Need help between a mixer and a sound card.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Adil
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Adil

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hi,
I'm totally new to this thing. I've been playing guitar for a while now and i think it's time to record some good tracks with my brothers. I trying to set up a small basic studio in my room. Now i don't know, rather i'm confused if i should invest in a sound card or just get a mixer. Now some of my friends are like get a sound card and some are like get a mixer. i don't know what to do. Plus if i get a mixer will it word fine on a normal on board sound card?

Kindly held me and update me with some info on both.

Thanks. :)
 
Well, unless the mixer has some form of USB or Firewire interface installed, you'll still need a sound card (interface) to go from the mixer to your computer. If you go the USB mixer route, read the small print very carefully. The majority of these only send the main L/R mix to the computer via USB and only bring 2 tracks back into the mixer, often routed straight to the main outs which can make monitoring awkward.

Cards on the table, I'm a fan of having a mixer in the set up--I like being able to set levels on a proper fader rather than fiddly little knobs and I like the flexibility of doing multiple monitor mixes on auxes to feed to headphones. The thing is though, to get these advantages you have to invest in rather more than the bargain basement cheapies. Unless you can send each individual channel into the computer and route the computer output back in spare channels for monitoring, I question how worthwhile the mixer is.

So, my advice is to consider your budget and unless you can invest in a GOOD mixer, go the sound card route.

Bob
 
Thanks a lot Bob. I guess I'll just start off by investing in a good sound card and get things done with a software mixer "initially". I'll get a good mixer after I get my hands swinging on the software mixer.

Thanks a lot once again.
 
read the sticky intro to multitrack recording

I wouldn't get a sound card unless its also an interface - really just get an interface and add a mixer later OR get an interface that is also a mixer
 
The problem here is that, in the days of desktop computers, "interface" and "sound card" were treated as synonyms. Anything PCI based was a sound card, whether it was a "Sound Blaster" (don't touch with a barge pole) or a really nice specialist device by MOTU or similar.

Nowadays, with most things being USB-based, "interface" is the more accurate name since it's no longer a plug in card for a computer but I slip back into calling things "sound cards" too often.

Yeah, it was "interface" I meant!

Bob
 
it gets confusing because they make those PCI interfaces now too that look just like a sound card, but they have like XLR and 1/4 inputs and are not really just sound cards :p for newbs it must be a freakin nightmare
 
Thanks a lot guys, and trust me it is a nightmare :P. Okay, can you guys check this out and let me know if it's okay to start with?

Fast Track Pro - 4 x 4 Mobile USB Audio/MIDI Interface with Preamps

Thanks.
 
The Fast Track Pro is a decent sound interface, quite well thought of. If it's got sufficient ins and outs for your purposes (effectively just two analogue) it should be fine...decent monitoring capabilities and it provides phantom power for condensers.

I don't have a Fast Track but use the M-Audio Mobile Pre for portable work and an M-Audio Firewire ADAT interface in my home studio...happy with the quality and support of both.

Bob
 
That'll certainly get you started.

If there's a Guitar Center in your area, they're holding free home recording workshops every Saturday mornings from 10:00 to 11:00. Good way to get a basic understanding for a newb.

They sell Mac's that come with Garage Band so the workshops are geared towards that however, the same principles apply across all multi-track recoding programs which is what you'll need to complete your projects.

There are several good programs available VERY little (or no) money. Audacity and Reaper get alot of love around here and I use Mixcraft 5 by Acoustica. Very Garage Band like and easy to use. I like it alot. All of them are available for download and are very inexpensive.

Good luck!
 
+1 Fast Track Pro or Fast Track Pro with Pro Tools MP if you want the software also.
 
Thanks again everyone, you all are being very helpful. So i'm ordering this interface today, will get it in a day i hope. I have one more thing to ask though (don't mind my questions :$ ) I have a yamaha PRS 170 keyboard, it has midi in/out. Can i use that as a midi controller?

Thanks.
 
Sure can. You'll need an interface for that as well. Fairly cheap......$40'ish.
 
Adil said:
Thanks again everyone, you all are being very helpful. So i'm ordering this interface today, will get it in a day i hope. I have one more thing to ask though (don't mind my questions :$ ) I have a yamaha PRS 170 keyboard, it has midi in/out. Can i use that as a midi controller?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Yup. The Fast Track Pro interface can handle MIDI. You'll need appropriate software on your computer to use it but the gear you have (or will soon have) is suitable.

FYI, you'll need MIDI leads (the five pin DIN ones) of course.
Bob
 
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