5 Minute Hookup

Start Fast & Easy

5 Minute Quick Start
Setup And Recording Tutorial.

OK if you don't want to read the whole tutorial and you just want to start copying your LPs, 45s and Cassettes FAST, here's how to do it. Please read the rest of the Wave Editor Tutorial so you'll know everything, but here I'll have you up and running and making your first recording in just a few minutes. OK, let's do it. . . . Drew

Your Interface Mixer - Easy To Use

First let's set up your Interface Mixer. You can ignore switches and controls I haven't mentioned here for now. Just check to be sure that you have these few settings correct so you'll get sound through the Interface Mixer.

I'm showing you how to set this up now, but some of these controls you won't actually use till you are plugged in and start recording below.

Arrow 1.) To start, set the input volume control to about 2/3rds up. You should adjust it later so you get 1 or 2 of the LEDs flashing in the LED Meters (See Arrows 5.). If you get no lights then be sure your music source like your turntable or tape deck is working and that you are coming out of an output jack, NOT AN AUX jack which is for input, not output.

No Exact Settings NOTE: There's no exact setting you need to have. Just set the slider so you get a green light or two on the VU meters. The rest we do with volume in the editor.

Arrow 2.) Set this switch to LINE for tape decks, stereos or turntables with built-in preamps. Use PHONO, ONLY when you have a normal turntable directly connected to the Mixer Interface.

Arrow 3.) The Fader simply selects the A side or B input side of the Mixer Interface. Move it all the way to A. It's not left and right channels, it's the stereo inputs in the A section or B section.

Arrow 4.) Turn on the power switch here, after you are plugged in and you are ready to start recording.

Arrow 5.) Once you have your music playing, the LED meters should at least flicker so you know that you are getting a signal from your turntable or tape deck. One or two LEDs is all you need. You'll control the recording volume using DAK Wave Editor.

Onward.

Connecting Your Music Source To DAK's 2800 PC Interface Mixer.

Here's the Back of the Interface Mixer.

The Hookup To Your Computer. Connect the cable from the DAK 2800PC Interface Mixer to your computer from the AMP OUT jacks (Arrow 2) on the back of the mixer to the BLUE JACK NEXT TO WHERE YOUR SPEAKERS ARE PLUGGED IN in the back of your computer and nowhere else?

You can’t connect to jacks in the front of your computer. You can’t connect to a 2nd blue jack that's NOT next to where you speakers are plugged in. Please check.

Arrow 1.) This is THE INTERFACE MIXER INPUT. Plug the cables from your turntable or cassette deck, reel to reel, Walkman or boombox in here. If you have a 2nd music source, plug it into the B jacks.

Arrow 2.) This is THE INTERFACE MIXER OUTPUT where the cable we shipped in the box with the mixer is plugged in. The other end plugs into the BLUE JACK on the back of your computer and NOWHERE ELSE.

Notebook Computer NOTE: If you are using a notebook computer with our USB adapter, this cable plugs into the input of the USB adapter instead of the blue jack a desktop computer and the USB adapter goes into any direct USB port on your notebook, not a USB hub.

Arrow 3.) This is where the AC power supply for the Mixer Interface plugs in.

Arrow 4.) Attach the ground wire from your turntable here to prevent hum. This does not determine if you do or don't have sound. It only prevents hum.

OK That's All The Interface Mixer Connections and Controls

NOW, Let's Plug Into The Back Of Your Computer.

Look on the back of your computer. Plug the other end of the cable we sent you in the mixer box from AMP OUT on the mixer to this blue LINE IN Jack and NOWHERE ELSE. Not in the front, not anywhere else. If you don't see a blue jack, look for a jack with concentric circles and an arrow pointing in.

2 Blue Jacks Note: There are often 2 blue jacks on the back of your computer. Be sure you are using the one NEXT TO where your speakers are plugged in. The other one won’t work. Often there are two sound cards in your computer. The one on the motherboard and the one that's been added as an upgrade. Just pick the one next to the green jack where your speakers are plugged into and you'll be all set.

Demystifying Cables.

A quick Primer on Cables.

OK, this is all you need to know. The cable on the left is called an RCA Patch Cord. It uses 2 jacks, 1 jack for each channel. The prong is for the signal and the surround (the short part) is the ground.

The cable in the middle is a 3.5mm (or 1/8") mini stereo jack. This is the newer cable that's used in your computer and most headphone and mike jacks today. It's still stereo, but both channels are on the same prong as you can see in my picture. L is for Left Channel, R is for Right Channel and G is for Ground.

