Summing mixers

[Chris Jahn]

This is probebly a big "no-duh" for most, but i was just two days ago introduced to the world of summing mixers and there benifits. But i was short on time for the conversation, so can amyone explain the ideas behind it and the benifits, or lead me to a website that explains it. It sounds like a great thing, but whats the real deal?

Also were does it sit iin the signal chain?

 

[SonicAlbert]

It sits last in the signal chain, right ahead of the converter. The idea is that instead of mixing the tracks in software, you bring them out to the analog summing mixer, sum the tracks there, then send them to your best converter and back into the DAW.

I use a summing mixer, the Speck Electronics X.Sum. It sounds great, and I do prefer summing in analog as opposed to digital. I did that for a while, but it never sounded right to me.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Man, you ask a LOT of questions for a guy with a whole Internet full of answers in front of him! Would the occasional Google or Teoma search kill ya?

Al "summed" it up pretty well . I just wanted to underline the concept that the main attraction to summing boxes is their sound; as compared to digital mixing, which does indeed have a different sound, and as compared to the more generic summing amps found in many full-featured analog mixers.

If you want the sound of top shelf analog mixing, but don't necessarily want to get a big honking coal-burner of an analog mixer, a nice summing box can be just the ticket.

G.

 

[dzara 4]

different types give you different flavor. My Friend has a real nice studio and

uses different types for different types of color

For example, The dangerous 2-bus is known fo as having a very clear

transparent sound. Compared to the Neve 8816 or the mixdream which is

suppossed to "color" the sound. They also have passive boxes like the

folcrum where you can use your own pre for make-up which does not limit

you to the sound of the box. Also, Some people like owning summing boxes

just cause it makes use of there outboard easier.

 

[Chris Jahn]

First a quick note to glen, this is stupid personal info, but i am in a very "real" way ADD, not in the pop phsycology throw the term at every kid with bad grades way. So long detail oriented material loses me very quickly, but quick summations get me on the right track and then the info i find after the fact absorbs much easier, thats why i usually ask questions here first. Ask a ? on th forum, read more after light understanding, then apply which is really the only true way to learn for people like me!!

now my question, i went and read an article in Mix that explained it all pretty well, but i didnt really see how it works in the signal chain, and especially with the passive ones, i use twofirepods for an interface, and have 16 (20 if you count the midi) inputs, most of the units i read about have 8-16 inputs.

So, A:how am i hooking this up through the firepods into the computer, B:if the unit has only sixteen imputs am i limited to mixing sixteen tracks, or can other tracks be summed "in the box" while other are summed outside and then all brought together? i guess if that were the case i would use the summing unit for my more "important" tracks, my worry i guess is that i get up to thirty tracks going when im doing somthing really fancy and layered.

 

[dzara 4]

Yep, many people make stem mixes first if they dont have enough outputs.

for example a bass, a backup vocal maybe grouped to one buss and sent out.

I have been talking to Tom over at Visionary studios in Jersey and he uses

32 channels with his "mixdream" he just added an extra expansion unit.

and sometimes even with 32 channels it is still neccessary to make stem

mixes. Here is a very basic typical signal flow, keep in mind many, many

people implement outboard before the summing amp.

(outboard) via patchbay ( comp )
DA------------------summing amp ---------------- AD (two channels back
to DAW,Masterlink, tape,etc