Mixing program??? Help please!!!

[zbert]

Hi All.
Here's my situation. I record through a Soundcraft Ghost board to the Alesis HD24. I do all my editing in a computer and then drop the tracks back to the Alesis for mixing. I'm happy with everything. I'd prefer to mix through the board. I've tried a friends computer with Sonar. Didn't really like mixing in the box. I remember back in 1989 I recorded in a studio that was all analog but the guy had a program that he could use through his board that would adjust volumes. Does this program or something like it still exist? And if so what kind of interface is involved. I'd love to have a progam that I could save basic mixes so I can go back and tweak them without starting from scratch.
Thanks
Tom

 

[Robert D]

This used to be done with VCA fader and mute devices that were typically patched into inserts on analog mixers. With the advent of affordable digital mixers with motorized faders, I don't know if anyone is doing this today. You could use a sequencing program's virtual mixer in live mode to do it.

 

[zbert]

OK, this may not be the way to go. Can anyone suggest a software program that has a good mixer. I've messed around with Sonar and Nuendo at other peoples studios but never found the mixer to be that good. I won't be using the software for recording just mixing. Someone help the software ignorant.
Thanks

 

[pipelineaudio]

if you really want to use your board heres how I would do it:

Get an interface from HD24 to the PC ( Im assuming its got 3 adat i/o's, so an RME HDSP9652 or similar device would be perfect

Grab a DAW, REAPER would be perfect because of its routing capabilities, set up 24 channels and put them in input monitoring mode. Set each channel to go out its corresponding number from the input. So channel in 13 goes to hardware out 13 etc...

Set all channels in the DAW to zero db or unity gain

now, if you've set this up correctly, a bit for bit identical sound will go out your HD24 as existed from playing on the unit itself

So now set up your mix on the console, using your faders as you always would, ignore the fact that you even have a computer in the loop, just set your board, fx whatever as you always would

When it comes time for automation, just automate the faders on the DAW. Draw them with the mouse or grab the DAW faders, whatever you want to do

 

[zbert]

WOW, Great answer. Might be a bit much for me to pull off. What I'm looking into is maybe using the AlphaTrack control surface. This way I have the use of a "real" fader and knobs but still just use a progam like Reaper or Sonar. Thanks for the help.

 

[pipelineaudio]

In that case, youll still need a soundcard anyhow, so you'll be able to try either way.

That's kind of how my setup went. Ghost 32 +24 expander, with a Mackie Ottomix vca automation system. Once I saw how cool it was drawing automation with the mouse instead of faders, and writing muted offline, I kinda stopped using the board altogether and just used the PC.

I have control surfaces now, but honestly don't use them much.

But everyone is different. Im setting up a room with an MCU + 2 MCU XT's on tuesday, so that will be 24 real, motorized faders of control, maybe Ill go back to liking faders in that case