Do i REALLY need a mixer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter El Tipo
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El Tipo

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With soundcards like Aarvark Pro and Seasound SOLO, do i really need a mixer to record stuff? Can't i just do it all from the PC? Any help is welcome, AND NEEDED! I just want to get it right the first time that's all!
 
That depends on what you want to do.

If you are overdubbing one by one and don't need to route your signal in a flexible way then you don't need one.
 
What kind of techniques? Could you specify? i would like to know
 
If you are recording instrument by instrument playing them one at a time then there is no need for a mixer.
Those cards you mention have only 2 preamps on them and that will do for recording any instrument that you would need up to 2 mics to record.

For complex recording as in a drum kit and more then one instrument at a single pass, you will need a mixer.
I can only assume that you have a software mixer to work with these cards to have total control when you mix.
 
Since i am only starting out i don't think i'll be recording live drums yet. But i will sometime in the future. Thanks for the advice. Regarding drums, could i mic the drums and route them through the mixer into the pc through the 2 preamps?
 
You could, but it would be very hard to have separate snare, kick, tom, cymbals, etc. that way -- you'll be "stuck" with having to do a stereo submix. A lot of times snares are processed with reverb but kicks are left try -- this would then be impossible to achieve.
 
Sure you can. Just when it comes time to mix you will be some what limited as you will only have 2 stereo tracks of drums. This will force you to make desicions like compression-gating-reverb-Eq - etc.... while you are recording.

It would be a better idea to route the mixer into the interfaces inputs.
If your interface has more then 2 inputs (you don't need the 2 pre amps becuase you are using the mixer's pre's) you could seperate the kit to several parts, leaving you with more options in the mix.
 
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