multitrack out????

[superheterodyne]

Hello to all.

I have a question regarding playback of several tracks which constitute one tune/song simultaneously.
I need to play these tracks as backing tracks to perform on stage etc.

I will have the various bits, drums, bass, snare, cymbals as individual tracks on my laptop in Audition multitrack (for each song)

Is there some method to route/play each track out to a/my audio mixer simultaneously in order to allow me to have control over
volume and eq of each track individually?

Would a firewire mixer be able to achieve this?

Any help would be most gratefully recieved.

 

[Mo Facta]

A Firewire mixer would do this, like the Mackie Onyx or A&H ZED series.

You could also use an audio interface with multiple analog outputs patched discretely into a regular mixer. You would just have to route each track from Audition to the desired physical outputs.

Cheers

 

[Ethan Winer]

I will have the various bits, drums, bass, snare, cymbals as individual tracks on my laptop in Audition multitrack (for each song)

I believe you're over-thinking this. If you have every instrument on a separate track in a DAW, then the mixing and added effects can be handled in the software. There's no need to mix the tracks in a hardware mixer, and doing that is much more complicated and less versatile.

--Ethan

 

[TimOBrien]

yup, all you need is a daw or sequencer program.

Try Reaper. Cheap, easy and powerful.

 

[Mo Facta]

I believe you're over-thinking this. If you have every instrument on a separate track in a DAW, then the mixing and added effects can be handled in the software. There's no need to mix the tracks in a hardware mixer, and doing that is much more complicated and less versatile.

--Ethan

While I agree with you, in a live situation it is always better to have certain groups of instruments grouped to physical faders. It's not easy during a gig to faff with a mouse. I'm not quite sure the actual scenario the OP is in (like, whether he's the FOH guy, drummer, or another guy handling backtracks, or a one man band guy) but life performance mixed with DAW playback can be a nightmare.

From my experience performing with backtracks in the last several years, I would just bounce down all the relevant instruments we needed live to a mono mix and then a mono click. I would then interleave these into a stereo file in Wavelab which would be handled by the drummer who would get the monitor, click and backtrack mix to his mixer that he could adjust individually and then the backtrack mix would be sent to FOH.

There are a few ways to do this but I believe having physical faders live is a more tactile idea.

Cheers

 

[Ethan Winer]

in a live situation it is always better to have certain groups of instruments grouped to physical faders.

Good point. I totally missed that this is for live sound, and he did mention "drums" as one entity versus a bunch of separate drum tracks.

In that case the right advice is to subgroup to buses in the DAW, which also requires a sound card with enough separate outputs.

--Ethan

 

[superheterodyne]

thanks for your valued responses.

Just to clear up any grey areas; I'm half of a duo and we both play and sing. Rather than using midi or other pre recorded tracks we elected to use a Boss DR 880 and program our own drums and bass. Unfortunately, the Boss has a rediculously small memory!
This has prompted me to seek guidance from you guys. I noted what you said Mo Facta, and have shelled out on a Saffire 24, I just need to work out how to route individual tracks to individual analog mixer faders eeeek!

 

[Guitargodgt]

Why aren't you running a mixdown version of all that? No performer should be eqing stuff live, leave it to the guy behind the PA. It's your job to perform, not mix.

Your setup sounds way more complicated than necessary.

When I was doing it I was running L to the PA (most of them are setup in mono anyway) with all the backup stuff and R to headphones so I could play to a click. Did this all off an ipod and an active line level converter.

 

[Mo Facta]

I would wager he's handling FOH duties himself from side stage. Am I right, OP?

I noted what you said Mo Facta, and have shelled out on a Saffire 24, I just need to work out how to route individual tracks to individual analog mixer faders eeeek!

The Saffire 24 has six analog outputs which means you'll need six TRS cables to connect to the line inputs of an external mixer. You would then route each channel or groups of channels in your DAW to the individual outputs by setting up six mono output busses. If it was me, I would create one stereo output and four mono outputs, depending on what I wanted to do so I still have the flexibility of having at least one stereo source and the ability to mix four different mono sources as well.

It all depends on your needs.

Cheers

 

[drtechno]

any of those digital studio/live boards that have returns will work. like my presonus studio live 16.4.2