First set of monitors - how should I hook everything up?

[neverpurify]

I got the other Yamaha HS50M monitor today that I was bitching about in my MF thread. Anyway, this being my first set of monitors and seeing as how I have always just had my computer speaker hooked directly to my sound card outputs...what is the best way for me to hook everything up so that I don't have to make volume adjustments to the software mixer for my m-audio 24/96?

I am running into a Mackie 1202-VLZ Pro for my preamps then into the soundcard via the mackie's tape outputs then from the soundcard into the mackie's tape inputs then control room outs to the monitors. But I find that this way I have to adjust the m-audio's software mixer or else the mackie is in clip zone. Confusing?

Here are the hookup diagrams from the manual

http://mackie.com/pdf/1202vlzpro_om.pdf

 

[neverpurify]

c'mon please, someone? I'm really not as stupid as I sound, just get confused when it comes to routing things with a mixer.

 

[JeffTD]

Honestly, your best bet would be to get a proper interface.

 

[neverpurify]

I know and I plan for that to be my next gear purchase. I figured it out though with some help from http://www.tweakheadz.com/how_to_hookup_a_mixer.htm

 

[colonel kurtz]

if your mixer output is through the control room out, then i would assume that there's a knob to set the control room level...use that guy