Quote:

I have BiaB and Traktion recording software loaded on my pc. I am using an older Mackie mixer for mics, keyboard and guitar. I am sending the outs to my pc via the 1/8" input. It's not too reliable. What unit, if any exists, would anyone recommend that would allow me to connect my mixer out via the USB port? Is this a viable option?

Is there something out there that would alow me to run BiaB, on a laptop for example, and seperate the instruments to different tracks? I could feed the output from the laptop to my pc as well as everything else from the mixer. Am I making this more complicated than it should be?

Any and all comments and recommendations are more than welcome. By the way, I know nothing about MIDI or DAW (don't even know what the acronym stands for). I'm an old tape guy.

Thanks.

Robert



Behringer - has two low cost USB intergaces one at $30 and another at $35.
approx $30 Behringer UCA202 USB Audio Interface
$35 Behringer UCA222 USB Audio Interface
(I have neither of the above)

There are numerous other interfaces including some that include guitar modeling and preamp/MIC modeling from M-Audio and Line6 in the rough $59 to $300 range. You can go as high as $1,000 depending upon your features. I have the M-Audio Black Box with much modeling plus FX plus MIC input and have had zero issues with it for several years - after the following was dealt with.


The key to USB audio interfaces is that they can be somewhat finicky, as most things that must work with Microsoft's OS's turn out to be. (ooops...) This is one important trick to keep your USB audio interface from mysteriously causing all sorts of system trouble. In order to placate the "Green Army" MS sets by default much of the computer parts being turned off when not in use. I can't imagine how little power a USB port uses when nothing is operating but this decision causes all sorts of hidden heck to break loose. It would have been possible to notify the user when device x is being turned off but...

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=support.faq&ID=de0c17eee57afeeba3978a213b6d86ac
This page has lots of tips helpful for USB problems, but the one bellow fixed it for me.

Disable USB Power Management. Disabling this setting will prevent the system from disabling the USB port your device is connected to which can result in dropouts or the device ceasing to function.

MIDI = Musical Instrument Digital Interface - an industry standard format for data sharing, analogous to an internet protocol like http. It is old, from the 80s, but still going strong.

DAW = Digital Audio Workstation. Usually means a PC with software for audio editing like PowerTracks or Sonar, but it could also be a standalone multitrack sampler, or even some keyboards have DAW stuff built in.

Have fun!

Finally, I have found a cool signature with sufficiently dry humor.