Hybrid Recording/Mixing: ITB & OTB with Interface and Analog Mixer

[AdriRuizDrums]

Hybrid Recording and Mixing: Simultaneous ITB and OTB via Interface and Analogue mixer​

Good evening everyone,
I would like to present the possibility of RAW DAW prints and Mixed analogue prints and how to best get there.

I currently record drums and other gear straight to Reaper with an iD44 and Clarett Octopre ADAT. I have had great results in the box (ITB) but have been wanting to
go back to mixing on a console for analogue sound and feel.

What mixer (700.00 USD - 1,300) is best for a simultaneous print work flow. I would like to record band sessions and rehearsals scratch mixes but have the capability of developing great studio mixes at the same time with out breaking the bank. (I got kids to feed... literally)

Any suggestions? Who else has tampered with this workflow?

All the best and God bless,

 

[Hmrc]

Welcome to the "Club" of so many .... ,
and not only for recording or summ
but also the many with hardware analog synhts rig DAWless,

about the mixer
In the mid price-features range of today analog used mixer
Midas Venice "F" with very good enhanced eq section on each channel, split type, could be the one suitable ,
going a bit back
other candidates could be
Soundcraft Ghost inline, 8 buss, enhanced good eq, 16, 24, 32 channels, expandable
Mackie 8 bus, inline, 16, 24, 32 channels, expandable with 16 ch sidecar,

if the need of channels number and features is lower
also a Mackie 1604 VLZ is not bad, not enhanced eq section lke the ones above, split type,

if the intention is to go for something "vintage",with things like 20-30 or more year-old
then you have to be very very very very very very ..... careful !!!!!!

Because the components given their age and how they have been used
need maintenance / replacement ,
and apart from their cost, which varies from little to a lot
remains the no small amount of time required for the work
that if performed by a technician who is up to the task
nvolves a not low cost ,

there are old mixer for sale here & there on the web
that not even if given as a gift are worth anything
because of the cost of the parts and the work required to make them at least usable.

Adding a few hundred of bucks to the budget
it is possible find hi range live analog consoles used in very good / decent condition
that cost several tens of thousands of bucks,
sidelined by the digital ones, most favored of the sound engineers for their total recall option,

obviously a careful full check, power supply included, should be done before pay,

with the understanding of staying away from those with VCAs if not deactivatable / removable ,

the 2 cents about.

 

[Track Rat]

I track with individual mic preamps to an Alesis HD24, then later transfer that to Reaper/computer for editing. Then playback thru a MOTU 828es, then back out thru the HD24 to a Tascam M-3500 for mixing. I can use plugins and hardware side by side in real time. Pretty cool.

 

[AdriRuizDrums]

Welcome to the "Club" of so many .... ,
and not only for recording or summ
but also the many with hardware analog synhts rig DAWless,

about the mixer
In the mid price-features range of today analog used mixer
Midas Venice "F" with very good enhanced eq section on each channel, split type, could be the one suitable ,
going a bit back
other candidates could be
Soundcraft Ghost inline, 8 buss, enhanced good eq, 16, 24, 32 channels, expandable
Mackie 8 bus, inline, 16, 24, 32 channels, expandable with 16 ch sidecar,

if the need of channels number and features is lower
also a Mackie 1604 VLZ is not bad, not enhanced eq section lke the ones above, split type,

if the intention is to go for something "vintage",with things like 20-30 or more year-old
then you have to be very very very very very very ..... careful !!!!!!

Because the components given their age and how they have been used
need maintenance / replacement ,
and apart from their cost, which varies from little to a lot
remains the no small amount of time required for the work
that if performed by a technician who is up to the task
nvolves a not low cost ,

there are old mixer for sale here & there on the web
that not even if given as a gift are worth anything
because of the cost of the parts and the work required to make them at least usable.

Adding a few hundred of bucks to the budget
it is possible find hi range live analog consoles used in very good / decent condition
that cost several tens of thousands of bucks,
sidelined by the digital ones, most favored of the sound engineers for their total recall option,

obviously a careful full check, power supply included, should be done before pay,

with the understanding of staying away from those with VCAs if not deactivatable / removable ,

the 2 cents about.

Good evening from where I am,

Thank you for your quick response.

I also see the Mackie 1642VLZ4 for less and was wondering why the price drop for more mono channels?
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/1642VLZ4--mackie-1642vlz4-16-channel-mixer. i/o is pretty much the same when routed out from what i can tell.
Do you think it would suit my purposes well?
Proposed signal chain: mics > clarett > simultaneous break out analogue to mixer and clean path straight to digital adat into reaper. Print both RAW DAW and processed subs/aux/buses an obviously master bus.

Is the Onyx preamp "good enough" compared to the Claretts and Audients for studio recording? I see that each mono channel has a send so if I wanted to print mixed multitrack to DAW using clarett and audients converters it wouldn't muddy the signal or raise the noise floor?

At this point I am really weighing options to be be a great set up but realistic budget.

Also the Tascam Model series is coming out with the 2400. Should sell my current set up to buy the model2400. It basically does everything i need it for but i am not sold completely on their converters/interface drivers since I use Reaper. Plus I believe they max record at 48k samples and that scares me for future proofing the recording set up.

All the best,

 

[Hmrc]

Good evening from where I am,

Thank you for your quick response.

I also see the Mackie 1642VLZ4 for less and was wondering why the price drop for more mono channels?
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/1642VLZ4--mackie-1642vlz4-16-channel-mixer. i/o is pretty much the same when routed out from what i can tell.
Do you think it would suit my purposes well?
Proposed signal chain: mics > clarett > simultaneous break out analogue to mixer and clean path straight to digital adat into reaper. Print both RAW DAW and processed subs/aux/buses an obviously master bus.

Is the Onyx preamp "good enough" compared to the Claretts and Audients for studio recording? I see that each mono channel has a send so if I wanted to print mixed multitrack to DAW using clarett and audients converters it wouldn't muddy the signal or raise the noise floor?

At this point I am really weighing options to be be a great set up but realistic budget.

Also the Tascam Model series is coming out with the 2400. Should sell my current set up to buy the model2400. It basically does everything i need it for but i am not sold completely on their converters/interface drivers since I use Reaper. Plus I believe they max record at 48k samples and that scares me for future proofing the recording set up.

All the best,

If you want to go at Pro level Apogee AD16 AND DA16 available used is the minimum,

usually the source from mixer to connect to AD converter for record is the direct out,
if no other needs / routings are required,

for mic preamp Mackie Onyx have proprietary IC (Integrated Circuit chip) that supply good quality,
someone say better, someone say equal, someone else say lower, of other standard IC based preamp
used on ADA interfaces, and mid range mixers,
most of them based all on the same TI 5532 / 34 IC that cost is around 1 buck, so more less if buyed in quantity,
(no transformer, no DOA, no tubes as on hi pro range analog devices)

about not expensive analog mixers with digital recorder included
recently arrived on the market
they are not bad
but also no like as the Pro range ones (i.m.h.o.),

then the question is : Are their features (preamp, eq, aux sends numbers, routings, onboard fx unit, etc..) sufficient for what you have to do ?

Which is really lacking currently, and many would have (not only those with analog synths rigs)
is a not large mixer with more than 16 inputs and about an inline type would be the right one,
with an enhanced eq, and 4+2 switchable (3-4 / 5-6) aux sends,
like the Alesis Studio 32 produced years ago,
obviosly with enhanced features, and improved sound quality,

other option if the space is not a problem,
the way is to go on mixers like those mentioned in the preview post.