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How to Hook Up a Mixer to an External Sound Card

Whether it's a home space or a 36-track professional office, the computer has become the hub for just about every music studio across the globe. This growing demand has opened up a whole new area for sound card companies, as the audio needs for a music studio are different than those of the average consumer. Sound card developers have had to come up with designs that integrate mixing consoles and other outboard gear directly to the PC or Mac. This has made the production of high-quality music available from right inside the home.

Things You'll Need

  • Mixing console
  • Mono ¼ inch cables
  • ¼ jack to ? plug Y adapter (depends on sound card)
  • External sound card
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Instructions

  1. Connecting External Sound Card And Mixing A Mixing Board

    • 1

      Install Sound Card

      Install the sound card to the computer. Read the manufacturer's manual that came with the sound card and follow the directions. Once installed, make sure it's working properly by inserting a CD into your CD or DVD-ROM.

    • 2

      Connect Cables

      With the mixer off, take the ¼ inch ends of the cables and insert them into a stereo input of the mixing console. These are marked on the channel as being 5/6, or 7/8. The cable ends should be color coded to make sure the inputs and outputs stay consistent.

    • 3

      Connect The Y Adapter

      Take the other end of the cables and insert them into the Y adapter.

    • 4

      Plug In The Y Adapter

      Connect the ? inch plug into the speaker output on the sound card. This is color coded green.

    • 5

      Adjust The Volume

      Turn the volume all the way down on the channel on the mixing console. Insert a CD or play a file on your computer. Slowly turn the volume up to desired level.

      To record, turn down the console volume. Unplug the adapter from the speaker input and switch to the mic input. This is color coded red. Switch the console cables from the input to the outputs. plug and instrument into your mixing console. Adjust the volume to the desired level.

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Recording Music

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