How to Route Mixer and Interface?

[nsureit]

What is the best way to route/connect these units? I am recording electric and acoustic guitars. I mic various amps: Marshall TSL-122 and VOX AC15 Heritage, Line6 Spider Jam. I have an Alesis Firewire MultiMix8, and a Presonus Firestudio Project interface.

What's the correct or best configuration?

Mic --> Mixer --> Interface --> Laptop

or

Mic --> Interface --> Mixer --> Laptop

Whichever of these routings I choose, how are they connected? Mic into mixer XLR input, mixer out (main out or CR out?) to inteface XLR input, or vice versa? Should the mixer and interface connect to each other through line level ports?

Any help would be appreciated. Obviously, I'm new at this!

I know that the mixer and interface will each add effects or coloration to the input, but one or the other can be set "flat", or use both to affect the sound. Correct?

On the other hand, do I really need the mixer? The Alesis has some cool effects, but I can probably get better reverb, chorus, etc. from my SONAR add-ins during the mix, right? Did I just answer my own question?

My, this is confusing to noobs.

 

[mattr]

The correct way would be...

Mic --> Mixer --> Interface --> Laptop

(I can't even work out how the other one would work. The whole idea of an interface is to interface with the computer, so I don't know what you would be trying to achieve by doing it the other way)

However, ideally (unless you have a 'nice' high-end mixer) I'd suggest you cut out the mixer alltogether, that is assuming your interface has pre's on it. There's no point having unecessary links in the chain unless they're serving a specific purpose.

 

[nsureit]

I agree, I'm eliminating the mixer. I'll save it for live performances.

Thanks.

 

[mattr]

Actually sorry, I didn't read what mixer you had. The MultiMix8 is also an interface.
So you can use either really, just don't chain them together.

 

[nsureit]

Actually sorry, I didn't read what mixer you had. The MultiMix8 is also an interface. So you can use either really, just don't chain them together.

Good. So, I'll try each one as an interface and determine which one sounds better, or has the features I want. If I use the Alesis, I have a hands-on hardware mixer with some built-in effects and a few good preamps. If I use the Presonus, I have good preamps, and must use a software mixer. It will be fun trying them out. Now this is making more sense.