Newbie Need Help (setting up analog mixer)

It comes down to this:
 
Your physical "Ins" are determined by your computer's audio interface.  If your card has 4 ins, that's all you get.  If it is stereo in that doesn't have drivers to support L/R I/O, then all you get is a stereo in.
 
Conversley, you can only get as many "Outs" from your mixer as it has individual outs.
 
Brian

The Fatal1ty as far as I know is a pretty decent gaming card. What surprised me when I read about it the first time is that it is has ASIO drivers which does indeed make it a low latency alternative. And if they are good drivers I expect Sonar to be happy with it. However, many people here will tell you to ditch it and get a serious pro audio interface - and I agree. However, if that's not an option, then I think you will be happy for a while none the less.

The problem with this audio card is that it has only one stereo input for recording. And it's a combined Mic/Line level alternative, which is far from ideal. So using a mixer is not a bad Idea. The limitation is, you can only record one stereo or two MONO tracks. No more, regardless of how many channels your mixer has. I belive, since it has ASIO drivers, that you can split this and have one mono channel in on two separate tracks simultaniously. They will show up in the input drop down on your Sonar tracks as Soundblaster Left, Soundblaster Right and Soundblaster Stereo L/R - or something similar. Just remember to Pan each channel hard left and hard right or else you will have the same signal on both tracks. This is very important if you are recording a stereo track as well. Your faders will control the volume on the track on your mixer and will affect the output volume from the mixer that goes into your Soundblaster. Be careful not to crank up the volume too lout on your mixer as I would expect the input on your Soundblaster to clip easily. Give yourself plenty of headroom.

The most convenient thing to do with your setup is to record one mono track at the time. I assume you have connected the stereo outs from your mackie into the line in on your soundblaster? Just plug something into your mixerchannel, turn up the volume so you get a good signal, but not to loud, set the input on your track to "Soundblaster Left" with input monitoring on so you can hear what's actually being recorded - if the ASIO drivers provide low latency - and record to your hearts content.

Do a google search as well. Many people have been asking this


I hope this helps. Good luck!

I use the m-audio fast track... $350 range.

I have a Yamaha 10/2 stereo mixer - left out to line in 5 and right out to line in 6
I have a Yamaha 12/4 - channel 1 out to line in 1 / channel 2 out to line in 2 / channel 3 out to line in 3 / and channel 4 to line in 4

That gives me the 6 channels that are available for use on the M-audio which will be seen by Sonar.

If you can WAIT and save your money, I've read good things about Roland's OCTACAPTURE

still you are going to have a problem regardless of the audio interface.

""I assume it can, but not sure how and if the faders will respond etc. If not that's OK I just need to know how to get the multiple tracks running in separately. ""

The faders will only work as far as your signal going into the sound card is concerned.  You will need a midi controller to operate the faders in the computer program.  Granted you can use the mouse for 1 fader at a time... but you may like to alter more than 1 track at a time... hence the midi... don't waste big bucks on a midi controller KORG NANO would be fine... I picked up my Akai APC40 cheap and it gives me fader / pan / and other controls.

It will be time- consuming but experiment with what you've got for right now.