Giganova
gimmi your mic!
Hey guys --
wassup?
Over the past years, I've recorded with my little 8-channel Roland VM3100Pro digital mixer in 24/44.1 into Logic 5.5 on a maxed-out PC. Suited me fine, but now its time to upgrade to something more serious! Since the rest of my gear is rather good quality (Gefell & Neumann mics with NEVE and Focusrire pres; good analog synths), the interface to my computer is the bottle neck and needs to go.
So what I'm looking for is a good 16-channel setup. I don't need to record 16 channels simultaneously, but I need 16 channels input (I'm doing mostly dance music productions, which means I construct my songs tracks by track).
So the choices are:
1) Analog mixer plus sound card
2) Digital mixer plus sound card or FireWire interface
3) No mixer at all; direct input with MIDI controller
So for option 1) I was thinking about a 16ch Allen & Heath Mix Wizard or something similar with good pres (maybe a Mackie mixer), plus an RME Hammerfall sound card, or maybe a MOTU interface (even though I've heard numerous complaints about the compatibility of MOTU with a PC). Benefits of option 1): light on my budget! Analog mixer and PCI cound cards are way cheap. Downsides: stuck with analog gear, less control/routing options, no track automation.
For option 2) I consider getting a TASCAM DM24 (prices are doppping dramatically below $1.5k), or a YAMAHA 01V or 01V96. What kind of sound card would I need? Maybe an RME with ADAT input (if I get an ADAT output card for the digital mixer). If I wanted to save some buxx, I guess I could get a TASCAM FW1840 FireWire interface, and maybe an expansion unit to get 16 channels. Benefits of option 2): full digital signal path, onboard FX, automation, endless routing options Downsides: expensive.
Option 3) is getting more & more recommended to me, presumably because the signal path is very short and sound results might be superior. Options would be a MOTU interface, I guess. But then I need some sort of hardware to control the levels. The Mackie Control plus expansion or the new TASCAM US-2400 sound good. Benefit: maximum sound quality, awesome track control (virtually all paramerets within Logic and plugins) if I get a controller. Downside: no stand-alone mixing possible; high CPU load if I get a controller.
Could you shed some light on whether these options make sense, and what you'd recommend?
Two more questions:
o What options would benefit from decent converters (like Apogee/Lucent)? Where would converers sit in the signal path?
o Since I do my recording on a PC, is there a need for an external hard disk recorder? (I never understood that concept in the age of fast computers and cheap & fast hard drives)
I really needed your expert advice!
Thanxxx a lot!!
wassup?
Over the past years, I've recorded with my little 8-channel Roland VM3100Pro digital mixer in 24/44.1 into Logic 5.5 on a maxed-out PC. Suited me fine, but now its time to upgrade to something more serious! Since the rest of my gear is rather good quality (Gefell & Neumann mics with NEVE and Focusrire pres; good analog synths), the interface to my computer is the bottle neck and needs to go.
So what I'm looking for is a good 16-channel setup. I don't need to record 16 channels simultaneously, but I need 16 channels input (I'm doing mostly dance music productions, which means I construct my songs tracks by track).
So the choices are:
1) Analog mixer plus sound card
2) Digital mixer plus sound card or FireWire interface
3) No mixer at all; direct input with MIDI controller
So for option 1) I was thinking about a 16ch Allen & Heath Mix Wizard or something similar with good pres (maybe a Mackie mixer), plus an RME Hammerfall sound card, or maybe a MOTU interface (even though I've heard numerous complaints about the compatibility of MOTU with a PC). Benefits of option 1): light on my budget! Analog mixer and PCI cound cards are way cheap. Downsides: stuck with analog gear, less control/routing options, no track automation.
For option 2) I consider getting a TASCAM DM24 (prices are doppping dramatically below $1.5k), or a YAMAHA 01V or 01V96. What kind of sound card would I need? Maybe an RME with ADAT input (if I get an ADAT output card for the digital mixer). If I wanted to save some buxx, I guess I could get a TASCAM FW1840 FireWire interface, and maybe an expansion unit to get 16 channels. Benefits of option 2): full digital signal path, onboard FX, automation, endless routing options Downsides: expensive.
Option 3) is getting more & more recommended to me, presumably because the signal path is very short and sound results might be superior. Options would be a MOTU interface, I guess. But then I need some sort of hardware to control the levels. The Mackie Control plus expansion or the new TASCAM US-2400 sound good. Benefit: maximum sound quality, awesome track control (virtually all paramerets within Logic and plugins) if I get a controller. Downside: no stand-alone mixing possible; high CPU load if I get a controller.
Could you shed some light on whether these options make sense, and what you'd recommend?
Two more questions:
o What options would benefit from decent converters (like Apogee/Lucent)? Where would converers sit in the signal path?
o Since I do my recording on a PC, is there a need for an external hard disk recorder? (I never understood that concept in the age of fast computers and cheap & fast hard drives)
I really needed your expert advice!
Thanxxx a lot!!