Playback While Recording

  • Thread starter Thread starter Loffler
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Loffler

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Hello Everyone

Soon I will be recording drums through a Behringer Xenyx X1222USB Mixer into a Mac computer using either Reaper, Logic or Garage Band.
What I would like to know is if there is a way to record the drums and have my band play through the mixer at the same time so that I can hear them but they aren't recorded?

Thanks
 
Sorry man, You will only get 2 channels via the main out to your computer. Any inputs to the mixer will go to the main out. You will need to get an interface with multiple inputs to get what you are looking for. :(
 
Sure, but you have to monitor from the MON out, and you can't just plug headphones into that jack. A headphone amp that can take a mono input would do the trick. You would connect everything and set gains as usual but only put the faders up on the drum channels. Use the MON knobs on the channels for your monitor mix. What you record will be a stereo mix of the drums.
 
Actually, I think you might be lucky. I had a quick look at the console manual. If I understand correctly, you want all the band to play through the console, but only drums to record?

Aside from the issue of how you are going to isolate the other other instruments, you can use the aux send control to send the instruments to the monitor bus, and keep their faders down or muted. The manual suggests that the aux monitor sends are pre-fader, so they will not be influenced by the fader position.

You can then use the monitor output on the console to drive, for example, a headphone amp for your own listening. You would then only be recording what comes out of the main mix.

Hope that makes sense. I can't say 100% this will work, but it should.

Paul
 
Keep in mind that you are still only going to get two channels to your DAW for drums. I am not sure what scenario you might have that you need to have other instruments in the mixer to begin with. Please explain what you are wanting to accomplish.
 
Thanks for all the replys

I understand that I will only be recording a stereo mix and i'm ok with that.
I also own a headphone amp, so I can use that to monitor you say?
So just to clarify, I use the main faders at the bottom of the mixer to set the levels for the drums, but keep the other instruments on mute basically and the instruments that I want to hear but not have recorded I use the Aux Monitor send for that channel. Sorry if I dont make sense

Thanks heaps again everyone
 
Yes. The monitor aux sends should be pre-fader, so use them on whatever channels you use to create a monitoring mix from your band members. Keep the faders for those guys right down or mute their channels. Use the monitor outs to feed your headphone amp, and use the monitor main slider to control the level to where you want. Mic your kit as you wish, use the faders to create the drum mix.

Out of curiosity, how do you plan to isolate the rest of the band?

Paul
 
thanks for the help.
Sorry but what do you mean when you said isolate the band?
They arent playing through amps or anything so my condensers wont pick them up.
Sorry I am a noob :)
 
Yeah, I wasn't sure if the band were playing through amps that you were mic'ing. So, I meant "isolate" in terms of keeping the band sound from bleeding into your drum mics. Paul
 
What I would like to know is if there is a way to record the drums and have my band play through the mixer at the same time so that I can hear them but they aren't recorded?
Click to expand...
Will all the band be playing DI ? And do you have a vocalist ?
 
Loffler,

I assume you understand that you'll be recording "already mixed" drums into your computer if it's taking the mixer's main outputs as its input. That being said, you can do what you're trying to if you can route the signal in the mixer in such a way as to ONLY send the drum channels to your computer. Then you'd be hearing band and drums but only recording drums. That's what you were looking to do, right?

Good luck.

Ken
 
Yes the band will be playing DI, we do have a vocalist but he will not be singing while the drums are being recorded.
Yes I understand the drums will be already mixed, I just have to get a perfect sound before I record. and yeh, im trying to hear all the band but only record the drums.

Thanks
 
have the band play live and only put what yuo want to record in the mixer
 
I thought the band were playing live, just DI'd except the drums. I can't see what the problem is. If the band are all DI, nothing should be picked up by the drum mics, unless they are so super sensitive that they'll pick up plectrum on string sounds and the like. But the sound of the drums should cover that. As has been said, whatever's going to the mixer that you want recorded, route to the outputs.
As for the drums already being mixed, it takes practice to get it right but it's more than possible. I use a mixer for the toms and overheads and sometimes I love the sound. Some of my earlier efforts were, um, 'usable' but the more you do it, the better the idea you have of what you're doing. I also found that the crucial component was actually the drummer and the way they play.
 
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