J
jamesdolecek
New member
what are the pro's and cons of the 2? I'm trying to decide which I should get....im only recording my guitar direct via usb but I want complete coibtrol of the output sound and monitoring
DM60
Well-known member
I run my interface output back through a mixer, but only to be able to grab a knob to turn my monitors physically up or down. If that is all you need, you would probably need to look for an interface with an output volume control. Unless there are other needs, a mixer doesn't add much for the typical home recording enthusiast.
Bobbsy
Boring Old Git
Have a look at THIS FAQ by some boring old git.
Executive summary: mixers can be useful but, unless you can afford a better-than-cheap one they're usually lacking the features and audio quality that make them attractive. Unless you can afford a fairly expensive mixer, you're likely better off with a conventional interface.
Executive summary: mixers can be useful but, unless you can afford a better-than-cheap one they're usually lacking the features and audio quality that make them attractive. Unless you can afford a fairly expensive mixer, you're likely better off with a conventional interface.
E
ecc83
Well-known member
In addition to Bobbsy's excellent treatise, usb mixers of the cost and class that noobs look at are all 16 bit devices. That would not be so bad if they were all GOOD* 16bit devices but they tend not to be. The most common complaint seems to be that the monitoring signal back from the PC is noisy.
There is really no contest in overall quality but then you need to be paying $150ish for a decent interface. The Big Knob for monitor control is a very good point but if you can push the boat out to $250 or so the NI KA6 gives you a luverly one!
*Such as my A&H ZED10 but I never use the usb section.
Dave.
There is really no contest in overall quality but then you need to be paying $150ish for a decent interface. The Big Knob for monitor control is a very good point but if you can push the boat out to $250 or so the NI KA6 gives you a luverly one!
*Such as my A&H ZED10 but I never use the usb section.
Dave.
T
TimOBrien
New member
Be careful, some usb mixers only send a 2-channel stereo to the computer despite how many faders they have....
DM60
Well-known member
Yes, read the specs.
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ecc83
Well-known member
Actually all of them under about $500! There is an Alesis jobbie that is multitrack I understand but seems many folks have had driver issues with them?
Dave.
Armistice
Son of Yoda
Interface. It's not really a question, unless you have a lot of money and know exactly what you're doing. And I'm thinking that's not your situation.
Bobbsy
Boring Old Git
Change "some" to "most" and NONE in the economy range. Also, to effectively do monitoring into headphones for musicians, you effectively need "pre fade aux sends" and very few (if any) economy mixers have that either. On an interface, this feature would be replaced by something called "direct hardware monitoring" or similar.