Just a got a mixer

  • Thread starter Thread starter Potatomc
  • Start date Start date
The link for the mixer is not working, so i can´t tell you... but, unless the mixer has some kind of Firewire or Usb port, you´ll have to have a soundcard with x number of channels (x=number of instruments that you wanna record at the same time)...
If you don´t have the money now, you can always record with you stock audiocard; but that way you´ll only be able to record an stereo signal. That means that all channels of your mixer became 2 channels in your Daw...

Hope that helps...
 
Potatomc said:
so i just bought a yamaha mixer at guitar center, http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...ixer?sku=630048
the guy there said that i cood only record 2 tracks at a time because i have a Line 6 tone port UX2. is this true? because i'm trying to record drums and i would like to have each mic(i will probably be using 4 mics on the drums maybe 5) on a seperate track, is this possible?
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like julian said if you want to seperate the tracks while recording into the computer then you need a soundcard with more inputs, otherwise you could seperate the tracks on the mixer and eq and whatever outside then go into your stereo inputs...


also, I'll drop a little wisdom on you...even though the guy at guitar center was right this time on a fairly basic question...

do not ever, EVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, trust that what a guitar center employee has told you is accurate.
 
I'm pretty sure you can use the inserts on that mixer as direct outs. I don't have the need but i remember messing around and getting it to work, it might not have been this mixer. Then you just need a soundcard with the right amount of inputs for you (sounds like 6 minimum, probably something like 10 would be better). Now if you can't use the inserts as direct outs (again, i think it's possible but i could be wrong), then you not only need a soundcard with enough inputs for what you are doing, but enough preamps as well. To record everything at once obviously but have it tracked out to it's own track.

With a simple stereo I/O on your soundcard, even two tracks similtainously is kind of tricky. You have to pan one sound left, one sound right and record two mono tracks. The program you use must allow similtanious recording to split the channels. The biggest problem with this is monitering if you are doing it right off the mixer as you can't moniter in mono. One track will be on one side, the other track on the other. This is fine for tracking out something sequenced on say a drum machine or synth but i would think it would be very hard to play live. This will not be a problem, again, if you can use the insert as a direct out.


So realistically, with that mixer and soundcard, one track at at time would probably be what would be comfortable. Or submixing it on your mixer and just recording the stereo track of everything.

Unless something is slipping my mind or i don't know something (entirely possible, lol), this is what i would believe to be the case for you with your current setup.
 
Potatomc said:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-MG102-Stereo-Mixer?sku=630048

theres a working link, recording stuff is so confusing to me lol i was doing fine with my toneport but now i'm thinking about recording drums, so i just need more inputs but i want to also be able to record them all on a different track, so if you guys could give me some suggestions for doing that, that would be awsom :D
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You can't record separate tracks on that mixer, that mixer is designed for live sound.

You need a Firewire, USB interface, or PCI interface like this ones:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/pr...t_firewire_audio_interface?full_sku=104151386
http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/pr...ire_16channel_analog_mixer?full_sku=103138160
http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/pr...e_interface_with_cubase_le?full_sku=102791357
http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/pr...reWire-Recording-Interface?full_sku=104011341
http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-EMU-1616MPCI.html
Firewire will be the best and easier option [for me anyway], but you'll need a good computer, and recording software such as Cubase, Cakewalk SOnar, etc., to run everything, there are also free programs like Reaper[Reaper is $40.00 after version 1.0 I think] and Kristal, very usable programs.
THis and other interfaces are designed to record and mix separate tracks.
I'm picking up the Alesis iO/26 this week...
 
Yeah, i was going to mention that. Firewire (assuming that it seperates tracks-common) will be the easiest way to do what you want to do. The upside is it's pretty much catered towards what you are trying to do. The downsides are you are pretty much stuck with the same mixer and A/D converters until you upgrade the whole thing. So if the preamps suck, you will have to go buy preamps where analog you need to just buy a new mixer (or external pres).
 
You can get a special cable to tap the mic pre's at the i/o jacks for input's 1 and 2. You can eek a third and fourth track (simultaneous) by running 3 and 4 panned hard left and right respectively and using the main stereo output. I have the mg 8/2 fx (same mixer but has fx instead of last stereo channel). I use it with a delta 1010lt and it works great.

