Using Mic In on Laptop from Mixer

R

rszebras

Well-known member
I want to record audio coming out of a mixer onto my laptop using Soundbooth. My laptop only has a 1/8 mic in jack. Before I start making connections when I'm not completely sure what I'm doing, I wanted to get some feedback so I don't blow my laptop. What is the safest way of doing this? Can I simply use the line out on the mixer into the mic in (using a 1/4" to 1/8" adaptor)? Or should I be looking at some other way?

Thanks for any suggestions.
 
the line level into a Mic input might be to strong, won't pop your laptop, but will distort, before you play anything to record, set your mic record volume way low, start playing it, and bring the level up until the desired level is achieved.

You should have a mic input and a line input jack on your laptop? if so you want to use the line in,

check your laptop maybe it's a different jack, or a software setting.

- Derrick
 
rszebras said:
I want to record audio coming out of a mixer onto my laptop using Soundbooth. My laptop only has a 1/8 mic in jack. Before I start making connections when I'm not completely sure what I'm doing, I wanted to get some feedback so I don't blow my laptop. What is the safest way of doing this? Can I simply use the line out on the mixer into the mic in (using a 1/4" to 1/8" adaptor)? Or should I be looking at some other way?

Thanks for any suggestions.
Click to expand...

First of all, what are the output options on your mixer? What does it offer in the way of mic level, -10dB "consumer" or "tape" line level, or +4dB "professional" line level output options? Are you sending a pair of outputs, one for left and the other for right, just a single stereo output on a TRS connector such as from a headphone jack, or a single mono output? What type of connectors does it output on - 1/4 TRS balanced, 1/4 TS unbalanced, XLR, RCA?

Next what are the input options on your laptop? Does it have just one input jack for mic or does it have two jacks, one for mic and one for line? If there's just one jack, is it mic only or is it a combo jack of some sort? On my Dell, for example, there's a single input jack labeled "mic" but when I plug something into it a window pops up asking if I'm going to feed it a mic or a line level signal. Virtually all soundcards that offer line level inputs expect the -10dB flavour.

Laptop mic inputs may have a +5 volts "mic power" voltage on them that your adapter needs to block. Look for an adapter that includes a "DC blocking capacitor."


I have one of these adapter cables from Remote Audio and it works very well with my SD442 mixer. The mixer outputs on XLR and they're switch selectable for mic/-10/+4 levels. I plug into the XLR outputs of the mixer and set it for -10dB line output. I plug the mini end into the laptop and indicate I'm sending it line when it asks what I've connected. Works perfectly.

CAMCXY
DV and Pro-sumer Camcorder Input Y-Adapter. Left and right 3-pin female XLR's to one 1/8" stereo plug. Includes DC voltaqe blocking capacitor. 18 inches.
camcxy_t.jpg


HTH
 
Thanks for the quick replies, Derrick and Steve. First, the laptop doesn't have a line in jack, only mic in. I didn't think about checking the software to see if it can be changed to line in. I'll look at that when I get a chance. Also, thanks for the suggestion about turning down the mic in volume and slowly raising it to get the desired level. I didn't try plugging in to the mic in to see if a popup appears asking if it's a line level or mic source. I'll give that a try too.

I'm not an audio guy, Steve. Obviously you know much more than me just by your questions. However, I think it's fair to say the mixer is professional level. I think there are at least a dozen channels. It's used in our small church soundbooth. Anyway, a cable goes from the mixer to a cassette player and another cable to a cd recorder. The cassette doesn't do any good for me because I need digital files to edit and don't want to recapture. They have been recording on the cd recorder for me but about half the time there is a problem with finalizing.

I need the presentations recorded so I was looking at the options: 1) least expensive is to bring my laptop and plug the mixer into the computer and record with Soundbooth; 2) another option is to buy an inexpensive usb audio interface like a Behringer or Griffin iMic; 3) the most expensive option for me, and one that I might go with down the road, is to buy a Zoom H2 and I can use the line in jack or even use the built in mics.

