How to mix out of the pc

[yassooblue]

Hi can anyone help me,
what is the best way to get my tracks into the pc and then back out to mix in the traditional fashion, I am fed up with using the mouse and switching banks etc.just to add eq etc

is it best to have a traditional mixer that then sends its outputs to an interface.

I have a tascam fw1082 but it does not have that many outputs and to add eq you have to mess around switching banks.

would I be best getting a mixer with an output for every track and then link to a firewire or usb interface
any advice greatfully appreciated
thanks
Mike(UK)

[tmix]

Mike,
When you ask "what's best" it is really dependant on the what tradeoffs you want to make.
I assume that you have a monetary limit so you just can't go out and buy "the perfect set up"

If you basically want to use your computer as a direct replacement for an Analogue Reel to Reel deck, then yes basically you need to have an interface with enough inputs to track as many simultaneous tracks as you need, but more importantly will be the amount of outputs you desire for mix down.

In other words, you might be able to get away with only 8 inputs if you you are not tracking a band all at once, but if you want to playback 24 individual tracks without submixing.... you will need that many outputs.

Here is where you have to figure your trade offs. If you are willing to use the computer software mixer for subgrouping raw tracks, you can get by with less outputs.

I am guessing that you don't like using the EQ plug ins of your software, nor the volume automation and you desire to mix totally out of the box.
Many are in the same boat. it just requires a ton of outboard gear, or some patience and subtle usage of some software based items and the balance hardware externally.

Depending on your budget you may want to stick with a couple of 16 channel firewire or PCI card type interfaces.
I used to use 3 Delta 1010s for 24+ channels of I/O.
They are decent, but I eventually outgrew the sound quality and moved up to only 16 channels of better converters and opt for submixing some stuff in the computer.
I use the computer for automating the volume of each channel, performing submixes of vocal beds and background tracks and sometimes use the eq or compression when I run out of external hardware units.

[yassooblue]

Thats great, Tom thanks for your time, Basically, I would not normally record more than 6 inputs, when it comes to outboard gear I only have a Focusrite Trackmaster pro pre amp which i use for Vocals/sometimes acoustic guitar.
Boss dr880 drum machine and a pod xt pro. midi keyboard, ART

I was thinking of building a little rack of gear to try and get a better sound before the signal is recorded,
Not sure how it all hooks together.

I thought about the m-audio profire



which has a lot of ins and outs but how would I mix the individual tracks during playback, manually do i need an outboard mixer still or an eq unit.

the tascam I have would not be to bad as it is a surface controller as well, but like i said you have to keep pressing buttons,
thanks
Mike