Using a soundcard AND USB Interface

[crybabyemokids]

I'm thinking of purchasing the Alesis Multimix 8 USB, but the more and more I think about it, the more I wonder if i'll need to use both my soundcard AND the Interface, or if that's even possible.


My podcast is done over skype, so I'm going to be recording both ends of the conversation. So I'm guessing I'd have to get the line-out of my Soundcard [that has my cohost + sound effects] into the line-in of the mixer,and take the line out of my microphone(in the mixer) and put it in the line-in of my soundcard so my cohost can hear me [yeah it'll take two readings to actually understand ;/] and then finally record [In Audacity] the main mix-out of the mixer.


I know it sounds really really complicated but that's what I thought.

I'm sure you guys are more knowledgable than me in this, so if you could help me understand how will I be able to accomplish this.

I have my PC AND a laptop at my disposal.

Basically all I want to do is

A: Record the show properly, with sound effects, my mic, and my cohost through skype.

B: Have my cohost hear all the sound effects WITHOUT having to bear with his/her own echo.

My logic seems right, but the problem is odds are the cohost is going to be hearing an echo, and that's a no-no.


So any help whatsoever would be well appreciated.

Cheers,
Jay

[ferg]

I record skype calls, and I use both my firewire interface and an external mixer. The sound from skype gets routed to the mixer so I can hear it, and then both my voice and the skype go back into the mixer then to the firewire interface to record.

I know there's software out there that records skype calls, but I've found this to simply work better.

I would imagine that the Alesis has routing options that would allow you to use only the Alesis, as I'm effectively using my firewire interface to make my mixer a firewire mixer.

[crybabyemokids]

I record skype calls, and I use both my firewire interface and an external mixer. The sound from skype gets routed to the mixer so I can hear it, and then both my voice and the skype go back into the mixer then to the firewire interface to record.

I know there's software out there that records skype calls, but I've found this to simply work better.

I would imagine that the Alesis has routing options that would allow you to use only the Alesis, as I'm effectively using my firewire interface to make my mixer a firewire mixer.

so that means you use your soundcard for talking on skype, but record at the same time with your interface? I dont know if thats possible, if the PC can read two seperate soundcards [well one soundcard and the interface which sort of acts like a soundcard] at the same time.

[ferg]

I have a firewire interface that is my sound card - my only sound card.
Skype comes out of my soundcard into my mixer, then my voice and the skype voice go back from my mixer into my sound card.

I'm assuming the Alesis thing is effectively a combination of my mixer and firewire interface (sound card), and that with the proper routing, you can do things similarly to the way I'm doing it - leaving your sound card out of the loop entirely.

[BrianGentry]

Jay,

First, on the Alesis 8 USB: This seems like a fairly nice mixer, but I personally feel that the USB support is a waste of time and money. See my detailed points about this here (my 2nd post has the real meat of the argument):

http://podcastalley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7808&highlight=&sid=b1a98f1905e5c84132559f0041fb3f75

Second, you are asking about recording Skype along with the rest of your show. You might be able to make this work with the 8USB and a mix minus, but I'm not sure I'd try. I think I'd probably use one computer for Skype and the other computer for everything else (sound effects, clips, and actually recording the podcast). I discuss mix minus and the various options in this thread:

http://www.podcastalley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5617&highlight=

What it boils down to is this: You need to feed the skype computer with all of the audio in the podcast *except* for his own voice. To do this you use one of your board's AUX sends to form a "mix minus" (the whole mix "minus" his voice).

Hope this helps,

Brian.

[crybabyemokids]

Hey Brian thanks a lot for replying.

I totally understand the mix-minus bit, but I'm still not clear as to how I'll be making the mix minus or if i'll need some other hardware for it?

I'll have 3 inputs [one from my mic, one from the second computer with the sound bits and one from my ipod for songs] not to mention one input for the line-out of the skyped in computer.

how exactly will I be able to let him hear the first three inputs, but not the fourth is what is mindboggling. I dont think its an option in the multimix?

If you could clear that up it'll be great.

The equipment arrives tonight so I guess i'll have to get my hands dirty and fool around here and there till I get what I want.. We'll see :D


Thanks again
Jay

[BrianGentry]

Ok, here's how you do the mix minus:

You have four inputs, mic, skype computer, effects computer, and IPod. Dial up the levels on each of these inputs until you get them set where you want them. The sound you hear in the headphones is what you are going to record.

Once it sounds good there, go to each of the channel strips, except for the skype computer. On each of these channels, turn up the AUXB (Post Fader) send to about 75%, which should be close to 0 dB (the end of the dial is +10 dB). This will send each of those channels to the AUXB send output. This is a 1/4" jack between the headphone jack and the AUX returns. Run a cable from this AUXB send to the line input on the Skype Computer. You'll probably need a 1/4" male to dual RCA female and a dual RCA male to 1/8" stereo male to make this work.

Just remember to NOT use AUXB on the channel that has the Skype computer's audio on it, or you'll feed Mr. Skype his own voice, and he'll hear an echo.

So, this is really a seperate mix if you want to think about it that way, which is why you are using a totally different jack for the output.

Finally, note that because you are using post fader sends (AUXB), your mix minus will follow your main mix. That is, if you are playing a song from your IPod that is very soft and you turn that channel up so that you can hear it (and it gets recorded that way), it automatically turns up the level of that channel in the AUXB send, so that your Skype caller hears it louder too. Cool huh?

Let us know how it works out and/or if you have any questions about this.

Brian.