mixer or not

[starsxandxslits]

i am about to go the pci interface/cbase route to home recording and i was curious as to how useful a mixer would be to increase inputs if i went with a moderately priced inerface. also, what would be the most optimal way to integrate the mixer into the setup and what interface and mixer would some of you guys recommend. i've searched and read too much about the subject on this forum already and there are just too many solutions, it would seem.

 

[LemonTree]

I'd try a search on that question. There's been endless debates about it.

Here's a few plus points to using a mixer though:

1.You don't need a room rull of pre amps

2.you can monitor with zero latency

3.twisting knobs and sliding faders is a lot quicker than fiddling with a mouse

4.it's good to stand up and have a look at the desk and see instantly what's going on in your mix without flipping through different windows and menus and sub menus

5.you get to use real outboard dynamics and signal processors


I'm sure someone will be here shortly to swing the scales the other way. Have a think carefully about what you hope to achieve with recording. If it's just gonna be you recording one instrument at a time it will probably work out a hell of a lot cheaper getting a good 2in/2out soundcard and a decent recording channel and mic than it would jumping in at the deep end.

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

If it's just to increase inputs as you say then it's a good option if you're on a budget and you need lots of mic pres. If you only need a couple of simultaneous inputs though then you'd probably be better off with a standalone pre.

How many sources will you be wanting to record simultaneously and what's your budget?

 

[dwillis45]

Have you looked at control surfaces or are you thinking specifically about a hardware mixer? Are you going to be mixing down your tracks to a computer or some type of outboard recorder? And, as Kevin noted above, what's you budget? Have you used a mixer in the past for recording or live audio? How much space do you have? And are you just recording yourself?

 

[starsxandxslits]

i'll be mixing down to my computer, but i'm going to need to be able to track live with keys, drums, 2 guit, and bass. i don't really plan on using many outboard effects b/c i'm broke and i decided for my money, plug ins were good wenough. i'd like a firewire controller, but i don't think any are going to be in my budget or have the inputs i desire. so confused. so broke.

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

If you can't afford a multi input interface and overdubs aren't an option then you'd be stuck with putting the mix together before recording on a mixing board and then recording the main outputs of the mixer to a stereo track in your DAW (mixing 'on the fly').

Not ideal because you can't undo the levels/panning etc you've recorded and you won't be able to process the seperate elements once inside the box, you'll just have a stereo mix to play with.

The cheapest (but still fairly decent) multi input setup would probably be the M Audio 1010LT soundcard (8 analog ins + 2 preamps) combined with a Yamaha MG 12/4 mixer (6 mic pres).

That would set you back around $400 altogether ($200 for each) or about £270 in real money.