DELTA 1010- mixer or preamp?

[Beatcivilian]

I have a Delta 1010 soundcard which allows eight total inputs, without a breakout box. So far i've only really used two inputs at once in conjunction with two tiny mixers, one for each instrument. Trouble is, now i want to use it to record my band live i'm not sure whether to use a direct output mixer or a preamp to get all 8 inputs in at once. Can anybody help? I'm on quite a tight budget aswell so the cheaper the better.

Cheers, Mike

 

[punkin]

It's a matter of personal choice and if you're planning to mix in the PC. I used to do the same thing with an out board mixer and a single Master Buss going back to the PC. The biggest problem with that is you've got to get your mix perfect during the tracking session.

Later, I went to a multi-track recording application and started using the channel inserts on the mixer well, I then found myself wondering why didin't I just get descrete mic pre's. I could build a better selection and thus a little more flexibility with sound potentials. I guess I could have still recorded the tracks seperately then bring the all back out of the PC and through the mixer again for the final mix down but it just didn't seem to make sense for my application.

If the mixer has channel inserts you can take each channel to the pc for mixing later. But now, you're really not using the mixer for anything but the mic pres are ya? So at that point you might be asking what do I need it for.

Ultimately, I prefer seperate mic pres over the outboard mixer going to my Delta 1010LT's. Check this poll out and see what other's are doing.

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=151494

 

[Beatcivilian]

Man i know nothing

Right, tried to follow what you've told me but it's made me realise how little i know. At present i simply go into the mixer, then out into cubase sl using the delta 1010 "mixer" to monitor the levels of whats going in. Once i've recorded into cubase i mix and add effects in the computer (monitoring through the delta 1010 output to some monitors), and that's it really. I wouldn't have a clue how to mix with an outboard mixer, would that happen after i'd captured the sound in cubase? Would it give better sound quality? Sounds like i might be better going with preamps but then how would i set drum levels? Oh dear, this is gonna be tougher than i thought.

Cheers for all your help,

Mike