Am I routing things the best way???

[Bingo]

Hi Guys hope you can help with a noob question.

I am starting to do some Music creation stuff and podcasting I'm not sure if I am routing my gear the best way?

I have following items:
Mics
Mackie 1202 vlz mixer
Behringer Ultragain Pro mic preamp
Behringer Multicom pro xl Compressor / Limiter

This is how I am routing:

Mic is connected into the Preamp
Out of the Preamp and into the Compressor / Limiter
Out of the Compressor / Limiter and into the Mackie
Imac output goes into the compressor /Limiter then out into the Mackie

Mackie main outs then go out of the Mackie and into my Digital recorder where I record and then move the wave into my Imac for post production.

I am wondering if possibly I should be going mic into the preamp, then out preamp into the mackie then out the mackie and into the compressor / Limiter out and back into the mackie?

Same thing with the imac output...into the mackie, out and into the comp / lim then back into the mackie?

Your thoughts please on the routing?

Thanks
Bingo.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

The 1202 has preamps in it. I'm not convinced the Behringer preamp would be any better, so unless you know for a fact you like it better why use it at all?

Similar issue with the compressor. If the audio is going into the computer anyway you have access to all kinds of good compressors, all with the option of undo. Unless you have some sort of high end hardware compressor (which the Multicom is certainly not) that gives you a sound that can't be reproduced digitally, why bother compressing on the way in and risk making a mistake that can't be undone?

I would sell that Behringer stuff and digital recorder and buy an interface so you can go straight to the computer.

 

[Bingo]

The 1202 has preamps in it. I'm not convinced the Behringer preamp would be any better, so unless you know for a fact you like it better why use it at all?

Similar issue with the compressor. If the audio is going into the computer anyway you have access to all kinds of good compressors, all with the option of undo. Unless you have some sort of high end hardware compressor (which the Multicom is certainly not) that gives you a sound that can't be reproduced digitally, why bother compressing on the way in and risk making a mistake that can't be undone?

I would sell that Behringer stuff and digital recorder and buy an interface so you can go straight to the computer.

Hi I appreciate your comments, I do though have reasons for every part of what I have in place. I have two mixers, one with preamps, one without. The mackie is old now and could present probs. hence the Behringer is an alternative to keep me up and running and also provides additional mic inputs.

The multicom provides much needed limiting esp ESP as I go direct into my recorder. I don't want to go into my imac for recording, if the imac plays up, then I have a BIG problem! The recorder provides me with digital recording with totally NO machine noise and I know nothing can go wrong with the recording process...nothing could be worse than an interview being recorded and then the imac freezes up or something else goes wrong with it. All that work and effort lost.

I also have to do very little in regards to post production as the levels are all set prior to the recorder = no clipping, noise or anything...its direct recording and fast pre pub.


Now back to my initial question it was not what do you think of my equipment but more about am I routing things the best way, esp regards the placement of the comp / limiter in the chain?

Thanks
Bingo.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

Now back to my initial question it was not what do you think of my equipment but more about am I routing things the best way, esp regards the placement of the comp / limiter in the chain?

Then you need to tell us enough about what you're recording and your process rather than revealing it bit by bit, otherwise I'll assume you're recording multi-track music rather than spoken word. It's still unclear why you need to mix the output of the iMac with the live source. You haven't specified what recorder you're using. Either provide enough information or expect responses that don't apply.

For now, I still think digitally compressing has major advantages over using the Behringer. You not only have undo but you can make objective measurements of the levels for consistent and repeatable results. But maybe there's something you haven't mentioned that makes that impractical.