Mixer connection to PC

  • Thread starter Thread starter Eldritch
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Eldritch

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Hi, I am new to home recording and since I am considering buying a mixer to use it for recording piano and voice via microphones, I have some doubts about choosing between two mixers and also the way that the mixer should be connected to my PC in order to record audio using Cubase. I am inclined to buy the KORG ZeroMixer4, but since it only connects to PC via firewire, and I don't have the port on my PC, I wanted to ask if by connecting it to my sound card, a Roland Quad Capture, using one of the mixer's outputs, and then recording in Cubase through the sound card, I would lose recording quality compared to directly connecting the mixer to the PC. Also, I've seen that there are firewire to USB adapters, but I'm not sure whether they would work in this case. Could you advise about this too? As an alternative, I'm considering the BEHRINGER DDM4000 as a mixer, which can be connected to the PC via a MIDI - USB audio interface. Do you think that it would be better, in terms of recorded sound quality, to adopt this latter solution?
Thank you for your help.
 
Just plug the mics into the quad capture.
Done.

What function would any of this extra gear perform?
 
Steenamaroo said:
Just plug the mics into the quad capture.
Done.

What function would any of this extra gear perform?
Click to expand...

I thought that the mixer would improve the recorded audio quality, that is to say that it would provide better sound quality. Do you think that the quad capture would perform well for this kind of use? Could you explain why a mixer is not necessary? Also, do you think that the quad capture's mic preamps are good, or should I consider buying an external preamp? Thanks.
 
Take Steen's advice - just plug into the Quad. Read this thread about mixers and home recording.

Have you even tried recording wiht the Quad yet? If so, is there some prolbem with the 'quality'? Recording an acoustic piano with microphones is not particularly easy as it is very much a function of the piano, microphone placement and the room.
 
mjbphotos said:
Have you even tried recording wiht the Quad yet? If so, is there some prolbem with the 'quality'? Recording an acoustic piano with microphones is not particularly easy as it is very much a function of the piano, microphone placement and the room.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. I haven't tried recording the piano with the sound card yet, but I will as soon as I can. Could you give me your advise about the Quad Capture mic preamps? Do you think they provide good audio quality with a condenser mic? I have a Rode NT1-A. Thanks.
 
Despite the rather confusing name, the Quad Capture is only a 2 input device.

This could pose a problem if you want to sing and play together and record the result because, assuming we are talking proper, big piano you will need two mics on that alone to get a decent result IMHO.

Do you have microphones? If not you will need something "a bit good" for Joe. I would not presume to suggest anything, far more experienced guys and gals here but as a start I think a pair of Small Diaphragm Capacitors (the Rode M5s get a good rep) should be considered.

The "sing n play" problem? Well an AI with 4 mic inputs obviously but another option is an AI with two extra line inputs* and a small mixer, Yamaha, Behringer...They are legion.

You could use a 4 mic input mixer and "pan" vocals centre but you would lose the ability to balance a multitrack recording.

Mic for vocals? Don't get 'em started! SM58 then the world's your winkle.

*None better of course for the money than the NI KA6!
Dave.
 
Eldritch said:
I thought that the mixer would improve the recorded audio quality, that is to say that it would provide better sound quality. Do you think that the quad capture would perform well for this kind of use? Could you explain why a mixer is not necessary? Also, do you think that the quad capture's mic preamps are good, or should I consider buying an external preamp? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Mixers are for mixing and routing signals. They don't magically make your sound better but they do offer some options.

An external preamp with S/PDIF output would get you to four separate channels of input. You could try to find a Roland MMP-2 used or look into something like the ART Digital MPA II.
 
The OP mentioned something about "connecting it to my sound card". I would have to ask, what kind of card? If it is the onboard sound card, I would have to pass on that. I think the easiest way here would be a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and a couple mics, one of which that could double for vocals. Record the piano with two mics and then go back a do your vocals. As for the mics, I'm sure someone else would know better than I for a recommendation. A large and a small condenser perhaps?
 
My friend has a Quad capture and the preamps are very good - clean and clear. That mixer won't improve the recording quality.
 
Just looked up what the Roland Quad Capture is, and is not. In this instance, it is the same as the Focusrite I mentioned before. Ignore your soundcard and just plug in the Quad via USB into your PC. Everything else I mentioned before still applies. 2 mics and do your piano. Then with one of the mics, do your vocals.

ido1957 mentions that it has good preamps, then just go with them. More than likely, getting the mics positioned right will make more difference than what preamp is used. Keep an eye out for phase cancellation between the two mics on the piano. I didn't see a phase switch on the Quad.
 
Eldritch said:
I thought that the mixer would improve the recorded audio quality, that is to say that it would provide better sound quality. Do you think that the quad capture would perform well for this kind of use? Could you explain why a mixer is not necessary? Also, do you think that the quad capture's mic preamps are good, or should I consider buying an external preamp? Thanks.
Click to expand...

I think you got all the answers but here it is anyway.

In your case a mixer isn't necessary because it just adds more components into the chain without offering anything useful.

The quad capture gets decent rep so, yes, the preamps in it will be fine.

As pointed out, it's only got two preamps so decide if you want to record the piano in stereo or not.
If you do, record the piano first then overdub the vocals.
If you don't like that idea then either upgrade the interface to one with 4 preamps, add an s/pdif dual preamp giving a total of four, or just track mono piano and vocals.

A signal path is as strong as the weakest link. You can use various bits of gear or their function or unique sound but rarely does any device improve the quality simply by sitting in the middle of your chain.

General rule for HR - The simpler, the better. :)

Hope that's useful.
 
"An external preamp with S/PDIF output would get you to four separate channels of input. You could try to find a Roland MMP-2 used or look into something like the ART Digital MPA II. "

Good thinking there Batman! I would add the Audient Mico to that pre amp list.

Dave.
 
Thank you all for your answers, I think the matter is clear to me now.
 
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