That's pretty much where I'm at, too.Option anxiety isn't an issue for me. Over the years I've tried all sort of stuff and by now I mostly just know what's going to work (for me, for a given genre etc.) and what isn't.
Different strokes for different folks.
I like the big bulky antique shit.
I love having a big mixer as a central routing control.
I love having a big mixer as a central routing control. I just don't want to have to mix an album on it ever again.
It's a sixteen channel board. There's nothing preventing you from mixing sixteen inputs other than the number of outputs from your DAW.
I discovered some great little tricks and recorded some terrific stuff with my Portastudio 424 mkII and some cheaply acquired, used outboard gear back in the day. My patented self-tape-flanging reverb technique is my proudest discovery. Hell, I made a stereo master for my second band's debut EP by mixing down to my Zenith VHS VCR--yes the one I used to watch movies with--and using my stereo as a monitor system. We must remember not to get spoiled by unlimited everything. I think the whole mixer>DAW thing I started this thread with is kind of reconnecting not only the older simpler way of recording in general but also in my own DIY use-what-I-have-laying-around roots, and wondering if that's even still viable or desirable.
Great discussion so far, I appreciate all of your comments.
cheers
Billy S.
I've got a 32 channel (inline, so really 64 at a time), 8 bus Soundcraft board sitting in my garage because I can't get anybody to buy it for a reasonable price. I managed to offload most of my 8 foot rack of outboard gear, though there are still random things in a couple different closets. I can do everything I need to do (almost) everything that did and a lot of things that it didn't from a 6-space rack that I can take pretty much wherever I want. I don't miss having all that crap crowding my house.