so i've been (always) experimenting with stream-lining the setup. here's what i'm rocking:

sp404
numark pt-01
macbook pro
behringer xenyx 802 mixer
presonus audiobox interface
tascam monitors

i've been experimenting with using the mixer on either end of the 404. i've used it to split the signal coming into the 404, so the pt-01 or the computer (youtube, itunes, etc) can be sampled w/o unplugging things.
i've also tried going from the 404 out to the mixer, then to monitors.

i don't hear any difference in sound going from the 404 directly to monitors, vs. going into mixer then monitors. i've tried a mackie mixer before and it brought out things in the 404 i've never heard before. the behringer doesn't do much, but i really like the EQ on it.

so ideally i'd have 2 things going into the 404 (pt01 and computer) and be able to split the signal going out the 404 into monitors and back into garageband for recording.

also having garageband dedicated to monitors is nice for overdubbing. if i'm monitoring the computer through the 404 while overdubbing, audio from previous tracks will record onto the new track too--not good. with the mixer going to the monitors, i can have the 404 going into a mixer channel and the computer going into the tape in, then hitting the 'tape to mix' button will A-B b/t monitoring the 404 or the computer so i can do proper overdubs.

that's why the interface would be nice, because i can use the 2 outs to go both into the mixer and directly into the 404 simultaneously.
sound-wise i don't hear a big diff b/t recording directly into the macbook 1/8" vs. the presonus dual 1/4".

so if i go 404 into mixer i can't have the computer AND the pt-01 going into the 404 simultaneously.
but if i go mixer into 404 i can't do proper overdubs b/c the computer is being monitored through the 404 ext. source.

so which do you guys think is more important--ability to do proper overdubs (using garageband as multitrack) or having computer and turntable going into 404 at same time (so software instruments are beefed up with 404)?

i'm considering ditching the mixer and interface completely and just unplugging things when i need to. seeing as these are basically all single 1/8" jacks, it doesn't seem like a prob to be switching them frequently.

anyways sorry for the babbling rant, onward and upward...

i would go for oberdubbing and sampling from the mac...

so here is my idea:

-mac and pt-01 going into xenyx inputs
-put your monitors on the control room out of the xenyx

now it comes:

-tape out of the xenyx to 404's input
- now take care: the 404's output going into the mac/interface in BUT watch out! first off:
put the mixer of the audiobox to playback (there is a poti)

-so, if you want to sample from the mac/pt01 just open the "tape out" (cd/tape to main), but make sure you have no track on monitoring in garage band, that would cause a feedback... *
- for recording into garage band, cut off tape out and assign a track with monitoring so you can hear your 404 through the mac; without going into the 404 again, since the tape way is cut off...
-if you wanna sample a track, go back to the previous step and cut off monitoring and open the tape out

* bad thing is you don't hear the 404, just the sampling source; means you cant sample with an fx on the ext src (you can, but you only hear it through the 404's headphone outs.)

hope it works out for you..

only here would i find such enthusiasm for something so mundane and trivial.

that was exactly what i needed to hear, thank you. gonna play around some w/ it and report back later...

Workflow is my biggest obstical. I hate cables and I especially hate having to unplug cables every time I wanna try something new. If it was my setup I would have your laptop>interface, turntable going into the 802. Have all your output stuff go straight into the 404 and then plug your monitors into the 404. I would also suggest spending like 10 bucks on some sort of cassette recorder. Bounce your samples to and from tape and then when you are ready record the final mix back into the computer. I guess the goal is to not be dependent on any certain part of your workflow chain. The beauty of the 404 is to be able to pack up and go and jam anywhere.

a slightly different approach, interesting. still macbook and pt-01 going into mixer, but monitoring through the 404 instead of mixer.
only prob w/ this chain is can you do proper overdubs in garageband to build up tracks this way?

i like the idea of going 404 straight to monitors, but i also like not using the sequencer and just building tracks through overdubbing in garageband instead of the resampling technique. but that also sucks cause it's nice to just have vinyl sim on the master while its being built up

ok so i went with wax's setup plus one thing:

got the output of the 404 split with a piggyback cable so its going into the interface, but its also going into the tape-in on the mixer.

it seems like all my requirements have now been met except for one thing: i can't use the 802's eq on the output of the 404 cause it's coming onto the tape-in.

but i can still sample into the 404 from the pt-01 and the computer at the same time and can also do overdubs in garageband. just hitting that lovely 'tape to control' button on the mixer to switch b/t monitoring the 404 vs pt-01/computer.

wax, i think that's pretty much what you were getting at

^ yeah it is sort of a creative chain but you can do pretty much anything... beside eq... but since you can run the 404 through the mac you can eq that channel/the 404... if you're not running garageband you can put your interface to "input" at the mixerpoti...
404@ tape in is nice too but you gotta avoid having tape in+monitoring at the same time...

hard to pull of stuff like that on such small mixer w/o sub groups and aux sends but i guess it 'does the job' ...

yo this setup is working so perfect--really haven't any need to unplug cables for anything!
don't even need the tape deck (as per formal's suggestion) since i can bounce easily b/t 404 and garageband.

i went and traded the presonus for an akai lpk25. extremely tiny and fun to play.

yesterday i recorded my african thumb piano's 8 notes into the 404 pads w/ the external mic. lo-fi at its best right here. so much fun