How to record using a mixer

  • Thread starter Thread starter dudleys100
  • Start date Start date
D

dudleys100

New member
OK so I have done everything through my soundcard and preamps, and have just gotten a Soundtracs Topaz 12-4 mixer. I have never used a mixer for recording and have no idea how to set it up. It doesn't have individual line outs, so right now I am going out the headphone jack which I am pretty sure isn't the right way to do things. Any help you can offer would be much appreciated. Thanks.
 
it looks like that mixer has inserts for each channel - you can use those as inidividual line outs for each channel. I believe that to do this you need to insert a 1/4" line into each insert half-way - you can then take this line into a channel on your interface (or recorder). maybe someone else can be a bit more specific as to how to do this - since I've only read about it....

in addition to the insert idea - that mixer is 4bus - so you can get 4 individual channels out of it. you just need to pan and route each of 4 channels to the proper output -

for example
channel 1 - pan hard left and send to the main outs; the left output will contain this signal
channel 2 - pan hard right and send to the main outs; the right output will contain this signal
channel 3 - pan hard left and send to the aux outs; the left aux out will contain this signal
channel 4 - pan hard right and sent to the aux outs; the right aux out will contain this signal
 
Yes the Topaz has inserts. If you use them like Pratt suggests (1/4 line "incerted" halfway) then you can run that line to the line in of your soundcard and record the signal of that single channel. However odds are that you will now want to invest in a soundcard that has multiple in's so you can use this same method to record two or more channels at once with some slick multitrack software. You'll see......
 
Thanks, I will try that in today. I already have a soundcard with two ins, and have a Delta 1010 on the way in the mail. I am just clueless when it comes to mixers as I have never used them. Now as far as these outs go, I am not sure where they are. Here is a list of what I have on this thing:

FX Return: 1) Left (mono) right (mono) 2) same thing

Aux send: 1 and 2

Stereo 2 track: (RCA) in L/R, out L/R

Stereo GRP: 1 and 2

Stereo Line I/P: 5) L mono, 6) R mono 7) L mono 8) R mono 9) L mono 10) R mono 11) L mono 12) R mono

Mono:

Headphones:

And then on my first 4 chanels I have an XLR in, Line in, and an Insert.

Now thats everything. when I find out which outputs to use, how do I assign my channel to them? I appologize for such basic questions. Thanks.
 
first, it would probably help if you read the manual;)
I don't have a picture of the board or anything like that (and couldn't find a manual on the 'net), so I can't specifically tell you how to route individual channels to particular outputs. havine said that, there's probably some sort of button for each channel that will allow you to send that channel's signal to the aux output.

really, though - since you are going to have 8 ins (on your delta1010), and the board's is only 4bus - your best bet is to use the inserts on each channel as direct outs. that way you can send a signal from each of 8 preamped channels to one of the 8 ins on your interface...
 
What sort of buss assignment do you have on the board?

With what you have described you can use the inserts as direct outs for four of your channels. You can use the sends for two more channels and depending on the configuration of your console you can run the last two channels out of the left/right stereo buss. If you have the buss assignment capability.

I don't know how many channel in's your soundcard has. Normally, with a four-buss desk you can only record four tracks at a time if you use conventional routing. But this is HR, so sometimes unconventional routing is used as well.

Tell me about your buss assignments.
 
It gives me an option on each of the channels for Aux 1 pre/post
and for aux 2 post. I have been assigning track 1 to Aux 1 by turning aux 2 down and aux 1 up. And vise versa on channel two. So I have been able to go out to my two channel sound card with two channels from the mixer. I have not tried the inserts yet, but if that works that will give me 6 useable channels for when my 1010 gets here. Now a question I have is when I am going in I can adjust the gain, the aux level, and my fader volume. How do I use these three in conjunction with each other to get the best sound with the least amount of noise. Is there an order I should go in, or should I bypass the fader and just work with the Aux and Gain? Thanks for the replys so far, they have really helped. Looking forward to the next reply.
 
OK good news, I tried going out the inserts by pulling out the 1/4 inch half way and it works. It also made it nice because now for some reason that I am too nieve to understand the fader doesn't effect it, and I am not going through the aux so that knob doesn't make a difference so it is just the gain I have to worry about. Things just became much easier. Now I will have 6 channels, I am so happy. Thanks everyone. If you have any more comments that will help me then please let me know. Thanks.
 
What are your options for stereo buss assignment?

Glad you got the other issues worked out. Still trying to get you two more channels out.
 
I wish I new more about this stuff so I could answer your question :) I listed every input and output on an earlier post that is on the mixer. It didn't come with the manual either. I really don't know what a stereo buss assignment is. Hence the reason I don't know what to look for. If you can describe what I need to find I have it right here and I could tell you.
 
Yes. You need to look not at the in's and out's, but for buttons.
Buttons labeled 1/2, 3/4, STEREO OUT, etc. Or something similar.
You may not be able to buss individual channels out the stereo buss without affecting others, but it's worth a look.

A buss is a signal path that individual signals from channels are grouped into. Say channels 1,2,3, go to buss one for a drum mix on track one of a tape machine. Channels 4,5 go to buss two for a backing vocal on track three, and so on. This is opposed to individual outs like you are using your inserts and auxes for. Each of your inserts or auxes is a direct out to a tape channel or "virtual tape channel" in a computer in which one signal from one channel goes to one tape track. There is no grouping of individual channels together to send them out of one output.

As a stereo buss functions it usually groups all channels to a Left or Right channel assignment depending upon the pan knob. If you have individual assignments for each channel you may be able to route your last two remaining channels that have no where to go, out the stereo buss. That is, if you can keep the other channels off of the stereo buss while you are doing it.

That's why I said earlier it depends upon the configuration of your mixer. Many manufacturers have varied routing options, even within thier own product lines.
 
First of all, thanks for the info, that made everything much more clear for me. Now I am looking at my board and what I see is that each channel has a button that says "L-R" when pressed, and "1-2/s" when not pressed down. Then on the side of the consol there is a button on top of a single fader that says "1-2/S TO L-R".The fader is titled "1-2/S. Right beside this fader are two faders that say left and right. Above these faders it says "METER"above the button. The button says "L-R (when pressed), and 1-2/s (when up). I hope this is what I am supposed to look for. There are only a few more buttons and knobs that I haven't mentioned. I may just bring them up next time to see what they do to while I am at it :) Thanks. Ken
 
To get your last two channels out of the mixer depress the L/R button and pan one hard right and the other hard left. These two will exit the board on your stereo out's.

Now you have eight direct outs on your console to run to your sound card.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top