The cable you suggested is a possible option. However, at $65 it might be cheaper to go for a usb audio interface.
 
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There's a good chance the mixer outputs going to the cassette recorder and the CD player are the so-called "consumer" -10dBv line level. Of course that's only a guess on my part and not even an educated one at that without knowing more details.

Any USB interface worth having is going to run you well over $65 by several times that amount. But then, most laptop's internal sound cards are pretty marginal anyway and you do get what you pay for. Your initial question posed the plan of plugging a mixer into a laptop's soundcard and a cable of that sort is what you need to do it right as it is wired properly, unlike some you find at the big-box music stores.

The cable suggested is just to connect a pair of XLR mixer outputs to a soundcard's 1/8 input jack. It doesn't do anything to adjust levels in the process. I'm assuming you can set the mixer or the soundcard as needed so you're sending mic level when plugging into a mic level jack or line level if you're plugging into a line input jack and if you're using line level you can send at the -10 the soundcard expects.

Hope this helps
 
Your comment about the usb audio interface is why I didn't buy one yet. A lot of reviews indicate that the cheaper ones are noisy and not much better than a sound card. Of course, I'm just recording vocals. But I'd like it as clean as possible so I don't have to capture a noise print and reduce it in Soundbooth.

Also, your comment about your Dell computer resulted in me looking in the software. It's a Sigma Tel High Definition Audio device and sure enough there is control to switch between line in and mic in even though there is just one jack labeled mic in. Thanks for that suggestion Steve and Derrick!

So it looks like I can go from the mixer into the computer without concern about blowing up the computer. :) The next time I can take a look at the mixer I will get the make and model and download the manual to find out about the -10dBv line level issue. But in answer to your question, I will be able to adjust volume coming into the computer via the audio device control.
 
Take a look at this video.

They use the MXL Mic Mate along with a Whirlwind Hotbox

So the MXL is an XLR to USB device for $79 - however, because you may have levels that are too hot the Hotbox will pad the line and convert from 1/4" to XLR if needed.

Seems like a pretty sweet solution.
 
Laptop soundcards are crap - the best solution is to get a decent USB or Firewire soundcard and record via that.

I *never* use the soundcard supplied with the laptop.
 
Yeah, the Mic Mate is pretty cool -- especially for the price. Since I'm only recording vocals and will be converting the wav files to mp3 for use on a website, I think I can get away with a solution that is already available: connecting the mixer directly to the mic in/line in on the laptop. Perhaps not the absolute best sounding solution but it's nearly free. I'll give it a try and see how it sounds. If it's crappy sounding then I'll move on up to something else.

I guess with the mic mate I would have to use an xlr out on the mixer, plug into the mic mate, and then into the computer. Or is the Mic Mate only for direct connection to a mic? All of these options use my computer which is a little bulky. Sometime down the road I may want to invest in a Zoom H2 because then all I need to bring is a very small and portable device and plug the mixer into the Zoom's line in jack. I could even use the built in mics and simply set it up and record. But I think the best sound will come from the mic, through the mixer, and into a recording device. As opposed to from the mic, through the mixer and amps, through the speakers, and into a recording device.
 
Steve House said:
First of all, what are the output options on your mixer? What does it offer in the way of mic level, -10dB "consumer" or "tape" line level, or +4dB "professional" line level output options? Are you sending a pair of outputs, one for left and the other for right, just a single stereo output on a TRS connector such as from a headphone jack, or a single mono output? What type of connectors does it output on - 1/4 TRS balanced, 1/4 TS unbalanced, XLR, RCA?
Click to expand...

