Help me choosing a mixer

[guitarplayer08]

I'm thinking of buying a Behringer mixer because I heard Behringer is good and not so expensive.

So basically, my music equipments are:
1) Guitar which connected to Line6 PODxt (guitar processor) which has a L&R out
2) A microphone which I'm going to get (It's gonna be either a SM57 or 5Cool
3) A M-Audio Oxygen8 which i can connect via USB or MIDI
4) An active monitors which I'm going to get

Do you think i really need a mixer? Which one is best suited my need?

Is it better to monitor through a mixer or a soundcard? and is it true that a mixer will make a signal better? say like i put my guitar through a mixer, is the quality gonna be better?

 

[Kryptik]

is it true that a mixer will make a signal better? say like i put my guitar through a mixer, is the quality gonna be better?

Not through a Behringer. It's the preamp on the mixers that will make your guitar sound better. I'd go with a Yamaha GS over the beheringer. Still not the best mixer in the world though.

 

[Kryptik]

Oh and if you're only going with one mic, I'd get a dedicated preamp and maybe a DI for the Line6. The DI may not be nessicary though.

If you're recording through your sound card, monitor through that.

 

[guitarplayer08]

So in your opinion getting a soundcard & mic preamp is better than getting a mixer?

and which one is better for monitoring, through soundcard or through mixer?

 

[Kainz]

Get a good souncard.

I believe the PODxt has a digital out? So get a soundcard which has a digital in.

Also if you need to get that mic hooked up you need a pream for it.

And when it comes to monitors, get active ones.

So.. basically all you need is a mic, active monitors and a soundcard which has:

1) Digital input
2) Preamp for the mic
3) Analog out(s) for the monitors.

EDIT: It seems that only PODxt Pro has the digital out, but that PODxt seems to have some sort of USB out. I would use that. It is always better to stay digital than going through another DAAD conversion. So if that USB works as a digital in, then everything you need is a soundcard which has micpreamp and analog outs for your monitors.

 

[Kainz]

Bah, I'm starting a new reply TOo much editing hehe...

Sooo..

If I were you, this is what I would do:

- Get a good soundcard which has A) 1 or more preamps (for the mic(s)) B) 2 or more analog outs (for the active monitors) C) maby headphone out and MIDI in/out

- Make sure the soundcard has good, stable and fast drivers (like eg RME cards)

- Make sure your computer has 2 USBs; one for the keyboard/controller and another for that POD.

Overall it does not make any sence to put anything more ADDA between the POD and the computer. I mean the POD transfers the analog guitar signal to a digital one. If you then use the POD's anaolg outs (the L/R outputs) the POD will again convert that digital signal back to an analog one. Then your soundcard needs again convert it back to a digital one when you are recording. Overall this ADDA mess makes the sound just worse (especially when you really don't have that great AD/DA converters...). And also you don't need any DI boxes for the POD. The POD is designed to handle the hiz guitar input.