Upgrading!

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RandomHero

RandomHero

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Hello revered home and pro recording people!

I am here to make gear inquiries, as i am updating my home studio. My current medium for "getting sounds to my computer" (haha) is a Focusrite Saffire pro40 audio interface... i really dig it, but i need an upgrade, better A/D conversion, faders, EQ, etc.

now heres the question: i really want to get a serious mixer. the pro40 is very nice but not cutting it. now of course, a few problems arise: how do i connect an analog mixer to my DAW? im also willing to shell out a bit of money, i really want great results.

this is one piece i was thinking about Mackie Onyx 1640i | Sweetwater.com

but the whole build in audio interface thing makes me suspicious...

Tell me what i should get!

Thank in advance!
 
RandomHero said:
Hello revered home and pro recording people!

I am here to make gear inquiries, as i am updating my home studio. My current medium for "getting sounds to my computer" (haha) is a Focusrite Saffire pro40 audio interface... i really dig it, but i need an upgrade, better A/D conversion, faders, EQ, etc.

now heres the question: i really want to get a serious mixer. the pro40 is very nice but not cutting it. now of course, a few problems arise: how do i connect an analog mixer to my DAW? im also willing to shell out a bit of money, i really want great results.
Click to expand...

My question would be do you really need a "mixer"?

if you want faders for a more intuitive/tactile mix experience why not look at a DAW controller? something like the Mackie Control is pretty cool or, for less money (although only one fader) the Presonus Faderport is also a nice addition.

in terms of EQ, if you're planning to EQ on the way in whilst tracking or intend to mix everything on the desk than a mixer may work, but a channel strip may work better. it'd give you one of two channels of full on EQ, compression, and perhaps nicer pre's than the Saffire. if you want to stay mainly ITB, then maybe look at some outboard gear and utilise the multiple out's on the saffire to create a hybrid setup. things like the GAP EQ-73, and Speck EQ's are pretty awesome.

The quality of the Pro40 A/D and preamps are pretty good and, unless you want to spend alot more money for the same functions and number of in's and out's, i'd say you'd be better off keeping it and adding other things. Unless you just want one or two channels with outstanding A/D, in which case i'd say either look at the Apogee stuff, the new UA interfaces, of buy and external pre/channel strip with it's own A/D card built in

My setup at the moment is Logic 9, a Presonus Firestudio mobile, an FMR RNC, a Focusrite ISA220, an Alesis Microverb, and I'm saving up for the GAP EQ-73. if i want to use the outboard for mixing, i run the signal out of the SPDIF out on the Firestudio mobile, into an D/A converter, then into whatever gear, and then back into one of the line inputs and record the results back in on a new track in Logic. For some things i use the I/O plugin in Logic to do it all in real time, but mainly just record stuff back in and time align the new track to compensate for the round trip through the outboard.

I'm not 100% sure (and from reading i couldn't decipher whether i'm right or not) but the Onyx doesn't have firewire returns back to the individual channels. So, say you wanted to use the EQ's on the channels you can't route the signal back from your DAW, into the desk, add EQ, and then get it back into your DAW just via the firewire in the desk. The only desk that comes to mind that can do that is the Presonus Studiolive desks.

Hope that helps
 
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thanks man! very helpful. checking out some of your gear.
 
You're welcome man, glad to help :)

Also, just to add, there's also a lot to be said for picking up "better" plugins. I use the speech marks purely because the term better is very subjective, but the UAD and Waves plugins are outstanding and offer a lot of variety of sound for considerably less money than buying the equivalent outboard. I still use a lot of plugins and still mix mainly ITB but there is a certain something about using the outboard that my plugins just don't seem to have, although, as you can imagine, it can be time consuming having to re-record the tracks back in when running tracks though the outboard (but it's usually worth it :) )

I do love the ISA220 and i use it as my "main" preamp and use the other features on it a lot for mixing OTB as i said before. I love the EQ on it, the compresser is so-so but great for some things (i really like it on vocals and snares), and the de-esser is outstanding (i never got on with the various plugin de-essers i've used) and second hand they go for about £600. to say the ISA One is £400 new the extra £200 for the EQ, compressor, de-esser and limiter (i've never used it but it's nice to have it there) is well worth it imo :)

there's already a lot of love around here for the RNC so have a read of the other threads about it if you're interested. For £160 it's incredible imo.

We've got an older Mackie Controller at work and use it every now and then and it's really nice to have that tactile element when mixing, although i normally only use the faders, pan pots, and transport functions and just use a mouse for everything else. Some of the guys i work with love it and use it all the time, some just prefer to use a mouse and keyboard, but if it's that side of mixing you feel you're missing when working with a DAW then the controllers are pretty cool.
 
Upgrading for better A/D converters isn't going to give you any better bang for the buck. The difference in converter quality isn't noticeable, especially in a home recording environment. There are so many other factors that come into play before the converters make a difference in your recordings. If you're upgrading for better converters, stick with the focusrite. If you're upgrading for better preamps, stick with the focusrite. If you're upgrading for ease of use, stick with the focusrite.

If you're going into a computer, you really don't need a mixer. Ideally, you capture the recording raw and then eq, balance, pan, etc in the DAW when you have all the other tracks recorded. You won't know what adjustments to make to your tracks until they all recorded, so any processing while recording is a shot in the dark.

If you really want to upgrade, maybe consider the UAD Apollo. Great mic pres, converters, nice number of inputs. But it has the UAD sharc cards in them and you can run those wonderful UAD plugs. This is what I'm drooling over these days. Hope to get it in the next few months.

that's my two cents worth. Good luck!!
 
Chili said:
If you're upgrading for better converters, stick with the focusrite. If you're upgrading for better preamps, stick with the focusrite. If you're upgrading for ease of use, stick with the focusrite.
Click to expand...

Sums up my thoughts and feelings. then again, i am just a sucker for all things focusrite ;)
 
Agree on keeping the Focusrite.
You could add this: OctoPre MkII Dynamic | Focusrite

(I just happen to like Focusrite too!)

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