PC setup question

  • Thread starter Thread starter A1A2
  • Start date Start date
A1A2

A1A2

New member
hi,
I have been recording guitar and mic directly thru my soundcard(the one that came with the PC) and using SonicFoundryVegas/ACID to sequence my songs.
Now, I am planning on getting a synth keyboard, mixer, and a soundcard, and my idea for the setup was:

My original idea was, record synth, guitar, and vocal as seperate tracks on Vegas, then send them all to the mixer as "seperate" tracks and do the mixing on the mixer instead on my PC. At the end, mixdown the tracks and send it back to the PC for mastering and CD burning.

Problem:
1) I would need a soundcard with multiple audio outs in order to send seperate tracks to the mixer, don't I?
2) What kind of soundcard would I need to achieve this?
3) Is this setup pointless since I could have done all the mixing on softwares like Sonar, Cubase or whatever?

I wanted to use a mixer just because I don't like to use the mouse and turn the nobs one at a time. Plus, I think an actual mixer might give me more the the "real-time" feeling.
Any suggestion/opinion would be helpful. Thanks
 
I wouldn't approach it this way. You will have several A/D and D/A conversions going on. Also, you'll have to do your mixing in real time.

Suggest you use recording software to do your mixing, and use envelopes. The only real knobs you should need to worry about are the ones with nipples on them.
 
Have I got this right? You're envisaging the tracks actually being held on the mixer while you mix them? You can't use a mixer in this way. You just channel tracks through it onto your recorder (4-track, reel-to-reel, PC or whatever).

Mixing in Sonar etc. would be the way to go. Using the mouse isn't so bad and you forget about once you get going.
 
so.......

hmm.....so, do I even need a mixer then?
what do most of you do in situation like this then?

AL
 
Generally you would use a mixer to supply your pre-amps and to feed multiple sources to your computer's soundcard.

If you are just doing one track at a time, and already have a pre-amp, then you probably don't need a mixer.
 
Good things about having a mixer are you don't have to keep plugging and unplugging your various instruments and mics - though the same can be said for a multiple input soundcard I would guess.

They can also encourage a more flexible and experimental way of working, e.g. you run a keyboard through the mixer, plus a couple of outboard effects units through the Aux. sends and returns and you start twiddling all those knobs and seeing what sounds you can come up with. I've found it better than having everything in a chain. I don't know why.
 
thans

I think I will stick with a mixer, like you said, I don't want to plug and unplug cables all the time.

So, in situation like this, does how many channels,busess or trakcs on the mixer matter? I could probablly just use 1 or 2 track on the mixer and switch the instruments from time to time?
I am asking this because I am deciding if I should trade in my Behringer MX2004 for a MACKIE 1202 cuz appearantly the mx2004 has more channels, but 1202 is known for better pre-amps.

Thanks for all the helpful replies.
AL
 
I'd stick with the Behringer for now and see how you get on with that. If it does the job why change it? I've never used a Mackie. I've seen some reviews saying the pre-amps are sensational, others saying they're too harsh.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top