Advantages of Having

[DForm]

What are the advantages & disadvantages of having a mixer, Mackie VLZ 1604pro for example, and a soundcard like a Layla 24? Will having both allow me to do anything that I wouldn't with just one?

Thanks
Steve

 

[Downside Studio]

Yes, if you have both, you can connect one to the other.
If you only had one of them, you wouldn't be able to connect them to each other

 

[vox]

The mixer will enable you to use up to 16 mics inclucing ones that need phantom power.

The sound card will enable you to record it all to your PC.

 

[getuhgrip]

Downside stold my answer!

Dform, I don't know what software or mic pres you are using, but through my humble education, I have come to the conclusion that using a software based mixer frees up funds for other stuff like mics, etc. The other thought is that eliminating an outboard mixer also eliminates any distortion or coloration the in/out process might inject.
In any case, I have been made to believe that a mixer is a waste of my money and signal integrity. With the money I would have spent on a Mackie, I have bought a presonus blue tube mic pre, an ART TubeMP and a couple Marshall 603s.

Just my opinion.