Silly question on my studio setup - Need Help

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eye57

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Hello,

I have been making music for a long time and have always had really basic setups. MPC into audio interface to track audio. Mic in to audio interface to track vocals. Thanks it. I want to expand my sound a bit and I am looking for a new interface. Not sure how many inputs I need. Here is what I am thinking:

Audio interface with minimal inputs just to line in a mixer. Hook up the MPC, synths etc. to the mixer then run the mixer to the audio interface. My question here is I'm not sure what the best way to hook it all up is. Is it possible to run the two stereo outs from the MPC into a Y cable so I only need to use one input channel? Does the MPC and synth just go into a line in or a DI? All kind of confusing for me at this point.

Anothe roption I was thinking about is to just get an interface with enough inputs to just hook everything up to. Again, not sure how many inputs I need since I don't know if I can use a Y cable to run the stereo outs from the MPC into one input, or if the MPC/Synth needs to go through line ins or DI's.

Hope this makes sense, and thanks in advance for your responses.
 
Hi,
Mixers mix things together, so your first plan would mean you either record one thing at a time directly to the interface, or you record all your inputs, through a mixer, as one mixed stereo track, which usually isn't what people are looking for.

Your second plan (interface with enough inputs) would mean you have a discreet input for each instrument.
That means each one can record to its own track within your recording software...simultaneously!

I'd take the mixer out of the equation either way. Beyond that it's just a question of whether you'll be recording one thing at a time or more than that simultaneously.

Basically, if you're a one man band then just get something with two line inputs and two mic preamps. That's bound to cover your needs, right?
If you're likely to be recording groups, or simultaneous output from several synths, you'd need to start counting. Consider left as one and right as two. ;)

Guitars and basses are considered instruments, in this context, so they go to DI/instrument input. Nothing else really does.

Mics are mics and everything else is likely to be line level.
Keyboards and synths are almost always line level output.

If a synth is stereo, you need two inputs as I mentioned. I wouldn't suggest the use of splitters or combiners at all.
Combining L+R is permanent and means your recording won't be stereo. This matters if you're using several voices with panning, or stereo effects.
There are more reasons that than, but lets just say forget about physically joining l+r outputs, yeah?
 
Steenamaroo said:
Hi,
Mixers mix things together, so your first plan would mean you either record one thing at a time directly to the interface, or you record all your inputs, through a mixer, as one mixed stereo track, which usually isn't what people are looking for.

Your second plan (interface with enough inputs) would mean you have a discreet input for each instrument.
That means each one can record to its own track within your recording software...simultaneously!

I'd take the mixer out of the equation either way. Beyond that it's just a question of whether you'll be recording one thing at a time or more than that simultaneously.

Basically, if you're a one man band then just get something with two line inputs and two mic preamps. That's bound to cover your needs, right?
If you're likely to be recording groups, or simultaneous output from several synths, you'd need to start counting. Consider left as one and right as two. ;)

Guitars and basses are considered instruments, in this context, so they go to DI/instrument input. Nothing else really does.

Mics are mics and everything else is likely to be line level.
Keyboards and synths are almost always line level output.

If a synth is stereo, you need two inputs as I mentioned. I wouldn't suggest the use of splitters or combiners at all.
Combining L+R is permanent and means your recording won't be stereo. This matters if you're using several voices with panning, or stereo effects.
There are more reasons that than, but lets just say forget about physically joining l+r outputs, yeah?
Click to expand...

Yeah. I'm nixing the mixer and joining outputs. I am basically a beat production setup with a few people stopping by to do vocals everyone in a while. I basically want to creat beats, track them in my DAW and be able to monitor several different things during the creation process.

I sequence everything in my MPC. I have a few synths that I use sounds from which are connected via MIDI to the MPC. I typically have around 6-12 tracks in my beats and I don't mind tracking the long way if I need to via midi sync with my DAW and two tracks at a time.

Wouldn't I need a mixer in order to monitor the audio etc coming out of the various synths that are running into my MPC? If I have an interface with enough inputs I.e.m Digi 003, I can just monitor everything running throug there and then out of my monitors right?

Sorry for the confusion. I just don't want to make a dumb purchase. The Digi 003 can be found on EBay for pretty cheap unless there are any other recommendations. I have Pro Tools already but I also like Cubase quite a bit. Thanks.
 
eye57 said:
Wouldn't I need a mixer in order to monitor the audio etc coming out of the various synths that are running into my MPC? If I have an interface with enough inputs I.e.m Digi 003, I can just monitor everything running throug there and then out of my monitors right?
Click to expand...

If you want to have all your synths hooked up for easy audio monitoring while you record MIDI, then a mixer would probably work for you, otherwise you will be hooking up you synth audio outs to your interface to monitor though it - that's the wasy solution, but of course you would need to re-plug in each synth as you use it to monitor it. If you're trying to monitor several synths (being driven my the MPC) at one time, then yes, the mixer is the way to do it.
 
