a usb mixer makes soundcard redundant?

[zeotz]

I have a alesis USB multimix8 and hooking it up to my pc for homerecording.

The USB mixer can receive audio outs from the computer and play signals via its monitor outs. therefore, its actually a form of a soundcard right? In this case, would it be wise to do away with a soundcard in the pc? Actually I also have an extigy external soundcard, but its got latency problems and I cant use it for decent recording anyway.

What is the difference if i recorded stuff from this mixer into the pc compared to getting a good soundcard like the ESI juli@ or EMU to record, other than that its only 16bit on the Alesis USB multimix. I was thinking, if I used the mixer and then plugged it into the soundcard to record .. it would result in more signal loss or deterioration as opposed to going into the pc direct from the mixer.

Anyone any thots?

 

[Jeyan]

Sending the signal through a mixer into a soundcard is the same as sending the signal directly into soundcard built with preamps or direct in. It is the quality of the product that counts. Soundcards with good preamps can do the job of a mixer (if you dont have many channels to worry about). If you have more than 3 or 4 channels better get a mixer and connect it to the soundcard.
Hope that answers your question.

 

[mikemorgan]

yes, your multimix8 can replace your pc soundcard provided the USB can keep up with the number of channels you like to work with. The only reason you might get rid of your existing soundcard would be to free-up an IRQ. I'd do it!

 

[mikemorgan]

Oh, and I'm curious about that Alesis too. Does it run USB 2.0 or 1.1. Does it have Win98 drivers? I'd like to try one with my old P3 laptop, and am just curious.

 

[Audio Monk]

Oh, and I'm curious about that Alesis too. Does it run USB 2.0 or 1.1. Does it have Win98 drivers? I'd like to try one with my old P3 laptop, and am just curious.

Im curious also, have you tried recording 8 tracks at once thru the usb?
and how are the drivers working for you, i have heard of problems with the alesis firewire drivers i wonder if the USB drivers have problems also.

Audio Monk

 

[zeotz]

Oh, and I'm curious about that Alesis too. Does it run USB 2.0 or 1.1. Does it have Win98 drivers? I'd like to try one with my old P3 laptop, and am just curious.

It runs on USB 1.1. Doesnt need drivers as far as I know in XP. I just pluged in and its ready to use as it installs the builtit audio driver in windows. I think it shudnt have any problems on win98.

Im curious also, have you tried recording 8 tracks at once thru the usb?
and how are the drivers working for you, i have heard of problems with the alesis firewire drivers i wonder if the USB drivers have problems also.

First of all, you should not compare with the firewire mixers. this USB multimix8 that I have, sends only 2 tracks (left and right channel) to thru the usb to the computer. therefore you cna mix all 8 tracks, by hardware on the mixer itself and this mixed track is sent as one stereo track into the pc. unlike the firewire version which actually seperates the track individually per mix channel.

the good thing is .. its totally fuss fre in terms of drivers. very easy to hook and use and quality of recording and audio outs are not bad at all (of course this is relatively speaking compared to what I have exerienced).

So in summry, for my case, I think for now i;ll try just hook up the ctrl room out from the alesis to my soon to be acquired rokit 5 speakers and do away with the sound card on my pc.

 

[zeotz]

Sending the signal through a mixer into a soundcard is the same as sending the signal directly into soundcard built with preamps or direct in. It is the quality of the product that counts. Soundcards with good preamps can do the job of a mixer (if you dont have many channels to worry about). If you have more than 3 or 4 channels better get a mixer and connect it to the soundcard.
Hope that answers your question.

yes, i kind of agree with you. but considering I already have the mixer, I tot i'll just use the USB mixer and do away with the soundcard. I initially planned on getting the ESI Juli@ soundcard but its out of stock where I live. I also have an Extigy external soundblaster but I cant find any big difference in sound quality if I used it, except for watching movies or . 5.1 stuff ( which frankly to me is not worth the hoohaa ... 2 channels is best for me after going thru 4.1, 5.1 and 7.1.)

 

[Audio Monk]

Thanks Zeotz, I didn't know that about usb boards.
after i heard about the firewire driver problems with the alesis mutimix 16
and the fact my budget doesn't allow me to get a Mackie, i was concitering
the alesis muti mix usb. but if it won't record 8 tracks at once this won't work
for me. Thanks for saving me from a mistake.

Audio Monk

 

[zeotz]

no problem Audio Monk. I wudnt want my mistake to go to waste, at least someone should benefit from it. . Its irritating isnt it to name something as a USBmultimix8 and yet cant actually USB multimix 8 tracks into the pc. Lame.

 

[committee]

i been thinkin about gettin a USB mixer...

 

[Almy]

and how are the drivers working for you, i have heard of problems with the alesis firewire drivers i wonder if the USB drivers have problems also.

I've had an alesis 12 channel firewire mixer for a couple years now and I've never had any trouble with the drivers. It's worked like a champ non stop.

 

[mikemorgan]

It's funny to read shit I wrote 2 years ago!