote that down to remember it.. Thank you so much!!

But the only problem with that solution is that the master fader and the channel faders doesn't affect the recording anymore because AUX 1 and 2 are pre fade which means that I must use the AUX 1 and 2 knobs instead. They only go to +6dB, the main fader and channel faders could go to +10dB. But I guess I must just turn my intruments a little up then.. Is it really impossible to do this in such a way that I can use the channel faders? Now they only affect what you hear, not what you record..

bjarkedk:
Yes exactly, the ALT and the main LR actually sends the same signal. That was one of the problems. I guess I am just too amatourish to understand the mixer from the start :-P

richiebee:
You are right, I connected the BR the wrong way, it re-records itself. I will use the AUX'es instead! I am not very used to these recorders, I only use it for vocals so that I can avoid the noise from the computer to get in the signal!

It is so nice to know what to do.. Thank you all 3 for helping me out!!

Peace
Scrooge

[ScroogeMcDuck]

Actually the manual mentioned this AUX 1 and 2 method of recording. I just don't understand.. Is it supposed to be like this? I mean, is it the "right way"? I just find it a little weird that the channel faders doesn't affect the recording but they affect what you hear when recording? Even the meter shows what you hear and not what you record.. And one more thing: I can't use my compressor on the entire mix anymore :-(((( Because AUX 1 and 2 doesn't record the "main inserts" :-( Anyway, I really wanna say thanks for showing me how to do it cuz it appears this is the way it should be done (the manual says as well).