16 Direct Outs into one interface input

  • Thread starter Thread starter LaserGyroscope
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LaserGyroscope

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Hey guys,

I'm looking to record some drums, and I'll need 16 mics for that purpose, here's my planned setup:

Mics > ZED-436 > Direct Outs > Interface

Now here's the problem, how do I send 16 direct outs into one interface input? Witha patchbay or what?

Thanks,

Thomas
 
Why one interface input? Then you'll end up with all sixteen channels combined into one in your recording software. You won't be able to do anything with it. Also, if you really just use on input, your drums will be mono.

I'm thinking you should look into ways of getting all 16 channels into your computer. I use a 32 in/32 out interface. It takes ADAT, and I have A/D converters that feed it in banks of 8.
 
16 mics to record drums.... wow.

Good luck with that.

You're not seriously going to send 16 mono channels, mixed, into a single mono interface channel, are you?

You need to get your separate channels into your PC still separate, as Red above says. Your mixer's USB output appears to only do stereo, so you'll be needing an interface with 16 ins - in which case, you probably don't really need the mixer as any such interface will probably have phantom power and decent preamps.
 
Well, yeah.
Sennheiser e602 II - €148,00 (Bass Drum)
Sennheiser e602 II - €148,00 (Bass Drum)
Shure SM57 - €93,00 (Snare Top)
Audix i5 - €98,00*(Snare Top)
Sennheiser MD421U-2 - €369,00 (Snare Bottom)
Sennheiser e604 - €111,00 (Tom Tom)
Sennheiser e604 - €111,00 (Tom Tom)
Sennheiser e604 - €111,00 (Floor Tom)
Sennheiser e604 - €111,00 (Floor Tom)
Oktava MK 012-01 Matched Pair - €299,00 (Overheads)
Oktava MK 012-01 Matched Pair - €299,00 (Overheads)
AKG C451 B - €333,00 (Hi Hat)
AKG C451 B - €333,00 (18" China)
AKG C451 B - €333,00 (20" Ride)

Yes, I want to have a mixer, it just gives me the studio-like feel, you know? What are your suggestions, keeping in mind that there will be a mixer.

Thanks,

Thomas
 
If you're willing to accept just a single track, use your Zed as a mixer and forget the direct outs. This will at least let you balance things a bit.

Or, if you're using the main outs of the mixer (for example in a live situation) use pre fade auxes on your mixer to create an actual mix (or even use two to at least keep bass stuff and everything else separate).

An uncontrolled passive "mix" of 16 mics is never going to sound anything other than a mess since the relative levels will be entirely determined by the mic outputs without any thought as to what sounds right.

However, after this experiment, I'm willing to bet a pint that you'll actually get a better recording with far fewer mics unless you can route everything into 16 separate tracks for later mixiing.
 
I can't accept just a single track because I'm also recording rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass and vocals. All in all, five tracks.

Do you know how I can send my drum track into aux 1, rhythm into aux 2 etc.?
 
You need to go a way and structure your question properly.

I have no idea what you're asking.
 
The question is fairly simple. I will have 14 microphones recording my drum kit, yes, 14, because it's a fairly large kit. I realized I don't need two pairs of overheads, or do I? I will record the drums into my ZED mixer, and along with drums, I'll also record rhythm and lead guitar, bass and vocals. Five tracks all together. Now, my question is how can I route the 14 drum mics into my iMac running Logic? I thought that I should use the direct outs on each channel on the ZED, and than combine these 14 channels into only one single track on my interface. M-Audic ProFire 2626, that is. However, though, the guys above have said that that's not gonna sound well, which is why I'm asking here to make sure I'll buy the proper equipment.
 
Well, the ideal would be to rent an interface that gives you enough track to keep everything separate and that's my recommendation.

If you insist on limiting yourself to five tracks, I'd:

-use the main mix L (all drums panned L) for drums

-use main mis R (vocals panned R) for vocals

-use sub group 1 for rhythm guitar (pan the guitar hard L)

-use sub group 2 for lead guitar (pan guitar hard R)

-use sub group 3 for bass (panned hard L)

You still have sub group 4 and all the pre fade auxes if you can scrounge more tracks.

Edited to Add: Your latest post popped up while I was preparing this.

Your interface has 8 inputs available and I'd use them all.

I can't give an exact track list because you haven't specified things like how many vocals but I'd put everything else in a separate input then use what's left over to split up your drums as much as possible, maybe separating bass, snare, overheads and toms for example. You can do all this with the L/R, Mono, Sub Groups and Auxes on your mixer.
 
What do you mean by an interface that keeps everything separate?
 
LaserGyroscope said:
The question is fairly simple.
Click to expand...

The question could be very simple, but it never is.

You keep saying 'one track on my interface'. If you use one channel / track / input, it's going to be mono.
Everything will be mixed together into one track which means your mix needs to be perfect from the get go.

