Making each Channel a Track with Audio Interface?

[PatrickS]

If I hook my mixer straight up to my Soundcard, and I am using Reaper, can/how do I make each channel its own track on the DAW? Is that how it works at all, or am I totally misinformed?

 

[bouldersoundguy]

You'd create two new tracks in the DAW and set the record source of each to the desired interface input channel. In some DAWs you have to specify if a track is stereo or mono when it's created, while in other DAWs you can mix and match stereo and mono audio in one track.

 

[TetraFish]

If you're going straight into a sound card the most you can record at any one time is 2 (left and right). If you want to record several tracks at the same time you'll need an interface. You'll also either need direct outs from each channel or you will have to use the insert connections.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

If I hook my mixer straight up to my Soundcard, and I am using Reaper, can/how do I make each channel its own track on the DAW? Is that how it works at all, or am I totally misinformed?

Oh, do you mean each channel of the mixer? I thought you meant each channel of the sound card. As TetraFish says, you need an interface with the desired number of discrete inputs and a mixer with direct outs or inserts.

 

[FunkDaddy]

If I hook my mixer straight up to my Soundcard, and I am using Reaper, can/how do I make each channel its own track on the DAW? Is that how it works at all, or am I totally misinformed?

You can only simultaneously record as many tracks as your soundcard/interface will allow. As pointed out, if you're using your stock PC soundcard the most it will be is 2, in that case, open up two new tracks in Reaper, set the inputs (the little triangle/play button on the channel strip) and arm them for recording.

It's the same if you're using a multi-input audio interface. Open as many tracks as you want to record and set the proper inputs.

 

[PatrickS]

Ok, thanks. All that helps.

Will the following Audio Interface make it so that my DAW(Reaper) can read each channel on the mixer and let me apply each channel as an individual track?

http://www.google.com/products/cata...og_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CEAQ8wIwAA#

 

[TetraFish]

No. That's only 2 ins. What kind of mixer do you have and how many tracks do you want to record at the same time?

 

[PatrickS]

I want to record 6 tracks at the same time. I have a Samson MDR1688 16 Channel Mixer. I am recording an Acoustic Guitar, a Banjo, a Bodhran(Irish Frame Drum), and 3 Vocal Parts. The Banjo and The Guitar both have their own pickup, and all six part going to their own channel? So If I want each one to have their own track, recording at the same time, is there even a way to use my mixer?

 

[TetraFish]

Your mixer doesn't have direct outs so you'll have to use the inserts. Inserts use a TRS cable, Which is 3 wires. They send on one and return on one, so if you don't return anything back the chain is broken and you wont hear anything coming out of the mixer. So with inserts you have to either modify cables or use the "half click" trick. Should menton too that this will just be the dry input signal pre fader.

Do you have to use the mixer? Most interfaces have mixing software and can route mixes to a variety of outs.

Either way you'll require something like this....

http://www.presonus.com/products/Detail.aspx?ProductId=43

or another similar unit just so I don't look like a presonus whore....

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackUltra8R.html

These are just two, there are lots of other options.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

I want to record 6 tracks at the same time. I have a Samson MDR1688 16 Channel Mixer. I am recording an Acoustic Guitar, a Banjo, a Bodhran(Irish Frame Drum), and 3 Vocal Parts. The Banjo and The Guitar both have their own pickup, and all six part going to their own channel? So If I want each one to have their own track, recording at the same time, is there even a way to use my mixer?

There may be a way to use it but with the right interface you may not need your mixer. Odds are such an interface will have better quality mic preamps and a couple of instrument inputs (which look like but are not the same as line inputs).

The M-Audio Fast Track Ultra would get everything in at once, but you'd need to use the mixer to add two extra mic preamps.

 

[PatrickS]

So basically, there is no way to use my mixer and sound-card alone, and make six different tracks all dedicated to one channel each?

 

[TetraFish]

So basically, there is no way to use my mixer and sound-card alone, and make six different tracks all dedicated to one channel each?

Not all at the same time.

 

[PatrickS]

Thank you. I'm looking at borrowing an 8 channel firewire audio interface from a friend, how do I do this half click trick from my inserts on the mixer's channels into each channel of this interface?

 

[TetraFish]

Here's an article I found that covers everything you need to know.

http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/using-a-mixer-insert-jack-as-a-direct-out-1452535.html

From the article....
The next option using a regular TS to TS cable is to only plug the cable in to the "first click" of the Insert Jack. This will tap the signal and send it straight out to the recorder, while still allowing it to pass on through to the mixer's main outputs. The only drawback to this is that if you don't get the cable plugged in just right (to only the first click), you may end up with either no signal to your recorder or no signal to the main outputs (or both).

 

[Jeff_D]

So basically, there is no way to use my mixer and sound-card alone, and make six different tracks all dedicated to one channel each?

