Analog mixers and DAWs

[JPA]

Hi-
How would I be able to mix on my analog mixer while using my DAW? Would I need a soundcard (Firepod?) that had many outs to run to the different channels on the board? I really want to be able to mix on outbard gear vs. the software mixer. Please help a rookie. Thanks everyone.

 

[tmix]

Yep

You are right.
You need an audio interface with as many outs as possible to mix seperate tracks. You can get by sometimes with submixing some tracks using the computers software mixer (drums for instance) and then process the submixed tracks.
But you may also want several inputs back to your computer if you want to record BACK to the computer rather than getting a dedicated 2 track machine.

One word of caution, a cheap mixing board may degrade your sound enough to make it worthwhile to learn how to mix "in the box" or using a "controller" like a fader type control surface.

If you allready have the outboard gear, go for it.
I use a lot of my outputs for creating seperate monitor mixes for the performers as well.

Tom

 

[JPA]

Thanks for the reply Tom. What if I purchased a Mackie Onyx mixer and a Presonus Firepod sound card. Would that setup work?

 

[tmix]

That should work.
Although I am not really fond of the Mackie mixers (I have a 1604 vlz pro) I have heard good things about the Onyx mixers.
You know... you have to start somewhere.. And what you are looking at is certainly good enough for doing some good work.

Yes there is better ( and more expensive) stuff out there...
There ALWAYS is!


Tom

 

[JPA]

Tom-
So before I go out and drop a few bucks, I want to make sure I set this up correctly. I'd take all my outboard mike pre's, Vox Tonelab, keyboard, etc. and input them all into the Presonus inputs. I then run the 8 outs to the 8 channel inserts on the mixing console. Yes??

 

[joswil44]

I have this setup.

I have the Mackie 32.8 Analog Mixer.

Each channel has a 1/4" direct out on it.

I run my mics etc into the XLR input. Direct out sends the signal to my Nuendo/RME 96K 8 I/O Converters via 1/4" inputs.

2 Converters equals 16 inputs and 16 outputs.

Then my Converters go Optical from the ADAT/Lightpipe connection to my Nuendo/RME 96/52 Audio card in my Mac G4 DAW with Nuendo 2.

The sound gets tracked that way with 16 inputs.

I can then setup Nuendo to route the audio back out of the 96/52 audio card into my converters again optically and then out of the 1/4" outputs back into my mixer board via tape returns or line inputs on each channel.

So essentially I can track on Channels 1-16 and mixdown on channels 17-32.

Then run the Master Output stereo track XLR's back into another input, which in my case is my TC Electronic 96K Finalizer which then has Optical outputs into my 96/52 Audio card again as channels 17 and 18. You could also just connect the master out into input channels of the converters by unplugging some cables.

That basically shows all the gear used to complete such a process.

Hope that helps in some way to visualize the setup.

 

[JPA]

Started thinking, if my main purpose is to mix on hardware, would I just be better off with a control surface such as the Tascam FW-1082? I could still use my analog mixer that already has everything hooked up to it, pipe it into the new control surface and then use that surface as my soundcard/mixer.
Thoughts??

 

[tmix]

It is my understanding that most dedicated control surfaces are basically a huge mouse.
Meaning that you are using it to control the mixing going on inside the computer.
If you really want to mix outside the box using your analogue gear you need a mixer. If you want both a control surface AND a mixer to route external gear you can by a digital mixer that has that capability.

 

[JPA]

Tom-
I guess that's my point. I don't really want to use the mouse but don't mind using the pc screen to mix on. Just want to able to use hardware to physically move faders, turn knobs, pans, etc. If I do that on a monitor that's ok too as long as I'm using a hardware control surface/mixer and not a mouse. Sorry if I was confusing the issues.

 

[joswil44]

Tom-
I guess that's my point. I don't really want to use the mouse but don't mind using the pc screen to mix on. Just want to able to use hardware to physically move faders, turn knobs, pans, etc. If I do that on a monitor that's ok too as long as I'm using a hardware control surface/mixer and not a mouse. Sorry if I was confusing the issues.

Right, a controller is basically having a knob to physically turn the knob on your software screen. And most of the time its limited.

On the Digital Controller you will have like 1 knob and some buttons. Then you push a button that says I want the knob to be the Low EQ. Then you turn the knob. Then you push a button that says I want the knob to be Mid EQ. Then you turn the knob. All of that instead of having 5 or 6 EQ knobs to turn whenever you want. Sounds like it might be easier to just use the mouse in that case.

If you want to avoid mixing through software then you want an Analog Mixer or Outboard EQ.

If you wanted both a Digital Controler and Mixer in one unit that would start getting expensive.

Maybe some good plugins would make you happier on the software side that are more like the controls on a channel strip.

I have seen some nice setups that are just Mic Pres, Compressors, EQ's and Firepods. Then throw in some nice Plugins like Waves Platinum and they are set.

Gets expensive, but then what isn't expensive when it comes to music gear.

 

[cusebassman]

Gets expensive, but then what isn't expensive when it comes to music gear.

Behringer isn't. Don't buy a Behringer mixer though