every mixer with inserts allows you to use those as direct outs. however, those will be unbalanced only.
the soundcraft spirit m series has direct outs for each mono channel.
how do you change those inserts to be direct outs?
Stick the cable in to the first click, Not all the way inserted.
as i already mentioned above. inserts are always unbalanced no matter what you use them for.
i guess that doens't help me then does it? i need direct outs that are balanced... man
Mixers "mix" channels together but you don't want it to do that. And most mixers only provide unbalanced direct outs but you don't want that either.
I'm not sure I understand why you are shopping for a mixer then.
Perhaps an 8 channel mic pre with xlr outs would serve better.
Yoyo, please be aware that on most mixers, the insert jack taps the signal off "before" it goes through the EQ section and fader. This jack is really intended to be an effects loop which should return the signal to the channel for further EQ and fader processing. You can make this jack behave like a direct out (by not returning it,) but all you get is signal as it comes from the XLR mic input, through the preamp, then to the insert jack. Only mixers with a jack labeled "Direct out" will give you insert, EQ, and fader control before the signal tap.
(Did that make sense?)
Yes this does, thank you very much.
But do you get what I want to do?? Is this possible? Or do I need to get a big ole mixer with parallel outputs in it to attach to the pc?
Do you mean you want to tap off each channel for recording plus make a house/studio mix for the band using the mixer master output?
Yes that is a fine idea, however, by tapping signal off from the insert jack, it stops the signal flow to the rest of that channel unless you return signal back to the insert jack. In other words, that insert jack creates a detour route. It must be returned or the rest of the channel gets nothing and the master channel will get nothing.