USB Mixer vs Audio Interface

[MattCartwright]

Hey guys,

Before i start buying some stuff to record at home i've been researching quite a bit and there's some constant argument between using a mixer or an audio interface. I've been looking at a few audio interfaces around about £150 and some mixers at the same price. I just want a straight answer for this.. What would be better for someone who's starting to record at home.. A mixer or audio interface?

Just for the record, i'm going to be recording drums, guitars, bass, vocals

 

[JimmyS1969]

There is no constant argument. Only people who don't know what they are talking about.

Audio interface is the only way to go. Unless you have thousands+ to spend on both, and plan to use your thousands worth of outboard gear that you already own. Forget the whole USB Mixer thing. It is completely lame and wrong for a small/home studio.

Tascam US1800 is my fav pick for 'bang for buck' when it comes to live drums for a new member. Or if you can find a used one, or a US 1641, it's all the same for the most part. 10 preamps, 16 tracks at once possible. I'd look into that.

 

[Bobbsy]

There's a FAQ discussing the pros and cons HERE.

Short answer: at that price point, you'll be way better off with an interface. The mixer won't have the right facilities to be useful in a studio and, since you're paying for all sorts of extra knobs and flashing lights you don't need, the quality probably won't be up to a simple, dedicated interface.

 

[TimOBrien]

also realize a usb mixer IS an audio interface.

anything that takes audio and puts it into your computer is an interface.
just 'cause it has some knobs on it means little beyond what capabilities you want to pay for.

 

[Armistice]

And Jimmy will help you install the Tascam beast... he's the official help desk for that model round here...

 

[ecc83]

Yes, definately an AI.
That is not to say a mixer is not useful, given a decent PCI soundcard even a cheap Behringer mixer makes for a very flexible system with better mic pres than you find on most AIs.

Jimmys69. The Tascam 1800 does look the dog's whatsits but at £261 (Thomann) way out of OP's budget. Yes, you did mention second hand but do peeps part with them?
You also mentioned the US-1641 but does it play well with W7/64? I read not.

I shall of course say " Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6"!!

Lastly, multitracking is a great idea but you have to be able to afford the shedload of mics, cables and stands!

Dave.

 

[Bobbsy]

Yes, definately an AI.
That is not to say a mixer is not useful, given a decent PCI soundcard even a cheap Behringer mixer makes for a very flexible system with better mic pres than you find on most AIs.

Hmmm...I'm going to have to disagree. The Behringer mic pre amps are, at best, mediocre and often get pretty noisy if you push the gain past about 3/4 level. Yeah, there are also some pretty bad pre amps in interfaces--but most of the ones commonly recommended here have decent pre amps that can beat the Behringer ones hands down. (Lest you think I'm a Behringer basher, I have several ADA8000 8 channel pre amp to ADAT boxes--I'm just careful what channels I put through them to make sure I never have to turn the gain up.)

However, beyond that, the signal routing options on cheapie (and $150 is cheapie) Behringer mixers can be very limiting. For a start, no matter how many channels they claim, they only output the main stereo output (i.e. 2 channels) via USB. Second, the routing for things like monitoring is rarely flexible enough for any serious recording.

Yeah, I DO use a mixer in my recording chain--but, to get one that does what I want, I spent orders of magnitude more than the OP's stated budget.

 

[Garf Richards]

Start from the ground up. Audio interface….

You'd want one with good A/D converters and maybe multiple inputs (not really important if you going to user a mixer for ins/outs though)

 

[ecc83]

Hmmm...I'm going to have to disagree. The Behringer mic pre amps are, at best, mediocre and often get pretty noisy if you push the gain past about 3/4 level. Yeah, there are also some pretty bad pre amps in interfaces--but most of the ones commonly recommended here have decent pre amps that can beat the Behringer ones hands down. (Lest you think I'm a Behringer basher, I have several ADA8000 8 channel pre amp to ADAT boxes--I'm just careful what channels I put through them to make sure I never have to turn the gain up.)

However, beyond that, the signal routing options on cheapie (and $150 is cheapie) Behringer mixers can be very limiting. For a start, no matter how many channels they claim, they only output the main stereo output (i.e. 2 channels) via USB. Second, the routing for things like monitoring is rarely flexible enough for any serious recording.

Yeah, I DO use a mixer in my recording chain--but, to get one that does what I want, I spent orders of magnitude more than the OP's stated budget.

They probably vary quite a bit and I have been lucky, twice! The first Behringer product I bought was the BCA2000 interface (an AI that has never been equalled for facilities IMHO!) and those pre amps were very quiet and unlike 99% of other AIs, had gain AND pre-out controls. It also had rather more gain than almost any AI to my knowledge at around 60dB. The mixer was the Xenyx 802 and again, 60dB of quiet gain, even my old Relso RB 30Ohm ribbons were pretty useable.

Those two devices and the ADA8000 share the same mic amp circuitry, a pair of discrete transistors and an op amp, almost always a TL072. The same hybrid circuitry is found in many "pro" mixers, Soundcraft are one.

My NI Ka6 AI is very quiet but then, like most interfaces of its price, it does not have the gain of the Berries. It is better than the Fast track pro and the Tascam 122/144s but not by much. Still just about good enough (gainwise, noise is fine) for acoustic guitar using an SM57 (yeah! I know, but Son likes it the most!).

Dave.

 

[JimmyS1969]

Jimmys69. The Tascam 1800 does look the dog's whatsits but at £261 (Thomann) way out of OP's budget. Yes, you did mention second hand but do peeps part with them?

You also mentioned the US-1641 but does it play well with W7/64? I read not.

Dave.

I don't see them often.

I still use the US-1641. And as always, with W7/64. Never an issue, ever. On two different PC's as well, one a 4 year old AMD Dell. The other a new i7 home build.