Need clarification on what a mixer actually is

[lockesilver]

Hi.

Some time ago I decided to buy a mixer. I thought it was simple. It would mean a simpler route from the mic to the interface, maybe better quality and I'd get a lot of fancy knobs and faders.

Then I did more and more research and things got complicated and I'm no longer sure what to buy.

The device I was thinking of in the first place was an analog mixer. I thought the plan was: 1. get 400$, 2. go to the shop, 3. Return with a mackie or a Soundcraft (I asked about it in a thread from a week ago) 4. be happy.

Then I learned my mixer should have direct outs to be used in a studio.

Makes sense. If I recorded everything already mixed to one track then I could as well use Windows Recorder to do it. Direct outs.
The price range climbed a little bit higher. I also learned you can use inserts as direct outs, yet... since I'm buying something rather expensive (for me) I might as well add a couple of bucks to have them damn outs and sleep calmer.

So... an analog mixer with direct outs. Now, ok, say I have the mixer with a bunch of 1/4''s plugged into these annoying direct outputs and... where do I stick them for the DAW to be able to record everything to separate tracks?

Into an audio interface, of course. Which means, I'd have to buy an interface with a number of IN's more or less matching the number of direct outs of the mixer, right?

So, an analog mixer with direct outs and a big audio interface.

Isn't there a simpler way? For example, a mixer-like-magical-device that would have a lot of inputs but only ONE usb or firewire OUT, from which the DAW would be able to read every channel separately?

I guess I could buy ONLY a big audio inteface with phantom, but I won't surrender the fancy knobs so easily!

Anyway:
Is such a thing called a digital mixer?
What's the difference between a digital mixer and a control surface?

Sorry if some of these questions seem kind of dumb but I wanted to keep it as clear as possible.

 

[TetraFish]

Check out this chart and look for the ones that have the knobs and sliders you desire...
http://www.tweakheadz.com/audio_interface_fw_comparison_chart.htm


One example
http://www.mackie.com/products/onyx1220i/



One thing to mention: I believe most audio inetrfaces have software that mimics a mixer, It can be handy because you can save mixes, rename channels, route ins and outs etc.

For example I have the presonus firestudio, you can set up multiple mixes and route them to any outs you want. It's pretty handy. NO EQ though, if that's a deal killer.

 

[lockesilver]

http://www.mackie.com/products/onyx1220i/

I like it! That's what I was talking about. These babes are like little recording studios all by themsleves..

It's a bit over my 400$ though... I think I'm just going to wait and save some more money.

I liked the Digidesign Digi 003 as well but it's like, umm, five times my budget?
I'm tempted though.

 

[miroslav]

It would mean a simpler route from the mic to the interface, maybe better quality and I'd get a lot of fancy knobs and faders.

Actually...the simplest route would be mic-preamp-recording interface.

I use an analog mixer...but I don't *track* through it. When tracking the mixer is simply there to provide some flexibility for my cue mixes.

However, when I'm doing my final mixes, then I like to mix OTB, and I come out of the DAW and *mix* through my analog console, but I use all *outboard* processing when I mix, not my DAW plugs....so, I can get away with mixing OTB through a console/mixer and just using the DAW as my editing and playback device.

Yeah...maybe what you really are after is a control interface for your DAW...which gives you some mixer-like features but keeps things ITB.

 

[dintymoore]

I'd look at control surfaces. You have to spend a lot before an outboard mixer is better than what your computer can do. The only "regular" mixers I've ever really liked were crazy expensive, priced like a house. The cheap ones sound cheap and you're better off with a computer and a control surface if you want hands on control.

 

[Minion]

There are several Interfaces that are also mixers , they look just like a Mixer and have all the same inputs ,knobs and controlls but they have either USB or Firewire outputs which you plug into your PC ......

Alesis makes a bunch .......


What I use is a simple setup with a Delta 44 and a Delta 1010 which gives me 14 Line level inputs into my PC , then I also have a Whole munch of mic preamps of which I plug their outputs into my Delta cards ...... a cheap but effective setup .....

Cheers

 

[ido1957]

Alesis Multimix 16 USB - I have one and it works well. 16 outs to computer via USB.