please give me step by step instructions on how to plug in my mic and piano into my computer and digitally record and adjust sound levels, etc
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Now that you have your Harbinger M100-BT mixer and the M-Audio M-Track Solo audio interface, here are the step-by-step instructions for connecting your equipment, setting your sound levels, and digitally recording your audio.
First, make sure all your sound sources are properly connected to your Harbinger M100-BT mixer.
Microphone: Plug your microphone into one of the XLR inputs (the round ones) on the mixer.
Piano: Connect your digital piano's audio outputs to the mixer's LINE inputs using 1/4" TS cables. The Harbinger has both mono and stereo line inputs, so use the one that matches your piano's outputs.
Headphones: Plug your headphones into the PHONES jack on the mixer to monitor your sound.
Before you connect the mixer to the audio interface, get a good, balanced sound on the mixer itself.
Turn all GAIN and CHANNEL LEVEL knobs on the mixer down to zero.
Play your piano and speak into your microphone at the volumes you'll be using for recording.
Slowly raise the CHANNEL LEVEL knob for the piano until the signal LED is in the green, occasionally touching yellow, but never red. Repeat this for your microphone.
Adjust the MAIN LEVEL knob on the mixer to a moderate level so you have a good listening volume in your headphones.
This is the key step for getting the sound into your computer.
Cable: You'll need a 1/4" TS cable to connect the mixer to the M-Audio M-Track Solo.
Mixer: Plug one end of the 1/4" cable into the MONITOR OUT jack on the back of your Harbinger mixer. This sends a mixed, "pre-master fader" signal from the mixer.
Audio Interface: Plug the other end of the cable into the INPUT 1 jack on the front of the M-Audio M-Track Solo.
USB: Connect the M-Audio M-Track Solo to your computer using the included USB cable.
Now, you need to tell your computer to use the M-Audio interface.
Install Drivers: If you're using a Windows PC, you'll need to install the M-Audio drivers from their website. Mac computers don't usually require drivers for this interface.
Open Recording Software: Launch your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) like Audacity, GarageBand, or the software that came with your M-Audio interface (such as MPC Beats or Ableton Live Lite).
Select Input Device: In your recording software's audio settings or preferences, select the "M-Audio M-Track Solo" as your input device.
This is a crucial step to avoid distortion. You need to set the gain on the M-Audio M-Track Solo so the signal is strong but not "clipping."
Direct Monitoring: Set the DIRECT/USB switch on the M-Audio M-Track Solo to "Direct." This lets you hear the sound from the mixer directly without any delay.
Adjust Interface Gain: Play your piano and speak into the mic at your loudest levels. While you do this, slowly raise the GAIN knob for Input 1 on the M-Audio M-Track Solo. Watch the Signal/Clip LED next to the knob.
The light should be green most of the time.
It should blink yellow/orange on the loudest parts.
It should NEVER turn solid red. If it does, your signal is clipping, and you need to turn the gain down.
Recording Level: A good target for your recording level in your software is between -18 dB and -6 dB. This leaves you with "headroom" to adjust the levels later without distortion.
Once your levels are set, you're ready to record.
Create a new mono audio track in your recording software.
Select the M-Audio M-Track Solo as the input for this track.
Click the "Record" button in your software and begin your performance.