need some help on mixing

[njpunx911]

Hi. I am new to recording and i need some help. I have a 12 channel yamaha mixer hooked up to a crappy sound card on a computer. I want to be able to do live recording and be able to edit each track seperatly after recording is done. I know i can pre mix with my yamaha 12 channel but can i edit each track seperatly after i record? Thanks...

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

To do live recording and be able to mix each track separately after the fact means you need to record each channel to its own track via a multi-track recorder and/or software. And of course, your soundcard needs as many inputs as tracks you want to keep separate.

 

[Scottgman]

The short answer is "no."

The long answer is it depends on how many tracks you are recording. If you are going into a crappy sound card, then it probably only has a stereo input (2 separate tracks). So if you are only recording 2 tracks, you can do it. For instance, say you are recording one vocal track and one acoustic guitar track. You could pan the vocals hard left and the guitar hard right (on your mixer) then send the tape out (or whatever outs you have on the mixer) to your sound card.

This is all assuming you have software that will record separate tracks.

Good Luck!

 

[njpunx911]

but there is no way i can do this...
source>mixer(pre mix)>computer>mixer(edit)>computer
?

 

[Scottgman]

Think of your tracks as INs and OUTs. To be able to edit separate tracks, you need separate INs on your soundcard and separate OUTs on your mixer. Your mixer probably has several OUTs but you said your sound card is crappy so I am assuming it only has a stereo input (2 "INs"). Therefore, if you are only recording 2 sources (one singer, one guitar), you can do it.

Again, this is all assuming you have software that handles separate tracks.

 

[EddieRay]

but there is no way i can do this...
source>mixer(pre mix)>computer>mixer(edit)>computer
?

Not with that soundcard you have and not without some audio editing software.

 

[njpunx911]

ok, thanx for the help. I think what i am gonna have to do is get an M box or something similar to that.

 

[Scottgman]

If you are serious about recording multiple sources, then you should probably look at getting a new soundcard. I suppose one of those digital recording workstations would probably work also.

If you look at the MBox, it only has 2 INs. You really wouldn't be any better off than you are now (you already have 2 INs). Granted, the sound quality is probably going to be much better than your crappy soundcard. But, if you are wanting to record multiple separate tracks (like a 4-piece band) then you are going to need alot more INs. Just recording drums will require multiple INs. When I record drums, I use 7 mics. That's 7 separate INs on my soundcard. That's not including any scratch vocals or guitars.