How's this home studio setup??

  • Thread starter Thread starter OnceNeverRead
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OnceNeverRead

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I want to buy a Delta 1010 and a mixer like a soundcraft or a mackie. Something with good preamps. I was thinking though, even though it would be nice to have all the inputs the Delta 1010 has, would it really be nessecary to have all those inputs if i have the mixer. I will be recording drums, so i need a minimum of 6 inputs, which is why i originally chose the Delta 1010, and i wanted to take each track directly from the mixer into the delta 1010 (my computer) so i could use EQ and Effects on each track seperately. But i would rather use the mixer for EQ and Effects, its easier using real time EQ knobs than digital plugins. So wouldn't that defeat the purpose of having all the tracks going seperately into my computer if i am just going to do everything that needs to be done for EQ and whatnot with the mixer? Could i cut down on costs by taking a step down to a good soundcard with just a few inputs, and just send the output of all the tracks on the mixer combined to 2 tracks (L and R ). Please give me your thoughts and input. Thank you. I appreciate it. Hopefully i explained my situation well enough to not confuse you guys. Thanks again.
 
Are you going to be recording an entire band at once or doing the tracks a few at a time?

If you mix everything live to stereo going into the computer than you wont be able to change anything afterwards. If you want to use the mixer to mix multiple tracks coming from the computer than you will need a seperate output for each track/channel.
 
I am going to be doing one track at a time. But when i record drums, can't i just do all the EQing and everything with the mixer and send it into my computer in just 2 tracks instead of sending all 6 tracks in to my comp? Same with guitars. Or would i just be better of going with something like the Aardvark Q10 so i don't need to bother with a mixer. How are the Q10's Preamps? Thanks.
 
I'm not understanding you or you are not quite understanding how mixers and soundcards work together. IMHO having a 10 input soundcard is all the more reason to use a mixer. It's when you only have 2 inputs that a mixer may be overkill.

I'm not familliar with the Q10 so I can't comment on the pres.
 
Hey Once, let me see if i can be of any help because we are in a similar situation. Let's say you get the delta 1010 and you want to record drums. The card has got 8 inputs so no problem in tracking the six mics you are planning to use. The thing is, that the signal of the mics is very weak, so you'll need preamps for your six or eight inputs. This is where a mixer with at least 8 preamps comes into the game. Now, if you are not experienced enough, i would suggest that you record with no EQ at all and then use you software plugins to add EQ at your will. If you want to burn those tracks into your computer's cd burner, the tracks don't need to come out of your souncard's outputs, instead you'll mix them in software and then export it to a stereo wave file and then burn it. If you want to record the tracks of the computer to a multitrack recorder, to have them in digital tape, you'll need the mixer again to do the routing of the tracks from the outs of the souncard, to the ins of the multitrack. If you are only recording one or two tracks at a time, you'll still need at least two preamps, and again, you can use your mixer's preamps for the task.
 
Thanks a lot for your reply alonso. Another question though. Since i am not all that experienced, especially with EQ, i think you are right in saying that i should just record with no EQ and then i can change it at will through the software plugins. But my questions is, since i am just starting to record do you think it would be more cost efficient to buy the Delta 1010 (i will not be outputing anything to a digital recorder or anything like that, just straight from mics to the computer and onto cds) and then buying inexpensive mic preamps, like the midiman audio buddy? I could buy 3 of those mic preamps and the Delta 1010 instead of the Delta 1010 and a $500 mixer (soundcraft M8). I won't really be using the features of the mixer, only the preamps really. Everything else i could do through software. So do you think it is a waste of money to buy the mixer? When i get more complex with my recording, i of course will need a mixer but that can easily be added later. Thanks for your help.
 
Once, a couple of things...first, you are definitely better off with a card with alot of inputs to record your drums. Having each drum on a separate track gives you flexibility during the mix to adjust the gain and eq each drum separately to your taste. If you do a premix to 2 tracks during recording, your mix is done and you have no flexibility except with eq, which in my opinion, in no flexibility at all. Definitely spend the bucks and get 8 inputs if possible. Second, the Aardvark cards are excellent, the mic pres are pretty good and you can definitely skip buying the mixer if you buy the Q10. The 8 inputs gives you 6 for your drums and 2 more inputs so you could lay down a bass track and possibly a guitar track at the same time. Won't your drummer play the song better if someone is actually playing the song along with him? I have never understood how a drummer can play a song with no accompaniment, but what do I know? You can plug the bass straight into the Q10 and monitor through headphones so the bass in not "live" and does not muddy the drum tracks. Buy a good card like the Q10 with lots of inputs and mic pres, you won't be sorry.
 
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Thanks a lot for your help guys. I appreciate it.
 
yep...I've been using a Q10 for the past couple of months a lot...and no complaints.

the preamps sound very good.
 
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