Personally, I don't even think I could do a 4-6 mic setup on the fly and get it right, so with 16 mics, I reckon you're in for difficulties.


Are you recording these drums and rhythm guitars and lead guitars all at once or are you doing the drums separately.

There's are 101 ways to do this and we need to know more to give a real answer.


If you asking us if you need two pairs of overheads, then you don't.
Overheads are most often used to create a stereo image. Stereo = two.

Sometime's there's good reason to use a million mics but more often than not someone new comes in here and says "I need to use 32 mics for my drum kit", and really, they don't.
 
Didn't show up after my previous hit of post so I re did it...I'll delete this version.
 
LaserGyroscope said:
What do you mean by an interface that keeps everything separate?
Click to expand...

In multitrack recording, you plug a number of microphones straight into an interface (for example).
Let's say one for kick, one for snare, one for overhead left and one for overhead right.

If you record this you get four separate tracks in your recording software.

If the kick is too loud, you turn it down afterwards.

They way you're proposing means you can't do this because everything you record goes down to one track.

It'd be like trying to turn up the backing vocals on a cd.
 
I've edited my previous post to reflect the fact that you have 8 inputs available on your interface.

Bye keeping it all separate, I mean work out how many tracks you need in total then get an interface that can handle this many from the direct outs.

However, with the utmost respect, I think you may be getting in over your head even with the 8 inputs available to you. I have a mixer and interface capable of 32 inputs and outputs--but, despite 40+ years doing this stuff I get really nervous if I have to use anything like this many all at once and have to be on top of my game to avoid brain overload. A stiff drink is needed after any such session!

This is not newbie territory!
 
Alright than, fellas. Thank you a thousand for your advice and guidance, they've helped alot. I'll definitely keep the suggestions in my head, and whenever I need some help, I'll be up here. Thanks again, guys! :D
 
Bobbsy's right. Generally speaking, most people would want to run each direct output to a separate input of an audio interface.

Take a look at the echo audiofire 12 as an example.
 
LaserGyroscope said:
Thank you a thousand for your advice and guidance,

whenever I need some help, I'll be up here. Thanks again, guys! :D
Click to expand...
I sense frustration ahead.

Laser, if, as Bobbsy says, your interface has 8 inputs, then you should use at least 4 of them for your drums. You still haven't told us whether an entire band is recording together at the same time. Info like that is crucial for you to get the question answered to your specification {if not satisfaction}.
 
grimtraveller said:
I sense frustration ahead.
Click to expand...

^^^ This.

Specially, when you consider this:
LaserGyroscope said:
Yes, I want to have a mixer, it just gives me the studio-like feel, you know? What are your suggestions, keeping in mind that there will be a mixer.
Click to expand...

A 'studio-like feel' is the wrong reason for using a mixer.

And, as others have noted, if you have an interface with a suitable number of channels, you don't need a mixer.

However, there is value in a mixer if you need to reduce the number of channels . . . such as mixing 14 drum channels to one. You would not use the direct outs for this, but. You would mix the 14 onto one of the groups, and take a line out from that output.

However, others have suggested more effective uses of the eight channel interface, e.g. using just four for the kit, and one each for the other instruments (if they are being recorded simultaneously).
 
I really don't know why people are giving him shit for wanting that many mics on a 7 piece kit. Fuck in a nice room I would probably be more in the area of 17-18 myself.

OP:

Your mixer has 4 groups (black faders), send the toms to one, the kicks to another.

Use TRS to TRS cable into the back of the profire (going line in here) on the group outputs.

Assuming your using the Zed for the guitars as well (I mean it's huge as fuck) just use a direct out on 4 more channels on the zed mixer (again useing TRS to TRS cable) to the profire 2626's remaining 6 line inputs. 1 for vocals, 2 for the guitars, 1 for the bass and 2 for the overheads (you want them in stereo).

If your willing to shell some more cash (IMO it would be worth your while) then you can add some more I/O to the profire and get everything down to it's own track. The profire will do 26 inputs at once with add on hardware. I have the same interface, but I can run 18 inputs with my current configuration, each on it's own track.
 
Guitargodgt said:
I really don't know why people are giving him shit for wanting that many mics on a 7 piece kit. Fuck in a nice room I would probably be more in the area of 17-18 myself.
Click to expand...

Debates about the number of mikes to use on a kit have cropped up in other threads. I (personally) have found no need to go beyond four (kick, snare and overheads). The counter argument is that if you have the mikes, the channels, the hardware and the space, use as many as you like and ditch later want you don't need. I can see the value in that.

However, in the case of the OP, I think it is a case of running before walking, specially as it is evident that the OP needs to develop greater knowledge of the craft. I think there is more to be gained by starting more simply.
 
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