I was going to use the Behringer as compressor, expander etc..
But it seems that I cant connect the Behringer with the audiobox, so should I get a small mixer. Any suggestions for a mixer that can connect all this equipment (Audiobox USB, Behringer MDX2600, condenser mic and mixer)
You would probably do better to trade the Audio Box for one of the Behringer AIs that have 'inserts'. You do not need a 'small' mixer since only 'big' ones have inserts. In fact you do not need a mixer at all. In FACT! I have to ask..What possessed you to buy this set of bits in the first place evidently having done zero research?
Again, read up about inserts and out board gear.
Dave.
'In 'ell Ladi! You have gone from a basic "how do I hook this lot up?" query to "I need help mixing and mastering my songs"!
You don't need any kind of mixer (until you spend $1000s on a 'pro' board) and you probably don't need the Behringer processor (though, of its type and FOR Behringer it seems pretty good) I can only help you with basic hardware and SOME DAWs that I know, a bit, but the general thinking by the top mixing guys here is that Onboard, Software effects are way better than most hardware outboard unless you need a specific 'famous name'.
What Digital Audio Workstation are you using? I mentioned Studio One and I would guess it has the usual compliment of plugins? Compression, EQ, di-da? If not then look at Reaper.
Next step tho' is to post a clip in the MP3 clinic where this deaf old bottle jockey never goes!
Dave.
'In 'ell Ladi! You have gone from a basic "how do I hook this lot up?" query to "I need help mixing and mastering my songs"!
You are funny.
Not really. He's saying you're trying to solve one problem via the wrong path. Loudness has more to do with your compression/limiting processing than your gear. The software and plugins are your guide to the loudness you desire.
I didn't mean anything negative with that line. He seems like a cool dude to hang with.
Anyway, I understand better now.
Thanks.
I have racks full of processors, and I don't use any of them - including the composers. In truth, in the better and more sophisticated DAWs, Cubase in my case, are much better electronic versions than many of my rack processors. Less noise, much easier to connect and of course settings changes from the software - that can even me automated if you wish?
To use one processor properly needs an interface with at least 4 ins and 4 outs so you can send the audio out to them, then get it back again. Using a mixer will be a fudge - your final mix is at the mercy of the external device and you will probably need to loads of repatching between recording and mixing. Buy a decent DAW, even the cut down versions of the big software come with processing - and being honest, my composers are not the quietest of devices!
The Behri Composer is, to my understanding, a fine piece of equipment, but completely unnecessary for your purposes. There is nothing it can do that can't be done within your computer and the DAW you are using.
Concentrate on recording a good clean signal. That's your starting point.
You will then need to learn about compression and limiting to get the most out of that recording.
You would have to do this with the hardware unit, but at least in-the-box you don't have to worry about figuring how to connect stuff up.
Thanks for your input.
I think I might buy a powered USB Hub to increase the power of the audio interface, which might help with the cleanness of the signal.
I'm experimenting with limiters to increase the loudness of my songs. I'm pretty happy with my mixing. Its just a lot of exporting my songs to my phone to see how they sound with certain plugins.
A powered USB hub will do NOTHING to improve the interface! In fact it probably would not work on a hub, powered or not.
What do you perceive as lacking or wrong with the AI as it is? Yes, it is of the very basic type but even these are capable of excellent, "better than CD" results these days.
THE most useful upgrade most peeps can make is to better monitors and I mean quite a leap in cost. I personally love my Tannoy 5As but recognise that they are pretty 'cooking grade' I read of Focals and PMC and £2000+ and wonder how I could maybe JEEEEUST sneak that past SWMBO'ed on the credit card! But, AS important as monitors is the room, but that is whole new can of worms!
Dave.
Buss noise, is a frequent problem on USB powered audio devices. You can buy inline USB monitors, that show how many volts are present on the USB input, and as the current demand increases, the voltage drops, sometimes pretty pathetically - the computer just cannot provide the current a USB device needs. USB1 and 2 are supposed to be able to provide 500mA, and USB3 connectors increase that to 900mA, but as anyone who uses USB chargers knows too well - not all USB sockets can actually provide this. Once the voltage drops, problems creep in. My friend had this with his 2i2 devices, and it looks like Presonus devices are the same.
Using a USB hub to provide the power instead of the computer often works great - as does using a USB3 socket if available. The nasty data noises that creep in can be surprisingly easy to fix, for very little money - and most times it's the computer, not the interface that is to blame.