mixer question

[Frenchc]

Heres a quick question, simple I am sure.

When using an analog mixer with say the MOTU 24 i/o, how would go about using this to mix with. Does the mixer have to have direct outs or can the inserts be used when mixing. I am totally lost with this, I guess I'm just confused about the signal flow of everything.

Thanks

Chris

 

[Creamyapples1]

direct outs to ins on the interface, outputs of the interface to the line ins on the mixer.

 

[Frenchc]

thanks, would this work with a mixer that has to use the inserts as direct outs, how would the outboard effects (verb, compressors, etc) be worked into this, thanks for the help


Chris

 

[bennychico11]

if you've already recorded what you need....you can just send the outs of your interface to the line ins on the mixer. And monitor via the main outs. Then you can still use the inserts and auxes.

Is there a reason you prefer not to mix inside the box?
One of the problems with doing so is you need to have as many inputs on the mixer (and outputs on the interface) as you do tracks. Not many people have more than 8-10 line outs on your standard interface.
Also, search around this site about problems with mixing analog after you've recorded digital (ie. unnecessary DA conversions). The cons of mixing solely on an inexpensive mixer can out weigh the benefits of analog summing.

Edit...I just noticed you said you have the MOTU 24i....so you could easily have enough outs as tracks.

 

[Frenchc]

I was more or less jsut asking about this becasue it confused me for some reason. I had no intention of getting this set up I jsut wanted a better understanding of it. For me I do mix inside the box and its fine for my level of talent and my untrained ear. i would however like a control surface of some kind but thats another story. I just wanted some extra info. Thanks for the help


Chris

 

[cpl_crud]

Initially, I was going to say no, you can't do it that way.
However, on second thoughts, you could actually use the insert point with your motu.
Plug the insert lead into the insert point. The send would go to the line in, and the return to the line out of the MOTU.

What you're basically doing there is using the mixer's pres as front-end pres to your motu.

The problem here is that, during tracking, you will have to send your signal into the motu and then back out again to the mixer if you want to mix/monitor during tracking, which will probably induce some latency (I'm not sure how the MOTU works and if it's got a normalling function during record etc).

When playing back, your mixer would see the output from the MOTU as the "return"from the insert, and you could mix it as if it were returns from any other outboard unit.

Problems with this are:
1) No longer having insert points on each channel, however you could use busses/auxes to bypass this for a couple of channels
2) Depending on the architecture of your board, you maybe bypassing the in-desk EQ.

Yeah. Bit of an odd way to do things, but, if it works for you...

 

[Frenchc]

what would be a better way of doing this with a mixer, but by still recording to the computer. I am jsut wondering how people record the comp then then send the signal back out to mix. This just kinda confuses me. When you send the tracks out while mixing does the song have to be re-recorded while you mix or does it affect the track thats already recorded and on the comp. That may have been worded badly but I jsut need someone to clear this up for me. Thanks a bunch

Chris

p.s. I don't have the motu or an analog mixer I was jsut wondering how it all worked

 

[cpl_crud]

Ah, now that's a different story.
What usually goes on there is the outputs of the motu go to the line inputs of the mixer, then the main outputs (stereo) go to a seperate 2-track recorder.
In this way, you're mixing down the signal to a format that can be put on CD or whatever.
Or, if you've got a multiple-buss (like 8 to 24 buss) console, you can go out of the motu, into the line ins of the mixer, do your mix/effects/whatever, but then route the output of the mixer to the output busses.
Take the output from those busses into the motu, then record those back onto the comptuer on different tracks.

You might want to do this if you've got a lot of good outboard effects, or only really bad plugins.

A third reason may solely be for monitoring- the mixer isn't used for recording, but for making a monitor mix for the artists for overdubs and the like.

Although I think what you're thinking of is the top example.

 

[Frenchc]

yes thats what I'm thinking of, if you go the bussing route back into the computer though you'd have to have a couple of free inputs on the motu correct, thanks for clearing this up for me


Chris