recording direct to disk or through mixer first

[caffrey]

I'm trying to figure out what is best or more practical. I have a firebox and Cubase LE as well as an external mixer. Should i put the sound source through the mixer first and then send that output to the firebox input? or should i record directly to the firebox and send the recorded out to the mixer if i want to use that?

 

[Dr Biscuits]

Do you need to mix anything? Meaning, do you need to combine more inputs than your firebox can handle? If not, then you don't need to run anything through a mixer just for the sake of running it through a mixer - unless of course it's got far superior pre's, or you need to track with effects from the aux sends or something.
Basically, the least possible amount of unnecessary 'stuff' in your signal chain the better.

 

[caffrey]

I guess i was thinking i had to do that from seeing photos of studios. It seems like they also have a mixing console as well as some type of disk recorder.. i never understood which they did first. Some of it yes, is so i can use more than 2 mic inputs at once.. maybe I should run those tracks through the mixer and then to the line inputs on the firebox? But for tracking that only needs to use 2 mic inputs at a time go direct to the firebox.. right?

 

[NYMorningstar]

Like Dr Biscuits said, the answer depends on the what you are using for a pre amp for the mics. If the external mixer has better pre's and/or effects than the firebox, then yes, you want to run the signal through it but I'm guessing just the firebox is all you need.