sweetbeats
Reel deep thoughts...
Yes.
And no apologies of any kind needed.
The M-106, and pretty much any multiple buss mixer (the M-1508 is another good small mixer...<$100), can have multiple stuff hooked up all the time and you use the source and routing controls on the control surface to choose what you want to listen to, how you want to mix it, and where you want to send it to.
Using the M-106 as an example, you can have 6 sources connected to the main inputs of each channel (this could be a micor a line level source, or even a passive pickup guitar/bass), AND 6 additional line inputs...oh...and two turntables. So that's 12 mono sources hooked up at once plus the two turntables. Look at a picture of an M-106...just do a google image search. You see those toggle switches above the trim knobs? That's where you select which of the two inputs on each channel you want to listen to on that channel. Now look at the AUX send knob...see that LINE switch? You can have the mic selected as the channel source, but have the *other* LINE input as the source for the AUX buss on that channel. Who cares? Well it's really handy when overdubbing like you're doing. The outputs of your 234 would be hooked up to the LINE inputs on channels 1-4. You could have your vocal on the mic input of channel 1, your guitar hooked up to the main input of channel 2. You would PAN both channels hard R, and depress the 3-4 assign switch on those two channels. Set the trim controls for maximum level without any clipping, and then set the faders to achieve your mix. The inputs of the 234 would be connected to the PGM group 1-4 outputs of the M-106. Channels 1 and 2 of the mixer are grouped to PGM group 4, which will feed track 4 on the 234. Depress the LINE switches on the AUX busses on channels 1, 2 and 3 of the M-106. This sends the signal from tape tracks 1, 2 and 3 to the AUX buss. Select the 3-4 group over in the monitor section on the right to monitor your vocal and guitar mix, and also select the AUX buss...you'll be able to hear tracks 1, 2 and 3 while you overdub. Notice you haven't even touched channels 4, 5 and 6 of the mixer. You can have stuff hooked up sort of semi permanently, and each channel has the ability to select which source you want to listen to on the channel with the source select switch, and then it can go to groups 1-4...set the assign switches and PAN controls to determine where your source goes...all with buttons and switches rather than re-patching.
That's probably a little overwhelming. Some times I wish when this kind of stuff comes up I could just sit down at a table with a beer and show you. So I apologize for all the wordiness, but the above scenario is basically how a typical recording mixer is setup, so your inputs that are connected to each channel can be output to any or all of the groups, and you can monitor tape returns along with your sources while overdubbing. Then when it's time for mixdown you would set channels 1-4 to LINE and tape tracks 1-4 would be on mixer channels 1-4...set eq and effect levels and faders and pans to taste. And you haven't had to re-patch a thing.
And no apologies of any kind needed.
The M-106, and pretty much any multiple buss mixer (the M-1508 is another good small mixer...<$100), can have multiple stuff hooked up all the time and you use the source and routing controls on the control surface to choose what you want to listen to, how you want to mix it, and where you want to send it to.
Using the M-106 as an example, you can have 6 sources connected to the main inputs of each channel (this could be a micor a line level source, or even a passive pickup guitar/bass), AND 6 additional line inputs...oh...and two turntables. So that's 12 mono sources hooked up at once plus the two turntables. Look at a picture of an M-106...just do a google image search. You see those toggle switches above the trim knobs? That's where you select which of the two inputs on each channel you want to listen to on that channel. Now look at the AUX send knob...see that LINE switch? You can have the mic selected as the channel source, but have the *other* LINE input as the source for the AUX buss on that channel. Who cares? Well it's really handy when overdubbing like you're doing. The outputs of your 234 would be hooked up to the LINE inputs on channels 1-4. You could have your vocal on the mic input of channel 1, your guitar hooked up to the main input of channel 2. You would PAN both channels hard R, and depress the 3-4 assign switch on those two channels. Set the trim controls for maximum level without any clipping, and then set the faders to achieve your mix. The inputs of the 234 would be connected to the PGM group 1-4 outputs of the M-106. Channels 1 and 2 of the mixer are grouped to PGM group 4, which will feed track 4 on the 234. Depress the LINE switches on the AUX busses on channels 1, 2 and 3 of the M-106. This sends the signal from tape tracks 1, 2 and 3 to the AUX buss. Select the 3-4 group over in the monitor section on the right to monitor your vocal and guitar mix, and also select the AUX buss...you'll be able to hear tracks 1, 2 and 3 while you overdub. Notice you haven't even touched channels 4, 5 and 6 of the mixer. You can have stuff hooked up sort of semi permanently, and each channel has the ability to select which source you want to listen to on the channel with the source select switch, and then it can go to groups 1-4...set the assign switches and PAN controls to determine where your source goes...all with buttons and switches rather than re-patching.
That's probably a little overwhelming. Some times I wish when this kind of stuff comes up I could just sit down at a table with a beer and show you. So I apologize for all the wordiness, but the above scenario is basically how a typical recording mixer is setup, so your inputs that are connected to each channel can be output to any or all of the groups, and you can monitor tape returns along with your sources while overdubbing. Then when it's time for mixdown you would set channels 1-4 to LINE and tape tracks 1-4 would be on mixer channels 1-4...set eq and effect levels and faders and pans to taste. And you haven't had to re-patch a thing.