I finally got a chance to check out the mixer, Steve. It's a Mackie SR24-4 (24-4-2 4-Bus Mixing Console). I'm checking out the manual now: http://www.mackie.com/pdf/archive/sr24-4_sr32-4_om.pdf

I was talking to one of the guys and he was telling me to just go out of a 1/4" jack down to a 1/8" mono right into my computer. The volume going out can be adjusted on the mixer. Does that sound right? As a matter of fact, it looks like the mixer is set up to record to the cd recorder and cassette in the same manner -- a 1/4" out with an rca splitter to left and right on the cd recorder and cassette.
 
rszebras said:
I finally got a chance to check out the mixer, Steve. It's a Mackie SR24-4 (24-4-2 4-Bus Mixing Console). I'm checking out the manual now: http://www.mackie.com/pdf/archive/sr24-4_sr32-4_om.pdf

I was talking to one of the guys and he was telling me to just go out of a 1/4" jack down to a 1/8" mono right into my computer. The volume going out can be adjusted on the mixer. Does that sound right? As a matter of fact, it looks like the mixer is set up to record to the cd recorder and cassette in the same manner -- a 1/4" out with an rca splitter to left and right on the cd recorder and cassette.
Click to expand...

You might get away with it but it'll be touchy. It's sloppy to mix levels like that, Take the feed for your laptop off of the Tape Outs instead using a Y cable with a pair of RCA Phono plugs to a 1/8 stereo plug. Tape outs are -10 dBv as is the line-in on your laptop. Or at least get a couple of in-line pads to drop the nominal +4 down 10 dB or so.

That's a honker of a mixer for video production ... you're going to lug that thing to a shoot?
 
The Mackie manual states as follows: "The main mixer outputs that appear at the RIGHT and LEFT MAIN OUTS (XLR) and MAIN OUTS L & R (1/4" connectors) are also provided on unbalanced RCA-type jacks for connection to tape recorder inputs. Nominal level is 0dBu." I assume this TAPE OUT is what I should use?

Yes, Steve, it is a "honker of a mixer." But I certainly wouldn't be carrying that anywhere. It's the mixer in the soundbooth at the back of our church. I'm just trying to figure out an easy, inexpensive way to record my presentations since (as I mentioned previously) every other time the cd recorder does not finalize. And nobody is forking over money to get a new cd recorder. So I'm on my own. Thus I'll use my laptop and Adobe SoundBooth.

Thanks a lot for your help.
 
rszebras said:
The Mackie manual states as follows: "The main mixer outputs that appear at the RIGHT and LEFT MAIN OUTS (XLR) and MAIN OUTS L & R (1/4" connectors) are also provided on unbalanced RCA-type jacks for connection to tape recorder inputs. Nominal level is 0dBu." I assume this TAPE OUT is what I should use?

Yes, Steve, it is a "honker of a mixer." But I certainly wouldn't be carrying that anywhere. It's the mixer in the soundbooth at the back of our church. I'm just trying to figure out an easy, inexpensive way to record my presentations since (as I mentioned previously) every other time the cd recorder does not finalize. And nobody is forking over money to get a new cd recorder. So I'm on my own. Thus I'll use my laptop and Adobe SoundBooth.

Thanks a lot for your help.
Click to expand...

Yep - and I'm pretty sure the RCA outs are -10dBv since that matches consumer tape and CD recorders, etc. The main outs are at 0dB. I have a 1642 on my desk and that's the way it's set up. (And I have recorded from the RCA outs into my laptop's mic/line in without any problems.)

No money for a new CD recorder? What, they can't come up with a hundred bucks or so?
 
Thanks again for all your help, Steve. I'll let you know how it goes when I try it this Thursday. Normally the messages are not recorded so there's no incentive to buy a new cd recorder. I was looking at buying one (since I'll have to bring my laptop anyway) but couldn't find anything under $300 or so. Not sure where I could get one for $100. I tried amazon, musician's friend, best buy, and ultimate electronics.

Then I was looking at all my other options and narrowed it down to my laptop with SoundBooth, or an entry-level digital recorder (like the Zoom H2). I think the Zoom would work great. I could use the line in, or even the mics and get some of the room's ambience. It's easier to transport also. And it's cheaper than a cd recorder. But at this time I decided to go with the cheapest option (actually free since I already have a laptop from work).
 
