add mixer OR new (more) direct-ins?

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monster

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hey, thanks for any help anyone can give.....

I have a DAW with a good computer (w/ Sonar), a M-Audio 2496 soundcard and a PreSonus BlueTube with 2 channels in. I am a musician first and only know enough about recording to get me by.

The problem is that 2 channels are not enough. I do 2 types of recording with this set-up. First is live with a three or four piece with acoustic drum kit. For the purposes of just hearing what we are doing 2 channels is ok but not desireable. Second, I record by myself adding an instrument at a time. Two channels were fine for this until I got into drumming.

What to do? My 2 options as I understand it is to buy more channels (how many, suggestions on best value equiptment) or get a mixer and mix things up front into 2 channels. This, though, doesn't seem like a good long term sollution.

What am I missing? What is everyone else doing? Any thoughts?.........thanks, monster
 
More Input

I vote for more input.
I know it can be expensive for analogue to digital conversion, but if you are going to record drums live and possibly other instruments as well, I personally dont think you will ever be happy until you are able to get 6 to 8 inputs (or more) to your computer.

I like my Delta 1010 (about 400-500 bucks)
RME has some nicer but pricier units.
I have heard some good things about the Alesis (AI3?)audio interfaces.

Others will certainly chime in.
 
thanks tmix. I was just looking into the delta 1010's- it fits my price range. Trouble is I would still need the mixer for the preamps, right? I'll need a minimum 4 preamps (preferable 8+) for mics. Is this right? what do you do for line level input?
 
Yes exactly,
A mixer will give you a lot of preamps for the money, but at a lower quality sound over a decent stand alone pre.

I may get flamed for this.. but your choices are basically getting a resonable small mixer (say under 24 channels?) and using it for both its pres and for playback monitoring. Or getting a couple of Pres like the DMP-3 or VTB-1 or? and then something to monitor through. Possibly a 4 channel mixer.

A lot depends on you taste verses funds threshold.
I started off with a Mackie mixer but eventually relegated it for playback only, while adding a couple of RNPs and DMP-3s as well as an ART Tube MP.
I am a lot happier with my sound. I do record a lot of stuff for others from demos to albums so if you are looking to do your own stuff mainly and are satisfied with the sound, you may can just get by for a while tracking through a relatively decent mixer.
 
I agree that you should get more ins.

If you use a mixer to get an entire set in at once, then you will have no control over each individual piece (or group of pieces, as is usually the case with toms) when it comes to mixing.

The only way to do this with 2 ins would be to record two pieces of the kit at a time, like the kick and snare, then the hi-hat, then the cymbals, then the toms. It is still quite possible, but maybe more of a hassle than it's worth.

Cy
 
hey spinsterwun! my budget is a bit open for debate- I tend to gravitate toward the best value and try to buy used. I would love to spend under $500 for the items under discussion but will go somewhat higher for the right thing.
 
hey cyrokk- I agree. Now the question becomes what to buy. I"m going to need to run up to 6 mics in at once. Do I need a separate mixer w/preamps or can I get a good single unit which will accomodate different signal types for use with my PC? I run Sonar and Windows XP.
 
Sounds like you need a combination of both inputs and mic pre's. If you had a soundcard with 8 analog inputs available, and either 8 stand alone mic preamps or a mixer with 8 channels that are equiped with mic pre's and direct outputs on these channels. The mixer route may be cheaper for the mic preamps. Your budget may be a bit modest to this end though. $1500 would be a little more realistic.
 
that sounds right track rat. Let's say I wanted to spend no more than $1000 (but used is fine) on 2 pieces: soundcard with 8 analog in's and a mixer w/8 pre-amps and direct outs. What would you recommend? Keep in mind that I use a PC and although I'm ok I don't like to fight lots of stability issues. Something that works well with my set-up is ideal.
 
Personally, I'd look for something like a used Mackie 1604VLZ (16 decent mic pre's, phantom power, direct outs on the first 8 channels, inserts on all 16, 4 sub groups, lots of features) and something like this
http://www.m-audio.net/products/m-audio/1010lt.php
You could bring that combo in for under a grand.
 
those pieces are a definate possibility track rat.....how about the units that "do it all" like the aardvark Q10? 8 mic preamp ins plus 2 efr hi-z guitar inputs? Anybody tried this or something like it?
 
Monster - you haven't said if you need midi. If you're doing your own drums, then you may not need it. I'm in a similar situation. I've been looking at the Delta44 - no midi or s/pdif but it's got 4 ins, 4 outs, balanced or unbalanced 1/4" TRS. You can get it here http://www.cdbm.com/shop/detail.cgi?id=114150
for $199.
You'll also need pres - what about a Beheringer UB1204 mixer with 4 mic pres. Available here http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...54117627222/g=rec/search/detail/base_id/88616

for $149.

There you go, sorted for under $350. You can make up the 500 bucks with some decent cables!
 
That Behringer doesn't have direct channel outputs or inserts that can be utilized as direct outputs.
 
I should get a MIDI capable device. I have a MIDI controller keyboard, I just rarely use it as such. For the right price/deal I would go without MIDI capability but I know I'm going to want it as soon as I can't use it!
 
Track Rat said:
That Behringer doesn't have direct channel outputs or inserts that can be utilized as direct outputs.
Click to expand...

Uh-oh. Sounds like a flaw in the plan.

I was intending to go mics ---> behringer ---> delta 44. Are you saying this won't work?

What do you mean by direct channel outputs and inserts?
 
Without the individual channels being equiped with a direct output, you can't send just that channel discretly to a multi track. Now it could be argued that you could use a combination of mains outs and aux sends to drive a multi track but in my not so humble opinion, this a very flawed way to go about it.
An insert is an output/input all in one 1/4" connection on most mixers that is used to patch a processor (like a compressor or an EQ) to an individual channel. A decent mixer will have inserts on all its channels that are equiped with mic preamps and also the mains. These in/outs can also be used as channel direct outputs. Personally, I think a mixer that doesn't incorporate these very basic features ain't up to snuff.
 
The Aardvark Q10 is an 8 channel interface with really good AD converters and has Mic preamps on all 8 inputs and the first four have phantom power. I use this interface for my synths. I don't do any acoustic recordings, so I haven't tried the preamps, but I've read good reviews about them. If the quality of the preamps is as good as the converters, then I'd say you'd have yourself a winner.

Hope you find this helpful.
 
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