Behringer UB802 Recording/Headphone Question

[xstatic]

It seems to me that the biggest problem here is that you guys are using the mixer in a way it was not really designed. Main outs are fine to record off of, but are not designed to do that when also needing playback. This is why recording consoles have direct outs and buss outputs. Direct outs are usually used for raw channel outputs while group outputs are used when more processing is desired on a record channel. This also facilitates easy monitoring. I do not normally like to do the insert plugged half way thing as a direct out, bt it does work. Returning the M-Audio to a channels instead of a tape return and sending from the insert point will greatly simplify and increase the capabilities of recording, monitoring in headphones, bussing and running control room speakers.

 

[pandamonk]

It seems to me that the biggest problem here is that you guys are using the mixer in a way it was not really designed. Main outs are fine to record off of, but are not designed to do that when also needing playback. This is why recording consoles have direct outs and buss outputs. Direct outs are usually used for raw channel outputs while group outputs are used when more processing is desired on a record channel. This also facilitates easy monitoring. I do not normally like to do the insert plugged half way thing as a direct out, bt it does work. Returning the M-Audio to a channels instead of a tape return and sending from the insert point will greatly simplify and increase the capabilities of recording, monitoring in headphones, bussing and running control room speakers.

The way we have suggested IS the way these mixers are designed to be used. They are so small, they don't have inserts or direct outs.

The tape outs are used to record, to tape, whatever is sent to the main outputs. The only difference is the recording medium(digital recording to pc), which doesn't matter.

The control room/headphone outputs are there to allow you to monitor a different signal to the main. The tape to ctrl room button, allows you to send the signal from the tape player/pc to the monitors or headphones, without re-recording(unless tape to mix is pressed). This is exactly what these small mixers were designed for.

This also works for larger mixers, although direct outs/inserts(or even aux/busses) are prefered for multitrack recording.

 

[ocnor]

Rather than the audio buddy, folk out a little more and get a DMP3, which is much higher rated.

That's true but they are much more expensive. I bought my Audio Buddy new for 40 bucks at GC . The DMP3 was $159 and the small difference in sound quality was not enough to justify the price.

 

[pandamonk]

That's true but they are much more expensive. I bought my Audio Buddy new for 40 bucks at GC . The DMP3 was $159 and the small difference in sound quality was not enough to justify the price.

$40?! You got a good deal! It's $80 now, although $100 with two MXL mics(good deal imo, basically the audio buddy for free!). $145 for the DMP3, and others would disagree about sound quality.

 

[xstatic]

If they do not have even an insert, then otpions with them are very limited and my suggestions won't work in this case then. I would try not however to make the mistake of thinking this is some sort of standard or preferable way of recording. For mixing 1 mic with playback it works ok, but hat if you were to want to record 2 mics simultaneously. How would you create a headphone mix then without affecting recording levels? For this specific example your suggestions with the routing do work.

Control Room Outputs are typically not actually for creating a seperate mix. They are there for allowing the control room to change volume without affecting the master 2 track outputand for soloing into once again without affecting the stereo output. Group outputs also seem to be the most common tracking source on large consoles which is why so many of the larger desks have between 24 and 48 group outputs. This allows the engineer to record a track post EQ and output fader. The direct outputs on a large console typically run pre fade and Pre EQ.

 

[pandamonk]

If they do not have even an insert, then otpions with them are very limited and my suggestions won't work in this case then. I would try not however to make the mistake of thinking this is some sort of standard or preferable way of recording. For mixing 1 mic with playback it works ok, but hat if you were to want to record 2 mics simultaneously. How would you create a headphone mix then without affecting recording levels? For this specific example your suggestions with the routing do work.

Control Room Outputs are typically not actually for creating a seperate mix. They are there for allowing the control room to change volume without affecting the master 2 track outputand for soloing into once again without affecting the stereo output. Group outputs also seem to be the most common tracking source on large consoles which is why so many of the larger desks have between 24 and 48 group outputs. This allows the engineer to record a track post EQ and output fader. The direct outputs on a large console typically run pre fade and Pre EQ.

You create the headphone mix with the software. You shouldn't hear anything but what is sent from the pc in the headphone mix, if done properly, so the levels can be controlled within the software(monitoring the inputs) without affecting the recording levels, i believe.

And yes, i agree that CR outs are typically for volume control without affecting the recording levels, but in the case these mixers, there is a button which allows only the tape ins to be sent to CR outs, i believe. This allows you to create a separate, although limited, mix.

 

[ocnor]

if you were to want to record 2 mics simultaneously. How would you create a headphone mix then without affecting recording levels?

It works the same way as recording 1 mic. You would just pan 1 mic left and 1 right, send the signal out the main bus and monitor off the control room bus. There is also the option of using the FX send as a recording out. As for creating a headphone mix you can just manipulate the levels within the recording software to match the mic levels. Most of us are doing bedroom recordings 1 or 2 tracks at a time and don't require a mixer with 48 sub groups or even 48 channels for that matter. It may not be typical to use the control room outs this way on a large mixer but that's only because you don't need to.

 

[Roguetitan]

It seems to me that the biggest problem here is that you guys are using the mixer in a way it was not really designed. Main outs are fine to record off of, but are not designed to do that when also needing playback. This is why recording consoles have direct outs and buss outputs. Direct outs are usually used for raw channel outputs while group outputs are used when more processing is desired on a record channel. This also facilitates easy monitoring. I do not normally like to do the insert plugged half way thing as a direct out, bt it does work. Returning the M-Audio to a channels instead of a tape return and sending from the insert point will greatly simplify and increase the capabilities of recording, monitoring in headphones, bussing and running control room speakers.

dude this is basically a pod casting setup. it is used for practice sessions to play back the track to see if and where I need to work on a section of a song
it is very portable and very fast to setup on my laptop, even more so than my VS 2000 that is why I like using it.

when I am laying tracks that are to be published I use an A&H studio console and I am about to upgrade to a digital SoundCraft. I am not going through the whole chain but trust me it is all hooked up right and functions properly

 

[Roguetitan]

SUCCESS!

I was fiddling around with the little mixer again trying to get it to record without the playback being recorded to the new track.
well it was in my sound card settings all along.
I fixed the problem by double clicking the volume icon, selected optionsm then selected properties and turnes the volume settings off on the input of the sound card.
who woulda thunk it

 

[pandamonk]

SUCCESS!

I was fiddling around with the little mixer again trying to get it to record without the playback being recorded to the new track.
well it was in my sound card settings all along.
I fixed the problem by double clicking the volume icon, selected optionsm then selected properties and turnes the volume settings off on the input of the sound card.
who woulda thunk it

Nice one! Well done

 

[Roguetitan]

well at least I know the Mixer is good