You could also run a 1/8" TRS cable from the headphone jack on the mixer to the line input on your computer, and with input 1 and 2 panned hard left and right respectively to get a simple two track recording setup with what you have now, but you can't go over two tracks without a better soundcard or usb interface.
 
talontsiawd said:
Yeah, i was going to mention that. Firewire (assuming that it seperates tracks-common) will be the easiest way to do what you want to do. The upside is it's pretty much catered towards what you are trying to do. The downsides are you are pretty much stuck with the same mixer and A/D converters until you upgrade the whole thing. So if the preamps suck, you will have to go buy preamps where analog you need to just buy a new mixer (or external pres).
Click to expand...

The preamps in that mixer are very good, and can be utilized for recording to a DAW
 
I'm pretty sure you can use the inserts as a direct out on an mg mixer though. Meaning that you just have to run cables and you get the same as a FW mixer, just with more cabling. I'm not sure, i would test mine right now but i got alot of things going on for 1am. It might work on all mixers, you just don't plug in your cable all the way. It sends but doesn't return the signal, allowing to use it as a direct out. I don't know how much soundquality is effected, etc.


Obvioiusly firewire is the way to go but i think this is an alternative, if it works obviously, and works well. Then only the soundcard needs upgrading.
 
talontsiawd said:
I'm pretty sure you can use the inserts as a direct out on an mg mixer though. Meaning that you just have to run cables and you get the same as a FW mixer, just with more cabling. I'm not sure, i would test mine right now but i got alot of things going on for 1am. It might work on all mixers, you just don't plug in your cable all the way. It sends but doesn't return the signal, allowing to use it as a direct out. I don't know how much soundquality is effected, etc.


Obvioiusly firewire is the way to go but i think this is an alternative, if it works obviously, and works well. Then only the soundcard needs upgrading.
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The tip is the send, so you plug it in all the way. Only the first two channels have inserts on this board. You can get channels 3 and 4 out through the main stereo bus, though, utilizing all four preamps in the board.
 
pacman9000 said:
like julian said if you want to seperate the tracks while recording into the computer then you need a soundcard with more inputs, otherwise you could seperate the tracks on the mixer and eq and whatever outside then go into your stereo inputs...


also, I'll drop a little wisdom on you...even though the guy at guitar center was right this time on a fairly basic question...

do not ever, EVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, trust that what a guitar center employee has told you is accurate.
Click to expand...

Hey, that's a good point. Those guys are salesmen. Even if they don't make commision (they probably do), they have sales quotas. Retail is brutal, get your tips from a disinterested third party.
 
i have no idea what you guys are talking about, do i need a new sound card now to seperate the tracks, would that work?
 
Yes your gonna need a new sound card. First post how many inputs (seperate channels you want to record at the same time) you need and your budget. General computer specs... do you have firewire? usb? PCI slots? is it a laptop? desktop?
 
The interface (sound card) you choose should have one input per mono track that you want to record simultaneously. For example, you have two mikes as overheads for the drums, another mic on the snare, and another on the kick. You will need 4 inputs to record those 4 mikes to separate tracks. If your toneport only has 2 inputs, you can only record 2 tracks simultaneously.
 
^^^
Yes, sorry, i should have clarified that. I was more focused on how to make your existing equipment work for your needs and neglected to really explain that you have to have a souncard with the ability to record more tracks as well. Especially because you just bought it.

Anyway, you will need a soundcard with more inputs, like stated above. My suggestion is to go overkill on the inputs as well. If you feel you need 4, go with something that can do 6-8. It's much cheaper to have that ability from the start rather than upgrading your soundcard or adding another. My budget suggestion would be a delta 1010lt. For $200, you have 8 analog ins. Depending on the software, that can bring your overall amount to 10 analog, if the software will let you use both. It also allows you to get a good amout of similtanious tracks and the ability to use protools for only $250, $450 total with the card (you don't have to do it at once), if you want to go the protools route.

Lastly, if you are going to track multiple tracks similtaniously, you want to do yourself a favor and use a program that lets you do it, and lets you do it easily. One reason i suggest protools. It's not the only option of course but for the $250 you pay, i think it's the best if you have an m-audio card. I find it to be very simple to work out.
 
+1 for the delta 1010lt. It's what I use with my yamaha mixer and I get awesome recording quality.
 
I should add that you won't be able to get more than 4 channels out from the yamaha to any sound card.
 
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