adding XLR inputs

  • Thread starter Thread starter MyCah
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MyCah

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I'm using an Alesis USB 8 Mixer and had a quick question about micing a drum set and XLR inputs.

The mixer has 4 XLR inputs and 4 instrument inputs. I can use a 4-piece drum mic setup, but if I wanted to get a little fancier and go for a 7-piece, what would the easiest (and most economical) way be to add 3 more XLR inputs to record into my Mac?
 
The Alesis USB 8 has two stereo line inputs and zero instrument inputs. Normally you need a mic preamp to connect a mic in order to get adequate gain. With a loud enough source you might get away with those adapters (though you'd be better off with XLR-TRS instead of XLR-TS), but each pair of line inputs is controlled together. Also, to use a condenser mic you'll need phantom power, which the line inputs do not provide.
 
Those stereo channels are hard-panned L/R when you monitor if you use both jacks. (It's mono and pan-able if you only plug into the 1st input) So you'll need to use a stereo channel on overheads or something. IE if you had kick and snare, the kick would be far L and the snare would be far R.. After you track it no prob's as long as you track it to 2 separate mono channels. But it'll sound really strange if you have to listen to the monitoring while it's tracking.. So I'd put the OH's on a stereo track and use the other stereo track as mono.
 
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