Alesis HD24 with Crest XR20 thoughts

  • Thread starter Thread starter fazeka
  • Start date Start date
F

fazeka

New member
Hello,

Newbie Chris here.

I have a question regarding a mixer. I am currently in the market for a Alesis HD24. I guess you could call me a multi-instrumentalist. I hope to record my work track by track. Singer-songwriter stuff. So, as I am really interested in the HD24, I am also taking a look at mixers that I could utilize with the Alesis. It would be nice to get a 24 channel mixer for less than $2000. However I am set against getting a Soundcraft/Allen&Heath/Mackie/Behringer. I want to go a step up from that.

I understand that the Crest XR-20, although not really meant for recording, is a nice mixer with pres/EQ that sound “better” than the typical Mackie et al mixers in that price range.

I was thinking that if I were to utilize the HD24 at 96 kHz, which would allow me 12 tracks, I could mate up the XR-20 to use as a line-mixer with the Alesis for mixdown. I was hoping that for most of my tracking to utilize outboard mic pres direct into the recorder. However, I am thinking I’d have to occasionally group several mic sources to two tracks (i.e., drums) during tracking.

Now that you all know the nature of how I work, do you think that the Crest XR20 would allow me to work efficiently? Or should I simply get something with 24 channels and suffer with relatively “inferior” quality?

Thanks,
Chris
 
You are not the average newbie in any sense of the word.

I would advise you, however, to rethink your fixation on the Alesis recorder. If you are planning to make music for self-release, small label release or just demo use you will probably find you will spend as much time futzing with the gear and being a recording engineer as with being a track-at-a-time singer songwriter.

A DAW that includes a mixer, hard disk recorder and effects all in one handy box would be a much better way to go in my humble opinion. They let you get on with the process of writing songs and making music in a way that a mixing board and separate HD recorder never could. Just the simple convenience of having a foot switch set up to punch in can make the difference between warm inspiration and cold beans.

As far as sound quality goes, 12 tracks @ 96 kHz just need to be dithered down to 44.1 for CD distribution anyway. The tracks may sound better to you when you are mixing, but the discerning consumer is going to notice very little difference in the final product. Yamaha, Korg and Roland all make very worthwile DAW's capable of professional quality results. Investing in a good outboard mic preamp and a few good microphones will probably do more for your recordings than having 96kHz tracks will.
 
OK, first a couple of things I would like to mention.

I come from the "old school." When I think of recording music, I immediately think of cleaning tape paths, threading tape onto the machine, patching in an effect, reaching for mid boost, etc. More "getting my hands dirty" kind of thing. I used to record on a Teac A-3440S 4-track, then "stepped up" to various PortaStudios in the late '80s. Getting back into it now, I have tried to record using the PC with various software (nTrack, ProTools LE) and even friends' DAWs (Korg, Yamaha). I don’t know, I just like doing things "old school" with a dedicated machine/recorder, not poking around a computer monitor with a mouse and keyboard or dealing with a DAW's digital mixer. I poke around the computer for a living as a programmer, I don't need to do that kind of work for my hobby. So that's why the HD24/analog mixer combo appeals to me. What I don't like about the HD24 is that it obviously has 24-tracks (I know, I'm in the minority here). I like limitations in a way. It was/is the way I work. If I could get a machine comparable to the HD24 with 8 or 16 tracks, I'd be interested. That was the reason why I mentioned "12 tracks at 96kHz"; not so much for the quality as much as for the self-imposed track limitation. I am used to working with 8 or 16. But that's a minor quibble re: the HD24.

Regarding mixing, I prefer mixing in the analog realm. Digital summing is something I don't particularly care for.

I already have some good preamps, compressors, Eqs and microphones as it is, that's why I am concentrating on a mixer and recorder now.

I still value what you and others have to say. Just trying to get an opinion on whether the Crest mixer is adequate for the HD24 or if there is something "better" (regarding my needs, that is).

Any more thoughts?

Thanks,
Chris
 
when you "create" a new song on the HD you can set it for less tracks than 24 ..8 or 16 etc.
I like working with it,workflow is comfortable like a analog tape machine,I'm old school too :) You can be pretty quick with it!It also has a "punch pedal".
As for the Crest,I've never used one but a 32 or 24 channel board should be realitivly inexpensive.But make sure the board has some decent headroom!I work with the board as monitor only also and use outboard pres and it works well!Even if you record 16 tracks then get at least a 24 channel because you will want to record 24 tracks someday ;) And also you can use your "open channels" for returning effects in the event you can keep it to 16 or so tracks :) ..Also don't forget to alot some cash for some balanced patchbays and cableing..Just some rambeling..good luck
 
fazeka said:
OK, first a couple of things I would like to mention.
Click to expand...
Be sure you look at a Soundcraft Ghost, if you can find one in your price range.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top