Drum kit Recording/ Audio Interface

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evadbowl

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A couple of questions here to ask. First, I have recorded my drum kit with good results going from my mixer straight into my sound card. Im about to purchase a new PC and buy an Audio Interface. What would be my best option since I have a mixer? Right now my drums cant be split into seperate tracks. Lets say with an Audio Interface, could I seperate the drum mics for seperate control? Like, 1 track snare, 2 track bass drum and so on? Also, Is Firewire the fastest and best way to go? Thanks everyone.
 
evadbowl said:
A couple of questions here to ask. First, I have recorded my drum kit with good results going from my mixer straight into my sound card. Im about to purchase a new PC and buy an Audio Interface. What would be my best option since I have a mixer? Right now my drums cant be split into seperate tracks. Lets say with an Audio Interface, could I seperate the drum mics for seperate control? Like, 1 track snare, 2 track bass drum and so on? Also, Is Firewire the fastest and best way to go? Thanks everyone.
Click to expand...

For a typical 8 channel interface for your needs, I would suddgest a firewire, or pci interface. As far as speed It is really of no concern. Stability of these devices (driver issues mainly) will vary. Sonic quality will only vary in big price jumps.

Since you have the mic pre's on board your mixer you will not need the mic pre's on a lot of the newer interfaces with on board pre's. I personally use the RME Multiface II. It is very stable and the quality is a hair better than average. You also need to consider routing options, because they differ. When you are looking at these things go to there web site and look at block diagrams in the user manuals. Some have expansion capability for more channels through adat. Some do not have Digital to Analog conversion on all 8 channels.

Good luck,
 
What mixer are you using? Will you be able to pull a signal from each channel from either a direct out or a channel insert?

You could go for something like the Echo AudioFire12. Thats 12 channels of 1/4 trs line level input into a firewire interface. (I WISH they'd make a 16 channel version- I'd order on today)

If you want to do it on the cheap, a Delta 1010lt...
 
Jeff_D said:
What mixer are you using? Will you be able to pull a signal from each channel from either a direct out or a channel insert?

You could go for something like the Echo AudioFire12. Thats 12 channels of 1/4 trs line level input into a firewire interface. (I WISH they'd make a 16 channel version- I'd order on today)

If you want to do it on the cheap, a Delta 1010lt...
Click to expand...

im using a Behringer 1204
8 channel
 
So, this one?

behringer_xenyx_1204_s16477.jpg




That only has 4 mic pres, and it doesnt have direct outs or channel inserts, so there isnt really a good way to get audio from each channel into a soundcard or interface.

I think you'd have MUCH better luck ditching that mixer (for recording purposes anyway) and get something like the Motu 8Pre or the Presonus FireStudio that gives you an interface with preamps...
 
Jeff_D said:
So, this one?

behringer_xenyx_1204_s16477.jpg




That only has 4 mic pres, and it doesnt have direct outs or channel inserts, so there isnt really a good way to get audio from each channel into a soundcard or interface.

I think you'd have MUCH better luck ditching that mixer (for recording purposes anyway) and get something like the Motu 8Pre or the Presonus FireStudio that gives you an interface with preamps...
Click to expand...

Yeah thats the one. So what if I decide to not seperate the drum tracks? Im trying to decide how I can still use the mixer. What interface would work?
 
evadbowl said:
Yeah thats the one. So what if I decide to not seperate the drum tracks? Im trying to decide how I can still use the mixer. What interface would work?
Click to expand...

In all honesty, you probably need to dump the mixer. There's no point letting it affect your decisions when buying more expensive gear or putting effort into incorporating it when its really not needed (or that great in the first place!).

Sell it, or keep for headphone mixes / talkback purposes, etc.
 
mattr said:
In all honesty, you probably need to dump the mixer.
Click to expand...

I agree with all of that except 'probably'.

Dump the mixer, get a firewire interface you can plug 8 mics into. 2 channel drum tracking doesn't leave you with a lot of options at mixdown.
 
suprstar said:
I agree with all of that except 'probably'.

Dump the mixer, get a firewire interface you can plug 8 mics into. 2 channel drum tracking doesn't leave you with a lot of options at mixdown.
Click to expand...

any suggestions on the best one for the money and where should I shop for one? Thanks.
 
suprstar said:
I agree with all of that except 'probably'.

Dump the mixer, get a firewire interface you can plug 8 mics into. 2 channel drum tracking doesn't leave you with a lot of options at mixdown.
Click to expand...

The M Audio Fast Track Ultra is 8 in/8 out and USB 2.0 to boot. $349 @ Musician's Friend.
Might be a good candidate for you.
 
TeyshaBlue said:
The M Audio Fast Track Ultra is 8 in/8 out and USB 2.0 to boot. $349 @ Musician's Friend.
Might be a good candidate for you.
Click to expand...

ok sounds good, but what about the USB? Would the performace be just as good as Firewire or PCI sound card? With the M Audio Fast Track I could send the ole mixer at the door huh?
 
USB uses a lot more CPU than firewire, so it'll work, but you'll run into your processing limit faster with USB.

And an extra little mixer isn't a bad thing to have around. You could use it for other things, just not really for tracking.
 
Jeff_D said:
MAudio Fast Track Ultra- only gets you 4 preamps for $350...
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...41806&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=129754535

--or--

Presonus Firestudio w/ 8 preamps for $500
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/PreSonus-FireStudio-Project?sku=241723

--or--

MOTU 8Pre w/ 8 Preamps for $550
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MOTU-8-Pre-Audio-Interface-?sku=240408
Click to expand...

Rats! I was thinking about the Fast Track UltraR....my bad! It has 8 pres but it's a tad higher.:cool:
 
suprstar said:
USB uses a lot more CPU than firewire, so it'll work, but you'll run into your processing limit faster with USB.

And an extra little mixer isn't a bad thing to have around. You could use it for other things, just not really for tracking.
Click to expand...

Hey..lay a little knowledge on me. How would USB impact a CPU heavier than Firewire? I have very little (as in, none) understanding of these architectures.:cool:
 
keep it

evadbowl said:
Im trying to decide how I can still use the mixer.
Click to expand...

i use a motu 8pre and i have a cheap little peavy mixer running the rest of the band into the headphone amp. That leaves 8 drum tracks in to Reaper.
and the drummer gets to play live with the band.

You can always find a use for some you might think you'll never need.

-mike-
 
Lo-Fi Mike said:
i use a motu 8pre and i have a cheap little peavy mixer running the rest of the band into the headphone amp. That leaves 8 drum tracks in to Reaper.
and the drummer gets to play live with the band.

You can always find a use for some you might think you'll never need.

-mike-
Click to expand...

Yup...never dispose of a small mixer. Those little things can come in handy!
 
TeyshaBlue said:
Hey..lay a little knowledge on me. How would USB impact a CPU heavier than Firewire? I have very little (as in, none) understanding of these architectures.:cool:
Click to expand...

I'm not sure the exact details, but I do know that USB relies on the CPU to control the bus and data transfer, whereas firewire manages itself. Also, firewire can xfer data from one fw device to another peer-peer with no cpu or other resources besides the firewire interface required.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_1394_interface#Comparison_with_USB
 
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