If you wanted to keep the mixer (using the half click insert) and you have a desktop computer, an MAudio Delta 1010lt will get you the separate inputs you need for about $200. This is pretty old technology now though, but it works (I use two in my recording computer). If I were buying today, I'd probably go for one of the 8 channel all-in-one interfaces that have preamps and converters all in one package- cheapest one out there is probably a Tascam unit I've seen for around $300. Check e-bay too...

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MDOD1010LT

 

[PatrickS]

If you wanted to keep the mixer (using the half click insert) and you have a desktop computer, an MAudio Delta 1010lt will get you the separate inputs you need for about $200. This is pretty old technology now though, but it works (I use two in my recording computer). If I were buying today, I'd probably go for one of the 8 channel all-in-one interfaces that have preamps and converters all in one package- cheapest one out there is probably a Tascam unit I've seen for around $300. Check e-bay too...

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MDOD1010LT

So, if I were using the MAudio Delta 1010lt, would I need 1/4" TRS to RCA cables?

 

[Jeff_D]

So, if I were using the MAudio Delta 1010lt, would I need 1/4" TRS to RCA cables?

If you use the insert jacks on your mixer to get signal, then you'll want just a 1/4" TS (2 conductor, no ring) to rca.

Also though, keep in mind that inputs one and 2 on the 1010lt are an XLR cable. Those channels are switchable between acting as a preamp or line level input. For those two, you'd pickup a XLR to 1/4" TS (you may have to look, but they do make them.

You can get one of these. http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Hosa-RCA14-8Channel-Recording-Snake?sku=333045
I wouldn't call it road worthy, but for a relatively stationary setup, it'll last a while. If you get that, you can use 6 cables to connect your mixer/soundcard channels 3-8. You can also use the remaining 2 cables to connect the outpur from your soundcard back to the mixer so you can use the monitor control section on the mixer to control your speakers. Then, get a pair of xlr-1/4 cables for channels 1 and 2 and you're set.

Really though, for an extra couple bucks you can get something like this, skip the mixer and maybe be better off (check reviews- I haven't used that particular piece). http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...245002&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=84590929
...just a thought...

 

[PatrickS]

Really though, for an extra couple bucks you can get something like this, skip the mixer and maybe be better off (check reviews- I haven't used that particular piece). http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...245002&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=84590929
...just a thought...

Thanks for the quick response, as you can tell I am really want to use the mixer. What are some good reasons to use a multiple-input audio-interface and mix on the computer, instead of mixing on an analog mixer and sending that right into a soundcard on the computer?

 

[Jeff_D]

Thanks for the quick response, as you can tell I am really want to use the mixer. What are some good reasons to use a multiple-input audio-interface and mix on the computer, instead of mixing on an analog mixer and sending that right into a soundcard on the computer?

Well, the setup I'm describing really doesn't use the full functionality of the mixer. Really, you're grabbing the signal from right past the mic pre and putting it into the computer... so, you're skipping the eq and the actual "mixing" part of the mixer. Once you get the signal into the computer you can either a) mix in the software on the computer or b) assign each track to an output, buy a crap load more cables and route each channel back to your mixer. Option "a" is what I would call typical for most home recordists unless you have some really stellar outboard gear. There's a LOT of reasons to mix in the box- for one, by the time you have all of your tracks recorded, you'll likely have more tracks than channels, so you'll have to group stuff to each output just to get everything back to the mixer. Plus, you'll have NO automation, which to me is pretty much the entire benefit to digital recording. AND you'll have to rewire everything becuase you'll need to set that mixer up different depending on if you're tracking or mixing. AND, if you do mix on the mixer, then you'll need a mixdown deck or go back to the computer to record you're final 2 track mix.

I wouldn't even consider actually mixing on that mixer when you weigh the benefits of computer mixing.

 

[spaarks]

As a newbie I find the terminology rather ambiguous. The cheaper 'Multichannel Mixers' are multichannel in that they have multiple inputs - but output them combined (mixed) into a stereo output.

Recently combined mixer/multiplexers using USB and Firewire have appeared. For less than $200 you can get an Alesis Multimix 8 USB 2.0 unit which has 8 individual outputs which are multiplexed into 8 serial 'packets' which are sent to the computer along the single USB twisted pair. The soundcard is not used. At the computer they are demultiplexed back into 8 discrete channels by software (not the soundcard) and appear as separate inputs on your DAW where you can mix and add effects (post-processing). In this case you'd not be using the Alesis 'mixer' controls for mixing at all, but just to roughly set levels. But you'd have best of both worlds, you can do live mixing with the Alesis and post processing with Audacity or Ardour.

I'm very much a newbie so I'd welcome any corrections to what I've said. I'd also like to know what sort of format/protocol the mux uses?