SeaSound Solo or add a mixer?

[trumpetman]

Greetings,

This is my first post to this forum. Thanks in advance for any advice.

I am currently recording to my computer using the Lexicon Core2, a PreSonus Blue Tube mic preamp, Shure SM58 mics, and Cakewalk Pro Audio 7 (upgrading soon to version 9).

The main problem I am having with this setup is that I have not been able to successfully monitor while recording. I am able to output existing tracks while recording a new one, but that new track won't come through any outputs as it is going down. I have been told that I must have a mixing board in order to do this with the Core2. Is this true?

I am not sure I want to add a mixer to my system, because the main reason I began digital recording on my computer was to do all mixing, etc in the digital domain. It seems silly to have a mixer in the system only to allow monitoring. Please correct me if I am wrong in this thinking.

I have shopped around and discovered the SeaSound Solo which seems to offer a good solution. It handles all I/O as well as mic (and instrument) preamping, mixing, and it would even serve as my MIDI interface, allowing me to eliminate the multimedia card I am currently using as my MIDI interface. It's a single box that seems to be able to do it all. Is this considered a good unit?

So, the big question is, do I add a mixer to my current system or replace it all with the SeaSound Solo?

Thanks,
Trumpetman.

 

[CyanJaguar]

a mixer is for getting many sounds into the computer at once. ANd preamplification for mics

I have an 8-input soundcard and three preamp channels, and I have not had need for a mixer.

I have always liked mixing with a mouse. More channels infront of you, no extra conversions, and no extra noise.

So I would say get your 8-in soundcard and preamps and forget the mixer.

 

[tdukex]

I've never heard of any sound card needing a mixer for the audio output either. You need to make sure the Core 2 (and its proper outputs) are selected as your audio out in your software/hardware configuration and that the volume on the card's software mixer is turned up. Make sure it's plugged into one of your amp's line-ins and that proper line-in is selected during playback.