Do i REALLY need a mixer?

[El Tipo]

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!

 

[Shailat]

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.

 

[El Tipo]

What kind of techniques? Could you specify? i would like to know

 

[Shailat]

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.

 

[El Tipo]

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?

 

[AlChuck]

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.

 

[Shailat]

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.