Mixers and Submixers Combined...

[Confusitron]

I have considered having one main mixer and a submixer for drums (the submixer would output to the main mixer by way of busses or a main mix output), as an alternative to having one console/"console". Would this be a wise choice? I figure that this would cost less money and would require less tracks on a multi-track recorder. I was thinking of using a twelve channel mixer for the drums and a sixteen channel mixer for the main.

What do you think?

I am not saying I will be doing this, it is only an idea.

 

[bennychico11]

I guess it's a good idea if you're wanting to save track space. However, just keep in mind that once you mix the drums down and record it to the multitrack, there's no going back in and changing the pan on the snare, or EQing just a portion of it without effecting everything else.

 

[WayneSMT]

Mix-Sub Mix

It works. Good for live stuff. I use an older Peavey 800 Stereo Mixer for the main board (bass, vocals, rythem, lead and sax, that's six on the main board. Our new drummer has a 9 piece TAMA and everything is miked. I was considering buying a 24 input mixer, but instead I got a little Behringer UB1012
It sits right next to the drummer. He is able to mix everything himself and he even has the toms set up so some are on the left channel and some are on the right, the high-hat and ride are split somewhat evenly between both channels as well as the snare and bass one crash is on the left and he has another crash on the right. I run the 1012 with RCA leads to the main board and he as the last two inputs. Not sure how well that would work for recording and mixing purposes, but for live stuff it sure saved me a ton of money.

Wayne

 

[Confusitron]

I guess it's a good idea if you're wanting to save track space. However, just keep in mind that once you mix the drums down and record it to the multitrack, there's no going back in and changing the pan on the snare, or EQing just a portion of it without effecting everything else.

I had already considered this problem. The least I could do to possibly improve that is to at least put the drums on one buss and the cymbals on another, or put the snare and kick on one buss and everything else on the other.

 

[TexRoadkill]

I had already considered this problem. The least I could do to possibly improve that is to at least put the drums on one buss and the cymbals on another, or put the snare and kick on one buss and everything else on the other.

That's still not enough seperation. At the very least you want to use 2 overhead tracks, kick and snare.

Overall your plan doesn't really make much sense unless you are trying to figure out a use for two mixers you already have. If you are buying new stuff then just get what you need to do the job right.

 

[mshilarious]

I used to do that. It is a bit of a pain if you have to tear down your stuff all the time (as I did), but it you can set it & leave it, it works OK.

You should be able to get more than two busses off the submixer using aux sends. If you have four, you have overhead L-R (plus toms if you're micing those), kick, and snare. That works pretty well.