recording issue getting feedback from mixer

[larns]

i have 2 outputs from my soundcard going into my little mixer, my mixer is then outputing from the ctrl output into my soundcard inputs so i can record, however it does work ok, but when i turn the gain up on the ctrl output, i get phase and gradualy as i have more gain it starts to feedback harshly!

how can i sort this out, so that i can get good recordings without the phase or feedback?

thanks

[Uncle Krunkus]

On your soundcard's playback mixer turn off the line in, so you don't "hear" what's coming in on the input. Then in the recording mixer only turn on the line in. This way you can record the input, but it won't be relayed to the output.
There is a more elegant and flexible way of doing it, but it requires a "control room" output on the mixer, a 2track or tape input on the mixer, and the ability to cut the 2track from the main mix and only send it to the control room. (This is what I have set up, and it works really well)

[larns]

thanks, i'v had this problem for a while, i knew there must be a way around it.

[Uncle Krunkus]

What type of mixer are you using?

[larns]

Tapco mackie blend 6 http://www.audiomidi.com/Blend-6-P3824.aspx

and i have the emu 0404 sound card

bascialy what you have just told me to do has worked, i turned down the input levels and tried to record something in cubase and it recorded it perfectly. no more phasing or feedback!

thank you

[Uncle Krunkus]

That mixer has exactly the functionality that I was talking about. If you want to give it a go, do this: -

You only record into the computer, so to set up as a recording mixer,
1. Main output --> Computer line in.
2. Control room output --> Your amplifier.
3. Computer output --> Tape input.

Then, when you want to record, you record anything going into the main mix. Solo a track if you only want to record one thing. (Make sure the tape input doesn't go to the main mix, ever, put a sticker on it! )

When you want to listen to the output of the computer add the tape input to the control room. You can play along by playing any instrument in the main mix.

The thing I like about this setup is you can set the mixer in the computer and forget it. Put your main mix levels on 0db and set the line in recording level for the computer. Now you'll know if you're going to overdrive the soundcard by looking at the meter levels on the mixer! Which is a lot better use of the meters than monitoring what's coming out.

[larns]

i will try that, i appreciate your help a great deal, thanks