Mixer this, mixer that.

[semidiablan]

I am a newbie in the sense that this is the first home studio I am setting up.

I am having trouble understanding mixers and their jobs.

I've always thought that mixers weren't needed unless I wanted to record/mix 10+ tracks at once. I dont understand why I would need a mixer if I could just adjust the tracks' volumes, etc. in my software music program.

Do instruments just go into the inputs of the mixer separately, volume and EQ applied, then back out into the computer in their separate cables? Isn't it easier to do this without the mixer--on the computer? What am I missing here?

I bought an Audigy2 platinum years ago and found that it isn't what I want, sound card wise. At the moment I will probably only need 4 tracks recording at once, at the most. This thing doesn't even have XLR jacks.

So I guess I have a few questions:

Is a mixer always needed? Is it essential? Can you explain?
Sound card/interfaces recommended?

Thank you very much.

 

[mshilarious]

A mixer is not always needed. However, they can be convenient. Generally, in the home-PC based studio, they have three major functions:

- Mic preamps, including the ability to mix to subgroups if you want to record more mics than you have soundcard inputs.

- Routing of output signals to monitors and headphones.

and a more advanced and controversial use:

- For final analog mixdown after PC edits, EQ, dynamics, and effects are applied. This may include external effects as well. Generally not recommended for newbies due to cost (you need as many soundcard outs as you have tracks) and quality (you need decent analog gear).

Features of mixers that are not typically emphasized are the mixer's EQ--you should be able to get better software EQ without much trouble unless you buy a high-end mixer--and odds and ends like onboard effects (usually cheesy).

I don't use a mixer in my home studio, which is currently a 20 in/20 out setup (although I'm only using about 12 of each right now). I use standalone preamps and headphone amps and handle all routing via PC.

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

I agree with everything that mshilarious wrote except:

I think even relatively cheap analog EQ's squarely kick the pants of software EQ's for anything except light touches. Soft EQ's offer WAY more control but sound wierd with extreme (or even moderate) settings. You twist away with an analog EQ till the cows come home and it'll still sound good- as long as you have at least one sweepable mid. And analog EQ's are easier to sweep and find problem freqs.

You can also submix your tracks down to however many outputs you have and mix analog from there: you don't need an analog output for every single track.

-C

 

[semidiablan]

Thank you. I am not as confused anymore. Now I just need to search for the sound card I want.

 

[noisewreck]

And sometimes you can use the mixer itself as an "effect" by abusing it, such as driving the input gains to overload and distort. Some mixers are better suited for this than others. Obviously this only depends on the style of music that you're doing. You'd not want to do this if you're recording classical acoustic guitar for example.