WOOOOO! I tried it last night and it worked perfectly, Steve. Thanks for all your help. I used the tape out from the Mackie SR24-4 mixer straight into the mic in/line in on my laptop and the levels were great. I ended up using Audacity to record (instead of SoundBooth). Simple, straight forward, and worked perfectly. Further, the sound is as good as when we use the cd recorder (when it works). It's just vocals but it sounds great. I know a lot of people caution against using the sound card in a computer because they produce a lot of hiss. Mine didn't. As good as this sounds, I don't think I will go for another option.

Thanks again for your help. I would probably have never known that the "mic in" on my Dell laptop was both a mic in and a line in.
 
rszebras said:
WOOOOO! I tried it last night and it worked perfectly, Steve. Thanks for all your help. I used the tape out from the Mackie SR24-4 mixer straight into the mic in/line in on my laptop and the levels were great. I ended up using Audacity to record (instead of SoundBooth). Simple, straight forward, and worked perfectly. Further, the sound is as good as when we use the cd recorder (when it works). It's just vocals but it sounds great. I know a lot of people caution against using the sound card in a computer because they produce a lot of hiss. Mine didn't. As good as this sounds, I don't think I will go for another option.

Thanks again for your help. I would probably have never known that the "mic in" on my Dell laptop was both a mic in and a line in.
Click to expand...

Glad it's worked out for you. If it sounds good with the stock OEM soundcard, just imagine what it'll sound like with a high-grade external interface. Do give it a listen on a good pair of studio monitors or pro headphones before betting the farm on the internal card. It might be good enough, but again it might not. Listen on a monioting system that would let you hear the difference.
 
Yes, I imagine it would sound exceptional with a high-end external audio interface. But I think this may be good enough for now. I'm using it just to burn some cds for family and friends, and also plan to post mp3 files on my website. If I begin to get more interest, like people requesting copies, I will then look at options for upgrading.
 
rszebras said:
Yes, I imagine it would sound exceptional with a high-end external audio interface. But I think this may be good enough for now. I'm using it just to burn some cds for family and friends, and also plan to post mp3 files on my website. If I begin to get more interest, like people requesting copies, I will then look at options for upgrading.
Click to expand...

If that's the purpose of the recording then I'd think the stock card should work out just fine. Probably would be marginal for professional recording situations but then that's comparing apples to oranges.
 
Kind of the same question, but a little different as I will only have a 1/8 mini mic jack "in" on the Canon 5D MKII. I don't believe the 5D is designated as a mic/line jack. I think it is mic "in" only. Can I take the RCA tape outs of my Mackie mixer into the stereo mic mini jack in the Canon 5D MKII.

I'm thinking I should be able to attenuate the signal level on the main out fader to around -30 to -40 dB to avoid pummeling (distorting) the input. Would this be a correct assumption? The 5D has an auto gain adjustment unfortunately. That could work for the best. It might serve as kind of a limiter. Not sure though.


I didn't want to start a new thread since these are both pretty similar topics.
 
f64manray said:
Kind of the same question, but a little different as I will only have a 1/8 mini mic jack "in" on the Canon 5D MKII. I don't believe the 5D is designated as a mic/line jack. I think it is mic "in" only. Can I take the RCA tape outs of my Mackie mixer into the stereo mic mini jack in the Canon 5D MKII.

I'm thinking I should be able to attenuate the signal level on the main out fader to around -30 to -40 dB to avoid pummeling (distorting) the input. Would this be a correct assumption? The 5D has an auto gain adjustment unfortunately. That could work for the best. It might serve as kind of a limiter. Not sure though.


I didn't want to start a new thread since these are both pretty similar topics.
Click to expand...

I'd suggest a pair of inline attenuators to drop the signal down to mic level rather than counting on using the faders to keep levels under control but it should work. Isn't that a bit of overkill for the sound accompanying the movie mode of what is essentially a still camera? If you're looking to interface an external mic for better sound quality, how about something like the AT822 that's built for unbalanced stereo inputs from the git'go?
 
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