newbie needs HEEEELPPP

[glaspar]

hey i need your help here to quell my doubts...i am a noob trying to buy my first analog mixer...then all of a sudden my friend tells me that i need to buy those with an ad/da converter inside...i know its function is to convert the analog signal into digital and vice versa right? but don't all mixers have one? how can u tell if a mixer has one or not, because they don't put that down in the specs (or maybe i missed it ) ...yea just to let u guys know more, i just want to buy a mixer for pure home recording purposes, i'm aiming for a 4-6 channel analog mixer cuz digital mixers will burst my buget wide open ... please help me out!!! thx

 

[ssscientist]

The first thing you need to do is REEEEEEELAAAAAAX!

The second thing you need to do is buy one of these. It's all analog, no digital converters to mess things up and it sounds GRRRRRREAAAT for the price. If you want to spend more, one of these would be a good choice - again, all analog with good solid sound...

 

[glaspar]

yay!! one more thing...

yay..thx so much!! now i can rest in peace...for the moment .. ok... can i just clarify sth?

if i have an analog mixer (e.g. the yamaha mg 10/2 which i'll most probably be getting) .... and i get good sound card (say the m-audio audiophile) .. then i can forget abt having a ad/da converter right?

 

[jkokura]

What are you trying to do? why do you want a mixer? Analog mixers are for mixing live stuff...and they're good only sometimes for going into your computer.

If you're trying to get individual tracks into your computer you need a i/o interface. Motu or M audio make stellar versions. How many inputs do you want? After that you'll need pres. i recommend that you pick up a decent set of 'workhorse pres' - a set of 4 or 8 pres that get used consistently.

However, if you're trying to get stereo mix into your computer, but a mixer and your the stereo outs to go into an stereo AD/DA converter (go for something at least 24bit/96),then you'll have your mix into your computer to burn a copy of it.

I you can get a mixer with ad/da, but it's not always the best or cheapest alternative. But I need to know what EXACTLY you're trying to do before I can say what the best idea for you is.

And I agree...REEEELLLLAAAXX

Jacob

 

[jonnyc]

You can go the cheap mixer and decent soundcard route, many people do. Its the soundcard doing the conversion, or you could go with an all in one interface that has mic pre's(basically a mixer and soundcard combined) that will do all your conversion for you. For example I started with a yamaha mg16/4, no ad/da conversion happens here that takes place at the soundcard, which at the time was my soundblaster(horrible converters). You should at least consider an interface(again soundcard/mixer combined without faders) you don't really need a mixer, your software should have a built in mixer and you just do everything and your effects on the software and just use the interface to capture the signal from the mics, etc...

Some people have problems with presonus, I don't, but check out this unit, has 2 xlr inputs, 2 trs so you can add different/better pre's for up to 4 plus it comes with cubase software which is really nice. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/184133/ ok I need to add a little more. This little box has 6 inputs, it also has 2 channel spdif so you can add a digital piece of gear later and get 6 simaltaneous tracks at one time. Also this is a firewire box which means you just plug it into your pc's firewire port download drivers and software and you should be good to go. This is what's refered to as a "mixerless setup". As I said earlier with this set up you actually use the faders on cubase, and honestly the faders on the yamaha wouldn't do much besides adjust the volume before you record, with the "virtual faders" you can automate your volume to adjust for you throughout the song, like flying faders. Ah hell I'll stop here before I get way over your head, if you have more questions try tweaks guide at www.tweakheadz.com

 

[crunkthanamug]

You cant go wrong if you do this...

First, having a mixer will definitely come in handy down the road. If you dont need many inputs (more than 12), I recommend the Mackie 1202VLZ, which I own. Its only $300 now and has got very good preamps. As far as the soundcard, i would advise against the Audiophile 2496. Its a good card (I have one of those too), if you are content with an all software setup. You may come to a point, as I recently have, where you want to incorporate hardware effects/processors into your recordings, and that soundcard doesnt have enough I/O to do it. If I knew then what I know now, I would have gotten a M Audio Delta 1010LT. Its $200. And you wont need to worry about AD/DA converters or anything... Hope this helps

 

[Toki987]

yes.......

 

[glaspar]

wow...thanks ppl....i really appreciate the advice...it has cleared up a whole load of doubts in my head...yea..now i can finally REEEELLLLAAAXX