The cable on the right is called a ¼" Stereo Phono Plug. It's the same as the 3.5mm jack, just bigger. It's the type that's been used for headphones for years and in pro microphones as well.

Next.

Now Let's Actually Connect Your Music Source To The Interface Mixer.

What Do You Want To Connect?

How Do I Connect My Turntable To the Interface Mixer?
How Do I Connect My Cassette Deck Or Receiver To The Interface Mixer?
How Do I Connect My Walkman, Boombox Or Shelf Stereo System To the Interface Mixer

Turntable Hookup Tips & Tricks.

A Turntable? Plug the two RCA cables attached to your turntable into the A jacks on the Interface mixer and set the toggle switch above the A slider to PHONO.

Set the horizontal fader control under the slider all the way to the A side.

Note: if there's a ground wire, attach it to the GND lug on the back of the mixer interface. It doesn't affect whether you get sound, but will eliminate hum.

There's not really much that go wrong with the turntable connection. The main thing to check is DO YOU SEE ANY FLICKERING LEDs in the Interface Mixer's LED meters?

If you don't, can you check the turntable in your stereo system to see if it's working OK?

Distorted Sound NOTE: If you have sound but it's distorted from your turntable there are two possible reasons.

Reason 1. If your turntable has a preamp in it, you need to switch the toggle switch above the A slider to LINE not PHONO, or turn off the preamp in your turntable.

Reason 2. If your turntable is in a stereo system and your cable is coming out of the amp, receiver or headphone jack, switch to LINE on the toggle switch as well.

Question. Do you have a pair of headphones that you can plug into the front of the Interface Mixer? If you do, there's a PFL switch on top of the Interface Mixer. IT MUST BE SET TO A if your turntable is plugged into the A jacks. If you hear sound there, then you'll know that your turntable and Interface Mixer are working properly.

Cassette Deck Hookup Tips & Tricks.

A Cassette Deck or Open Reel Deck? Or, the output from you cable TV or Satellite Radio will be the same.

Main Problem Here is, INPUT INSTEAD OF OUTPUT jacks are chosen.
Did you choose an output jack and use the RCA cables you were already using from your tape deck to your receiver or amplifier?

IMPORTANT NOTE: DON'T use AUX Jacks. They are inputs to your tape deck or stereo, not outputs. Also don't use speaker jacks as they can damage the mixer or your sound card. Headphone jacks are just fine.

In short, use jacks that say OUTPUT, LINE OUT, or PLAY. Don't use input jacks like microphone, aux or line in.

Walkman, Boombox & Shelf/Mini Stereo Hookup Tips Tricks.

A Walkman, Boombox, Shelf Stereo System or 8-Track Player? - Headphone jacks in today's stereos work great for feeding your sound to the Interface mixer. They are pretty much preamps and most are single chip very high quality outputs.

Don't worry that a boombox doesn't sound good. That's its cheap speakers and small amps. The headphone jack really does give excellent results.

What About Headphone Level? First plug a pair of headphones into the headphone jack you want to use and set the volume to low normal. Then you'll have the volume set properly and know the jack is working.

What's important here is DO YOU SEE LEDs lighting or at least flickering in the Interface Mixer's LED meters? No LEDs, no recording.

If you don't, did you use a stereo headphone out cable from the headphone out jack to the A jacks on the back of the interface mixer?

If you don't have one you need one like this Click to see a headphone out cable.

Please set the toggle switch above the A slider to LINE, not PHONO. And, set the horizontal fader below the A slider all the way to A?

How High Should You Set Your LED VU Meters?

Start your music. Check the meters. Do you see any lights moving? If you do, then you are getting music to your Interface mixer from your music source like your turntable or tape deck. If you don't see even a flicker, then be sure you are getting a signal from whatever your music source is and that you are coming out of an OUTPUT jack and not an input jack like AUX. AUX isn't an output, it's an input jack.

So how high should you set the LED meters? Just set them so you get 1 or 2 of the Green lights lit at most. That's not what you'd expect in most analog recording, but we want to all the amplification digitally in your computer with our Wave Editor, so just 1 or 2 green lights and you're all set.

OK Now It's Time To Record

READ THIS BEFORE YOU START.
4 Basic Recording Rules To Get Started
Don't Skip This Section.