Which MPC (and/or) how many outs?

If you have 8 outs (MPC2500 for example) then I'd go for something like the Echo AudioFire 8 and cut down on your tracking-out time...
 
Dave Holmes said:
Or the AudioFire 12
Click to expand...

I have the 2000 xl with 8 outs. I definitely want an interface with at least 8 ins. Another dumb question though. If I only run the audio outputs from the mpc into my audio interface and not the synths, how would the audio from the synths be recorded into the DAW? Is the audio signal generated by the MPC? So I would need to hook the mixer up to the interface correct? Then I would be able to track 6 tracks simultaneously because the mixer would take upd the other two inputs. Am I wrong here?
 
mjbphotos said:
If you want to have all your synths hooked up for easy audio monitoring while you record MIDI....
Click to expand...

I don't think he's recording midi data. He said he's using a midi sequencer. I expect, then, he'll be wanting to record the audio out from the synths.

Op, your best bet is just to get an interface that has enough line inputs to cover all your synths, if ^ is correct.
Be careful with the 003. It's got 18 inputs on paper, but they're a mix of mic, line, adat, spdif etc.
I think it has four true line ins, which may not be enough for you.

My motu 828mk2 has 8, and my presonus fire studio mobile has 6.
Both have additional front mic press with DI.
 
Midi and multitracked.
Mpc midi'd to DAW as well as synths...
Track your 8 outs from MPC through interface into daw then track synths in the same way.
 
Motu might be a better bet than the echo actually... Driver wise...
 
Dave Holmes said:
Midi and multitracked.
Mpc midi'd to DAW as well as synths...
Track your 8 outs from MPC through interface into daw then track synths in the same way.
Click to expand...

Is the mpc not just a sequencer/controller triggering his other synths?
More curiosity than anything here....It's not my territory.

Either way I don't think there's a need for a mixer.
Nothing needs/wants to be mixed, at least not in the analog realm.
 
Steenamaroo said:
Is mpc not just a sequencer/controller triggering his other synths?
More curiosity than anything here....It's not my territory.

Either way I don't think there's a need for a mixer.
Nothing needs/wants to be mixed, at least not in the analog realm.
Click to expand...

I'm not suggesting he use a mixer for tracking... For making/composition yes (hardware monitoring - stereo for the MPC + Synths) but easier to track direct to AI... Once all the audio's in DAW he ain't gonna touch the hardware again.

It's an extra process for sure but that's hardware... Why I love Maschine. Tracking out to DAW is 'bouncing' and instant(ish) rather than in real-time...
 
Dave Holmes said:
I'm not suggesting he use a mixer for tracking... For making/composition yes (hardware monitoring - stereo for the MPC + Synths) but easier to track direct to AI... Once all the audio's in DAW he ain't gonna touch the hardware again.

It's an extra process for sure but that's hardware... Why I love Maschine. Tracking out to DAW is 'bouncing' and instant(ish) rather than in real-time...
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, certainly. The second half wasn't directed at you.
Although, if there's a compositional use for a mixer, that's cool. :)
 
Steenamaroo said:
Oh yeah, certainly. The second half wasn't directed at you.
Although, if there's a compositional use for a mixer, that's cool. :)
Click to expand...

That's the way some of the guys I know with MP's work...
Gotta say though, if I were to go hardware I'd probably skip the DAW (and computer) buy a decent sounding desk, a few bits of outboard and a multitrack recorder...
 
Steenamaroo said:
I could sell the OP a couple of Tascam DA-88s. ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the responses. I starting to grasp this. I remember I used to just monitor my MPC and a module I had through my interface so I might just do that again. That way I don't need an interface and a mixer. I can just get an interface with enough ins. That audio fire 8 or 12 looks like it should have enough. Motu is a bit out of my budget. I'm looking for a good eBay deal.

As of now I think I am leaning toward this.

Studio One Pro 2.0 for the DAW. Tried this as a demo and loved it. Very similar to Cubase. Same developers actually.

MPC as main sequencer with modules midi'd in.

Audio outs from MPC and modules running into audio interface (undecided, need to find something has enough line ins. 6 - 8)

Once everything is in the box I'm all set.


By the way. Love the all analog idea and I always wanted an all analog setup. Just feels like it would cost more. I am going for a vintage analog sound with my mix. I use a lot of tape saturation on various parts and sometimes I resample stuff in the MPC to 13 bit.

Just for shits and giggles. Anyone recommend an analog setup for beat making. I can always just use the daw to track vocals and editing etc. just import the finished track that was mixed in the analog domain into the DAW and go.

Thanks again everyone. Much appreciated.
 
I sometimes use Studio One (I got 'Pro' half price on a Black Friday deal last year) if I can't do everything I need within Maschine... It is very nice.
 
I would certainly be looking for an AI with ADAT. Future proofing.

Whatever peeps say about it, the new Behringer ADA8200 is surely good enough for a few synths!

Dave.
 
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