Do I need a mixer?

[Blues532]

Hi everyone,
I have a question. is a mixer essential for didgital recording. ive been trying to do it on my laptop with cakewalk home studio and a tascam us122 a/m interface. What would it do for me if i got one. thanks alot

 

[Tifstorey]

Hi,
Using a mixer isnt essential, especially if its a small home set up. Having a mixer makes it much easier to adjust the sound coming into your laptop. You can adjust the levels much easier and the EQ's, add effects units through it etc.

Basically a much easier method rather than going into "Options - Tools - Channels" and adjusting the faders on your laptop.

Overall, a tool which makes the recording process much faster and efficient, but not "essential" for your and my needs.

Hope this helps,

Chris

 

[Cult_Status02]

Go with the mixer!! It helps so much, I am still a newb as well, so I could be way off, but I use to record all the time with just a line in on the comp and shit like that, but now I have this mixer and just plug that in the line in, and you just have so much more "At your finger tips" control and it's so convenient, like if you want to record many tracks at once. But I guess this is all just oppinion, and probably a lot of lack of knowlege, sorry if it is.

 

[Tifstorey]

Go with the mixer!! It helps so much, I am still a newb as well, so I could be way off, but I use to record all the time with just a line in on the comp and shit like that, but now I have this mixer and just plug that in the line in, and you just have so much more "At your finger tips" control and it's so convenient, like if you want to record many tracks at once. But I guess this is all just oppinion, and probably a lot of lack of knowlege, sorry if it is.

Your spot on there cult, Mixers are definately a good thing to have, and sometime in the near future, i hope to get one. Theyre just not "essential" to have, as you still have control of the EQ's, levels etc through your program options and sound card preferences.