Delta 1010LT Soundcard and Mixer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mesaformpoop
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mesaformpoop

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Now I've had the Delta 1010LT for a little while now and have been thinking about buying a mixer. My question is, do I need a mixer or is there other ways to record multiple instruments?
 
you can get a bunch of separate mic pres and direct boxes.


What are your goals?
 
I've got the same question as mesaformpoop (what a name!). I'm currently researching into building a small home studio in the near future.

I'm planning on getting a Delta 1010LT because it was highly recommended on this forum and being able to record 8 tracks simultaneously would be awesome.

So, what's better: a decent mixer or a bunch of seperate mic preamps and direct boxes? I would assume you need one or the other.

What's a good 8-channel mixer with decent quality mic pres?

Or what about the Delta 1010 (instead of the 1010LT)? Would you still need any additional gear?

For my situation I want to be able to track a rhthym (I can never spell that word!) section - drums, bass and rhythm guitar - at the same time onto seperate tracks. Am I heading in the right direction?

Mesaformpoop - I think you are wondering the same things I am, if not, sorry I hijacked your thread :)
 
Pretty much I'm just wondering if its worth buying a mixer or just having preamps and mixing on the computer software.
 
I'm using 2 Delta 1010LTs synced together (love them). So, here's my 2 cents....

External mic preamps and EQs:

Advantages: Usually higher quality, highly tweakable, add more as you need them.

Disadvantages: Expensive, limited routing options without a patchbay, usually rackable, so you have to go to the rack to tweak the settings.

Mixer:

Advantages: A decent mixer will have quality mic preamps, a decent EQ, and good routing options for effects, subgroups, and insert channels, and it's really easy to control everything from a central console (faders, switches, etc.)

Disadvantages: Unless you spend a *lot* of money, a mixer's preamps and EQs will not be as good as stand-alone preamps and EQs. If you run out of channels, you have to buy a new mixer. Pro-levl mixers allow you too add channels as strip modules, but not the budget ones we're shooting for.

I've opted for a combination. I have an older Ramsa mixer which sounds pretty good when I need a lot of channels for preamp, EQ and routing. I have 2 stand-alone preamps when I only need 2 channels or for critical recording (vocals, overheads, acoustic guitar, etc.).

Many smaller project studios value Mackie and Soundcraft mixers for their mic preamps and EQs at budget prices.

Whatever you get, make sure it has enough input/output for you and phantom power for condenser mics.

Hope that's helpful!

Oh, and don't forget that your DAW software (n-Track, Cubase, Cakewalk, Reaktor, etc.) must be capable of recording as many simultaneous tracks as you're going to need.

-Rick
 
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