Maintaining separate tracks from Mixer to Layla

[rucarlso]

So here's something that's been bugging me, I hope someone can straighten it out for me.

I don't have much experience with mixers. I want to get a mixer and a Layla and start recording into my computer, but I want to keep the tracks separate. That is, I want to play basic tracks live with a band, but want the kick drum track to remain the kick drum track and the lead guitar track the lead guitar track and so on. A mixer like the Mackie 1602VLZ has stereo outs and direct outs. To my knowledge, the direct outs bypass the board's EQ and maybe the preamps as well (is that right?). I'd like to be able to send each individual track out from the mixer to the Layla to record as separate waves on the computer. I'd also like to take advantage of the mixer's EQ and possibly use some AUX effects like a compressor before it gets into the Layla. Is it possible to do this and keep the tracks separate? A friend told me that "that's what buses are for," but didn't elaborate any further.

Can anyone make sense out of my question and help me figure this out?

-rucarlso

[TexRoadkill]

Thats what the inserts are for

[maddrummer]

The direct outs don't bypass the eq, the inserts do though. The 1604 you would go from the direct outs straight to the layla. If u use the mains that's gonna mix the signals together, the direct outs are individual.

[rucarlso]

Thank you, Tex, for the helpful hint. Emphasis on "hint."

But now I'm stuck with what appears to be conflicting info. if the direct outs are affected by EQ, then what's so direct about them?

Argh mateys! How can I send indiviudal tracks from the mixer AND take advantage of EQ and rack effects? Is it possible?

-rucarlso

[TexRoadkill]

Save eq and effects for the mixdown. That is the proper method.

Use the inserts for tracking and when it is time for mixdown you can buss the individual channels back to the mixer and apply eq and effects.

[rucarlso]

Ah, I see....so obvious. Such a numbskull am I for not realizing this. Thanks for the info, you have made me a little bit smarter than my friends today. Unless they started reading books all of a sudden.

-ru