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Originally posted from and thanks to FM:
Recording from your decks to your computer
This is setup for the non-technically savvy people...
First, you need a RCA--->1/8" adapter. RCA is the red/white stereo plugs commonly used, 1/8" plug is the size for headphones (whereas 1/4" is the big headphone size, typically used by your DJ headphones).
You can buy this typically at Radio Shack, or your local electronics store. Several different purchasing methods/cable combinations are available, depending on the length from your setup to your computer. You can get the Y-adapter or the cable itself, or a cable plus a headphone cable extension......whichever works better and will reach ok.
Next, plug in the RCA on your record out from your mixer and the headphone side into your line in portion on your soundcard. Do not use the microphone unless you have to/have no other choice...it's just harder to set levels on it and it has to be quieter to avoid extra noise.
Now, you need to setup your soundcard. MOST Windows users have a nice little speaker icon of some sort in their system tray. Double-click that to bring up the Volume Control. If Line in isn't there, Options, Properties will pull up the list of options. Check off Line In to bring it up...same deal on the recording side as well.
No speaker icon? Try Start, Control Panel, Sounds and see if you have a box to put the icon in the system tray. Or Start, Programs, Accessories, Multimedia should have Volume Control in there I believe.
Beyond all that, now it's time to adjust your Line In volume vs. mixer output. Open your favorite recording program (Sound Forge is used a lot, or whatever will record large files). Play a record and start adjusting between your mixer output and your Line In levels on your Volume Control. When you get it reasonably set, go ahead and mix away...just make sure to keep an overall check on the levels.
My best advice is don't record extremely close to 0 on the computer...there's no need and clipping could result. Try to record around -4dB/-3dB to give you some manipulation room when you balance out your levels after recording...and you can always normalize that w/o losing any sound quality as well.
Recording from your decks to your computer
This is setup for the non-technically savvy people...
First, you need a RCA--->1/8" adapter. RCA is the red/white stereo plugs commonly used, 1/8" plug is the size for headphones (whereas 1/4" is the big headphone size, typically used by your DJ headphones).
You can buy this typically at Radio Shack, or your local electronics store. Several different purchasing methods/cable combinations are available, depending on the length from your setup to your computer. You can get the Y-adapter or the cable itself, or a cable plus a headphone cable extension......whichever works better and will reach ok.
Next, plug in the RCA on your record out from your mixer and the headphone side into your line in portion on your soundcard. Do not use the microphone unless you have to/have no other choice...it's just harder to set levels on it and it has to be quieter to avoid extra noise.
Now, you need to setup your soundcard. MOST Windows users have a nice little speaker icon of some sort in their system tray. Double-click that to bring up the Volume Control. If Line in isn't there, Options, Properties will pull up the list of options. Check off Line In to bring it up...same deal on the recording side as well.
No speaker icon? Try Start, Control Panel, Sounds and see if you have a box to put the icon in the system tray. Or Start, Programs, Accessories, Multimedia should have Volume Control in there I believe.
Beyond all that, now it's time to adjust your Line In volume vs. mixer output. Open your favorite recording program (Sound Forge is used a lot, or whatever will record large files). Play a record and start adjusting between your mixer output and your Line In levels on your Volume Control. When you get it reasonably set, go ahead and mix away...just make sure to keep an overall check on the levels.
My best advice is don't record extremely close to 0 on the computer...there's no need and clipping could result. Try to record around -4dB/-3dB to give you some manipulation room when you balance out your levels after recording...and you can always normalize that w/o losing any sound quality as well.
