Question regarding Mixer to Computer setup

[SLIMBguitar]

I've been lookin around at Home recording gear for a few months in the prospect of putting something together in the near future. One major issue has always eluded me and I have yet to find a clearcut answer. As of right now it seems the best solution for easy multi-tracking is a good mixer hooked up to your computer. My question is what are the different options for hooking the mixer up to the computer. I would like to control the mixer itself from the computer and be capable of controlling and recording with all of the channels of the mixer. I really want to avoid the problem of having to mix the sound at the mixer and have no control of it within the computer, seems frusutrating to no end. I've seen mixers with USB which seems convient but Is it really that easy? Links to possible gear and tips for what to look for would be very helpful, Thanks and I hope this made sense.

 

[Chili]

I think you're making a blind assumption here. Hooking up a mixer to your computer may not be the best solution. This is a grey zone topic and like everything in the grey zone: it depends.

To bring audio into your computer, you need an interface. Which one is a personal preference on the same level as blondes or reds (beer, of course). What you hope to accomplish has a lot to do with your choices in equipment. Solo act, band demo, work for hire, just for fun, live recording, project studio, two man band, three man band, etc... Then your budget dictates your quality level, sort of. That's actually a long running discussion on most recording boards.

Post up here what you would like to do and people will be better able to give you advice.

Cheers,

 

[Almy]

If you just want a mixer that is an interface then check out some of the firewire mixers out there. My alesis 12 channel has been doing me very well for a couple years now. It also acts as the soundcard while used so no need to get any hardware at all.

Now when you say you want to control the mixer from the computer...well if you mean things like actually moving the mixer faders physically while moving the fader in your DAW. If I'm not mistaken that will put you into a higher price margin. And if you're a hobbyist on a budget then it's really an unnecessary expenditure.

 

[MISTERQCUE]

I think you're making a blind assumption here. Hooking up a mixer to your computer may not be the best solution. This is a grey zone topic and like everything in the grey zone: it depends.

To bring audio into your computer, you need an interface. Which one is a personal preference on the same level as blondes or reds (beer, of course). What you hope to accomplish has a lot to do with your choices in equipment. Solo act, band demo, work for hire, just for fun, live recording, project studio, two man band, three man band, etc... Then your budget dictates your quality level, sort of. That's actually a long running discussion on most recording boards.

Post up here what you would like to do and people will be better able to give you advice.

Cheers,

EXACTLY what he said!

 

[shane_sow]

A USB mixer is not at all what you're looking for. USB isn't exactly well known for transferring multiple audio tracks to a PC in real time. For this you'll need a Firewire mixing desk, or an analog desk with a Firewire interface.

I know that brands like Alesis, Mackie and Phonic make these. You simply plug a microphone into channel 1 on the mixer, and set track 1 in your recording software to, for example, "Firewire Desk - Channel 1". That'll allow you to multi-track and edit your single tracks instead of a stereo mix that a USB mixer would give you.

Like the previous posters said though, giving us a better idea of what your projects will involve will lead to you receiving better advice.