Mixing desk, & Keeping recording audio tracks separately!?

[cartleman]

Hi peeps Im new here.

I understand that when using a mixer it enables me to record several instruments at once, and have different eq and volume levels for each track.


My question is: If I then plugged my mixer into my computer's line/mic in, will it then just record one audio file, combining all of the tracks from the mixer?


At the moment I have Adobe Audition, and I am recording individual tracks. That is, 1 instrument, 1 at a time. The reason I am asking the above question is that while I always want to keep the tracks separate so I can edit them, I am thinking I might also want to record several at once.

For example, I want to record a guitar and vocals at the same time, but have them as separate tracks on my computer.

I once saw an adapter thing that plugged into the line in and split out into e.g 16 other line in sockets. Is this what I need?


Thanks!!



p.s I want a mixer also because at the moment I plug the mic straight in. Now, obviously with no preamp the level is very low!

 

[gecko zzed]

The answer to your question is "yes". In other words, a mixer won't necessarily help you, and without anything else, you will have all of your separately EQed etc tracks mixed together into a single stereo track at your PC's line-in.

The mixer will give you a decent level on tracks using mikes.

To get multiple tracks recorded simultaneously and separately, you need an interface of some sort that will allow this. Your line-in won't. Look around for these interfaces elsewhere in this forum.

 

[Adam P]

With a mixer or two-channel preamp, you will be able to record two separate mono tracks (IE a guitar and a vocal) simultaneously. Any more simultaneous tracks than that will require a specialized recording interface.

To do two simulaneous tracks using the computer's line in, you will need an adaptor that takes two signals (such as a pair of RCA signals) and combines them into one 1/8" (headphone-style) stereo jack, like this. Your preamp for your vocal mic would plug into one of the RCA jacks on the adaptor, while your preamp for the guitar would plug into the other.

In Audition you would then set track one to record from the Line Input and pan it all the way to the left, so that it is recording only what is coming in on the left channel of the adaptor. set track two to record from the Line Input and pan it right.

Remember that you can use the insert points as preamp outputs from your mixer, or, if it has a stereo RCA tape output you could connect that to the computer's line input. Just make sure if you do this that you pan the vocal and guitar hard left and right, respectively. This is a basic bussing concept, which is something that you should definitely familiarize yourself with if you want to delve further into recording.