I need more inputs - help me.

  • Thread starter Thread starter damiana
  • Start date Start date
D

damiana

New member
Greetings,

I am new here, but figured I would start out with a question that I've seen touched on before but not really covered to a point that satisfies me as an answer.

My current recording hardware is as follows:

Many Guitars, basses and microphones -> (if guitar -> Line6 POD XT Live Floorboard) -> Focusrite Saffire 2 input Firewire Audio Interface -> Computer -> Yamaha HS80 monitors

Using Sonar or Studio One, this setup gets a pretty decent sound.

The problem that I have is that I would *LIKE* to have bass, and at least 3 guitars along with at least 3 microphones connected at all times, and simply enable or disable channels depending on which source I am recording.

Obviously due to the lack of inputs on my audio interface this is not possible with the hardware I curently own.

A lot of the hardware interfaces that I see that have 8 inputs are not really doable as all 8 inputs are not set up for instrument level inputs.

I believe that I could purchase a cheapie soundcraft, peavey, behringer, whatever analog mixer, and simply route the output of the mixer to the input of my audio interface, but i've read that I will lose signal quality in doing this.

With these things said - from what I can see, I am left with only a couple of options:

Go with something like an alesis project mix, digi 003, or Focusrite pro 56 which I believe all 3 have 8 channels of combo inputs that have instrument level inputs on all 8 channels.

or

Get DI boxes for any inputs on a cheaper interface that does NOT have instrument level inputs on all 8 channels.

or

go the mixer route and just deal with the signal loss I will incur.

or

stop being lazy and just document the input levels and continue switching cables which is a pain in the a$$ whenever I switch instruments.

Are these my only options? Or am I missing something easy that noone has bothered to tell me on the other forums I'm on??

Thanks for your help thus far and thanks for providing these forums for me, and others to ask these types of questions.

damiana972
 
DOn't forget that the out from your POD is line level, so you only need the instrument level ins if you're connecting direct.
 
If guitar goes through the Line 6, then don't guitars get selected before the Line 6? Then the Mics, Bass and Line 6 need to get selected at the point of recording?

There are arguments both for mixing desk and for multi-channel interface. If you picture your setup as an old school recording studio, then the question is whether you want your desk to be in software as well as your multitrack. Will a software desk be as convenient and effortless as a hardware desk? In figuring this I'd include things like remembering channel settings between sessions and even simply being a reliably robust mechanical anchor for all those cables.

The one thing I wouldn't personally worry about too much is signal integrity being compromised by use of a mixing desk. It certainly is being compromised strictly speaking, but I'll bet most folks would struggle in a blind A/B test to say which of two signals had been through the desk, never mind if someone just played a single recorded guitar and asked 'desk or direct?'.
 
correct about the floorboard..i guess the short and simple is that i need more than two inputs even if im just dealing with one bass, one guitar, and one vocal based on my existing audio interface.

i guess the next step going the cheap route is to get a mackie vlz or something and just see how it compares to going straight into the focusrite or going through the vlz first and then the focusrite - i bet you guys are right in that i wont hear much difference - if any...

thanks thus far for your comments.
 
If you could be bothered to keep changing the hardware record source in software, I guess you could patch the USB output of the Line 6 into the computer? I don't know that unit, but presumably the Line 6 will remember presets for different guitars? I guess that if you dial up a basic 'pass-through' preset you could put the bass through it too. That would probably in theory be a shorter signal path too, with one less stage of digi/analog/digi?

Then you'd be juggling 3 mics into 2 inputs. If that's too wearisome a task, I guess I passive switchbox would be a possibility. I think I'd use a small desk for all the added options it would offer. Or just dig deep and make the effort to plug and unplug the mics when needed!
 
yea i know, it really doesnt sound like much of an issue does it?

but in addition to plugging and unplugging, i have to worry with the input level as well - and trying to get the exact perfect input level again.

but yes - i think a small mixer will likely be the solve here for what im doing.

thanks again for the input given - this is a great board and i look forward to being a part of it..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top