Another Mixer Problem.

  • Thread starter Thread starter demensia
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demensia

demensia

www.lukemacneil.com
Hey Guys.
I spent 6 hours yesterday running through old mixer threads, and every single one of looked like it could help me, but not one did.
I think maybe I just need more sleep or something because this shouldnt be as difficult as it is.

Heres the rundown

Mixer Tracks
1 2 3 4
Guitar/Bass/Mic/Mic

Main Output of Mixer --> Line In of Soundcard
Control Room Out --> Powered Monitors
Headphone Jack --> Headphones.....
Tape Out --> Track 1 of 4-Track (For Additional Headphones)
Line Out of Soundcard --> Stereo Track 6 of Mixer


Heres my problem and Im sure a common one.
I need to record to cool edit tracks 1 2 3 and 4 while monitoring the output from the stereo track 6. -- Actually I need to monitor the output from 2 seperate sets of headphones (Mine and The Singers) however with this setup I am not only recording tracks 1234 but also 6... so I have one nasty loop and a usless studio.

What am I doing wrong?????


Thanks.

Demensia
 
What's your mixer? Does it have any other busses besides the main stereo outs? Most mixers have a 3/4 buss that allows you to decide which set of outputs you assign different channels to. You would assign only the channels to be recorded to the 3/4 buss and use those outputs to run to the sound card. Then everything goes through the main 1/2 buss and you use that for monitoring.
 
Im using a eurorack mx802a. Such a hunk of shit.
I have 4 mono inputs 2 stereo inputs
2 stereo aux returns
1 aux send
2 track in/out
main out
control room out.


... thats about it.
 
You're really trying to do more than your setup will easily allow. You could use the AUX sends to feed the soundcard but you will lose any panning that you have done if you are trying to create a full stereo submix. You could mix one singer and guitar per Aux send. Or put both vocals on one and the guitars on another. Either way your options during mixdown will be pretty limited.

You either need a mixer with more busses or a soundcard with more inputs so you can use the channel inserts to send the individual tracks to the soundcard.

Or just limit yourself to 2 channels/tracks at a time.
 
Alright so what your saying is I need more shit.
I can dig that. Im a gear addict. My dilemna now is one of priority.
My GC card is totally maxed as usual... However since I am constantly paying it, I can constantly buy new gear.

Will a delta 44 solve this mixer problem?

I have my eyes on :

a line 6 pod
a delta 44
a lexecon reverb unit
auralex foam

at the moment....

I just need to know what to buy first.

Suggestions are welcome :)


Demensia.
 
The problem is two fold. Not enough flexibility with the mixer and soundcard. Getting a better mixer will definately solve the monitoring problem but a better sound card without the better mixer may not. You could probably make the behringer work by using Aux sends but that has disadvantages also.

Are you sure your mixer doesn't have channel inserts on the back (I looked it up and they don't mention it so I assume not)? If it does than the Delta44 will put you in business. If not then I would get a newer mixer first if you want to do 4 tracks at once and have some flexibility with monitoring. Something like a Soundcraft M4 or Mackie 1202 would work great. you would still have to submix your tracks on the mixer since you would only have 2 inputs on the soundcard but the overall quality and flexibility would be greater.

Obviously the better mixer and the Delta44 would give you the monitoring control and 4 individual tracks recorded at once so that should be the ultimate goal.

One quick and dirty fix to avoid the feedback loop with what you have would be to use the Pre Fader Aux send as your monitor feed. This way you keep the channel with the prerecorded tracks out of the main mix by only assigning it to the Aux send with the other live tracks and listen to that. The downside is you would need an external headphone amp connected to the Aux output to drive your headphones.
 
I readed all your post here, and think you urgently need larger mixer console. I think you're the man with (somehow) complex routing need. Why don't you spend better bucks on larger than 8 - 12 channels ? lets say at least 16 will give you more flexibility in future. Anyway, most case, larger mixer gives you more feature and options (more bus, more insert, etc...). Leaving you a room for expansion in near future. You don't want to buy some 12 now, and end up with another problem in few months, as your need grows. :) Take a good look at Mackie & soundcraft. ;) :D
 
I appreciate all of your input tex. You the man.

This confuses the hell out of me. I only need to record one track at a time. (for right now, who knows later on down the line) Its not important to do 4 tracks at once.

Im not quite sure how the AUX sends/returns work.. I thought they were for adding effects and the like...

All Im really worried about right now is my singer hearing himself and me being able to moniter him. As it stands right now Ive been plugging the headphone directly into the Out of my Soundcard... which works fine for him.. and I can monitor just the voice through the headphone jack in the mixer.... but I cant hear the pre-recorded tracks in the background.

Is it possible to just get a splitter for the output on my soundcard?
 
How many channels do you need to send to the soundcard? From your first post it sounded like you were using 4 of the channels on your mixer and sending that mix all together into the sound card.

If all you want to send is that vocal track then hook up a cable from the Aux out on the mixer into the input on your soundcard. Then only stuff that is assigned to the Aux send will be sent to the computer. This will be one track, mono only. Everything else in the mixer will be for monitoring purposes only.

Will that work for you?
 
Beautiful Man. Thats exactly what I needed to know.
Everything Works Perfectly..


Now Let Us All Bask in Your Infinant Wisdom
 
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