A Question For Dj's Options

[don says mac]

I'm having a lot of trouble recording a decent sounding set into my mac... the recorded music is very quiet & distant sounding...

my setup:

2 technics 1200's
vestax mixer
mac g4 867
1gig ram
echo mia soundcard
osx panther
garageband
logic pro 7

i have my tables set up to my mixer, and my mixer connected via rca - 1/4 inch plugs into my mia... no matter if i use GB or LP7, the recording sounds like crap... i've tried plugging a turntable directly into my soundcard but still no luck... i've played with the console for hours on end and nothing seems to make it sound better... surely i have the appropriate tools to do the job?!?!

I've tried plugging my guitar directly into the soundcard and it too records very quietly... is it a faulty soundcard? i know my cables aren't the best, would that have such a big effect? when i record in LP7, i can see the volume red-lining so it would seem as if the sound is getting in there, but just not recording properly...

any advice on what other people are doing to record their mixes would be greatly appreciated...

thanks,
d