1. One-Minute Recording Rule - When you're setting up to record for the first few times, please don't record for an hour. Just record for 1 minute as a test. Then click stop. Then hit play in the editor. If your recording plays back, you're all set. You can adjust volume or anything you like, but first just test to see you are recording OK. Then hit NEW (1st icon on the left) to clear the editor and you're ready to record. You'll learn everything you need to know from a simple 1 minute test.

2. No Sound, No Recording - When you are recording from LINE IN or any source OUTSIDE your computer you should hear the sound of what you want to record playing through your computer speakers or you probably won't be recording. Exceptions - USB audio adapters for laptops don't allow you to hear the sound while recording and a very few desktop sound cards are simplex and don't allow sound while recording. They still record perfectly. If you see the waves in the big wave windows in the editor, you are recording.

3. No Waves In The Editor, No Recording - You must see waves in the two big windows or you are not recording. Record a 1 minute sample to make sure you are recording. Don't worry about the VU meters below, look in the two big wave windows. No exceptions to this rule.

4. Select Your Source - Choose Mic for the pink microphone jack, LINE IN/Analog for the BLUE jack in the back of your Sound Card or What U Hear, Stereo Mix or Wave Out for Internet Recording. You must choose the correct input to record from it. It's like turning on a light switch to get light. Turn it on in the room you want to light.

How To Record. This Is The Main Screen, See The Detail Below.

Recording couldn't be easier. You may be able to just look at the above picture and do it all, but if not, I've put the step-by-step instructions below. And, after you do a few 1 minute test recordings you'll find that using the editor becomes 2nd nature.

Here's how to make your 1 minute test recordings.

Arrow 1.) Select your Recording Input. In short what do you want to record? I'll show you how to choose your source in the next section as this is the only multi-step part of the process. The Button on the left is the Record Source Button. On the Right is the DAK Recording Wizard. It lets you control inputs and volume and recording. Click To See Choosing Recording Source NOW.

Arrow 2.) Just hit record and you'll see the green waves in the 2 big wave windows. You must see waves or you are not recording. The VU meters near the bottom don't count.

THE MUST SEE WAVES RULE

Do you see waves? With digital recordings, this is what counts. If you don't see waves in the big wave windows of the DAK Editor, YOU ARE NOT RECORDING. No waves in the big wave windows, no recording.
1. Have you chosen the correct input (that you're actually plugged into)?
2. Is the jack from your music source actually an output jack? (Aux jacks are inputs).
3. Is your music source actually working?

Arrow 3.) Adjust your volume so you have about 60% of the height of the wave windows filled with waves as I do above.

Note: I have you setting the recording volume after you are recording and the reason for that is that you can't see waves till you are in record. The volume won't change until you release the slider. And this is just a test, so you'll just clear the editor and start recording for real in a few minutes.

Arrow 4.) Record for about a minute or so, then Click Stop.

Arrow 5.) Click Play to playback your test recording.

Arrow 6.) OK, you are ready to make a real recording now. So Click New, to clear the editor of your test and start recording for real. The New Button is the 1st Icon on the far left of the editor, and you'll get an alert asking you if you are sure you want to clear the editor. Click OK.

And A Final Note For Clarity.

This is the Play Control. It's NOT

USED. On the bottom left side of the editor is the Play Control. It looks just like the Record Control above, but normally you don't need to use this. It's more of a system volume and it's best to just leave it in its default settings.

Your Recording INPUT Choices. . .
HOW TO CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT TO RECORD

What Recording Input Should You Use?

1. For Internet Recording- Choose the source named What U Hear. Your Sound Card may call it Stereo Mix, Wave Out Mix Speaker, or Wave. But they are all the same.

2. For Recording LPs, Cassettes or anything connected to the BLUE JACK in the back of your computer- Choose the source named Analog Mix. Your computer may call it LINE IN or AUX.

3. Live Microphone Recording- Choose the source named Microphone. Your Sound Card might call it Mic. This is the Pink Jack in back.

4. USB Notebook Adapter. If you are using a USB audio notebook adapter, see the section on plugging it in by clicking here.

Selecting Your Recording Input.

On the main interface as shown above, to change the input that you want to use to record from, you Click the Record Source Windows Mixer Button or the DAK Pre- Record Wizard Button as shown above. Then select the input from which you want to record.

Click Here to see how to select the actual input you want on your computer, in pictures.

Got a question? Need help setting up? No problem. We've found that we can email you detailed help with step-by-step PICTURES where appropriate to make sure you can make the most out of our products and software much better than trying to describe what to do verbally over the phone.

CLICK HERE For FAST Complete Email Tech Support

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