Tracking sounds into Logic for mixing. A/D conversion MYSTERIES!!

[Mitch Lowen]

I'm finally starting to track sounds and then mixing it itb.

Problem is that I'll have to take out the main outs of the mixer that go into the amplifier to put them into the soundcard with the problem that I won't be able to hear what I'm tracking (since there's no connection to the amp, to which the monitors are connected).

So I saw my old Tascam DA30MKII DAT machine and thought:

What if I..

Connect the XLR outs of the mixer into the XLR ins of the DAT
Connect the RCA outs to the Jack ins of the AMP
Connect the S/PDIF out to the S/PDIF in of the card

That way I could listen to the music AND track digitally from the mixer into the DAT and then into the card ) All I had to do is always have the DAT on record.

I DID THIS LAST NIGHT!!!!
There's a problem (duh).

I use a Pentium III 667 Mhz PC with Logic Audio Gold 4.1.1.

TRACKING DIGITALLY -> DAT S/PDIF OUT in S/PDIF CARD IN:

1) when tracking the message 'Error - Conflict trying to sync Midi and Audio. Problem with 48000. Check external device'

2) when playing back when Logic's still on digital it plays it accurate up until the last part of what I tracked.. then it kind of gets out of rhythm

TRACKING ANALOG -> XLR MIXER OUT in RCA CARD IN

3) playback is 100% accurate

PLAYBACK

4) when playing what was digitally tracked when Logic's on Analog the playback's 30% slower!!!!!!!!!!! (??)

5) when playing what was analog tracked when Logic's on Digital the playback's 30% faster!!!!!!!!!!

Note: the DAT recorder was on F/S 48.
Note: the reason why I don't want to track from mixer -> card is that my mixer only has 2 outs. The main XLR outs. If I have to take them out of the amplifier, I can't hear what I'm tracking or what I tracked until I plugged 'em back in.
QUESTIONS:

1) How come the playback speed of what I digitally tracked is 30% slower when Logic's set on analog input. That don't make NO sense.

2) Same for the playback of what was tracked Analog while the PC's set on digital input.

3) It seems that tracking through the DAT recorder at the same level as from mixer to card directly makes things a bit louder and fuller. Could this be because of the headroom of the DAT recorder?

4) Another option is:

XLR MIXER OUT -> DAT XLR IN
DAT RCA OUT -> HEADPHONE PRE-AMP MAIN RCA IN
HEADPHONE PRE-AMP STEREO JACK OUT 1 -> RCA IN SOUNDCARD
HEADPHONE PRE-AMP STEREO JACK OUT 2 -> RCA AMP IN

Would that hurt the soundquality!?

5) The F/S button for 44.1 or 48 -> is that for the OUT or the IN of the DAT?

[funkynuts]

Why not just connect the main outs of your soundcard into the amp or into the dat then the amp?
The idea would be to only monitor the post computer signal from the dat rather than use it as your a/d convertor.
This seems like the simplest solution to me or are you trying to achieve something which i haven,t picked up on.

What soundcard do you have b.t.w.?

[funkynuts]

B.tw. your tascam is 16 bit so not a good choice of a/d convertor if your soundcard is 24 bit and you plan on tracking with this bit depth.
I definately suggest recording at 24 bit if your soundcard allows as you are able to capture a fuller dynamic range without fear of digital overs.