What are you all doing......

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sae

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I am thinking of buying a 16 track mixer and sending the out's from each track to a sound card on my computer. I would like to use N-Track (because it's cheap...and so am i ;)) I would then run the outs back to the board to do all my mixing. This allows me to have all the benefits of a digital medium while still being able to have the hands on of a mixing board. For this to work I would need a 16 track input sound card (or two 8's?) that will work with N-Track. Do you know of any? (I want to keep it under $1000)


So back to my question:

How are you tracking/mixing? Do you use a digital recorder (such as a fostex), just a computer or a mixer / computer that I described above?
 
You'd just need an 8in/out soundcard like a Delta 1010 or a C-Port. Multi channel cards usually have both individual ins and outs. You would, however, need 2 mixer channels for every track you're working with to do it this way.

If all you need is 8 tracks, you'd be good to go with a 16 channel board and a Delta 1010 or a C-Port.

For 16, you'd need a 32 channel board and 2 cards.

For me, the hands-on-faders thing would be kind of nice, but not that big a deal, and not worth it to me for the extra cost. Besides, I like being able to automate and recall mixes, so I do all the mixing in the software. I use a C-Port and a Yamaha 12 channel board - this gives me all of the monitoring options I need.

Another option would be to get a digital mixer that doubles as a control surface. Then you're 1 channel to 1 mixer track, and you can still automate mixes.
 
I'm still waiting to hear about someone who has two 1010's running simultanueosly. M-Audio designed it to work with two, in theorey, but I havn't heard any feedback from this board about hands on experience with two.

I have the 1010, and a 12 channel mixer. I run the 8 outs of the 1010 into the 1-8 of the mixer, as you mentioned above. I find this to be enough hands on channels. I use CWPA8 for multitracking audio.

I usually send Drums Stereo mix out on channels 1 & 2 panned hard LR, then Bass-3, Piano-4, Elec or Acoustic Guitars mixed in the software and stereo out 5&6, Vocals mixed in the software and out 7&8.

This also makes recording easy: I can monitor thru the mixer headphone jack to the previously recorded tracks, as well as listen to the mic signal thru the mixer, and send the output of the mic to the 1010's inputs via an aux send.

I also have my 1010's inputs connected to a patch bay to make all hookups and routing changes easier.

Hope this is helpful!
 
Seanmorse79 said:
For 16, you'd need a 32 channel board and 2 cards.
Click to expand...

A 32 channel board to mix 16 channels? This of course does not make sense at all.
Never seen a board with 16 separate mono channels??
 
Seanmorse79 is refering to a setup where you can record and mix with out having to repatch anything. It's usefull if you got it, but it's not necessary. I can do the same thing by using the insert channels to/from my mackie to/from my ADAT. Saves on cable, saves on channels. :D

sae. I doubt you would be able to get a decent mixer and soundcard(s) for 16 tracks under $1000. 8 tracks definitly though. I'd say go for an 8 channel setup that you can expand later.
 
James HE said:
Seanmorse79 is refering to a setup where you can record and mix with out having to repatch anything. It's usefull if you got it, but it's not necessary. I can do the same thing by using the insert channels to/from my mackie to/from my ADAT. Saves on cable, saves on channels. :D

sae. I doubt you would be able to get a decent mixer and soundcard(s) for 16 tracks under $1000. 8 tracks definitly though. I'd say go for an 8 channel setup that you can expand later.
Click to expand...

Thanks for saving me the typing James HE!:D
 
James HE said:


sae. I doubt you would be able to get a decent mixer and soundcard(s) for 16 tracks under $1000. 8 tracks definitly though. I'd say go for an 8 channel setup that you can expand later.
Click to expand...


Maybe I should have been more specific...I was thinking of spending $1000 on ONLY the sound card (s)
 
maestro_dmc said:
I'm still waiting to hear about someone who has two 1010's running simultanueosly. M-Audio designed it to work with two, in theorey, but I havn't heard any feedback from this board about hands on experience with two.
Click to expand...
Maestro, you might want to zip over to www.sos-pubs.co.uk and search the forums for a thread entitled M-Audios Deceitful Advertising. It's a very long thread, but may answer your question.

--
BluesMeister
 
Thanks, Blues, but the link doesn't seem to be working.

No prob, I'll just google.:cool:
 
to keep this going

instead of starting a new thread I though I would keep this one going.

I am looking for a mixing console and I came around to the Mackie 1624VLZ Pro and the 1604VLZ Pro


These boards only have 8 sends and returns though, so I can only record 8 tracks at once:

4 tracks on drums
2 tracks on guitars
2 tracks on vocals
1 track bass
---
9 Tracks

NO GOOD!!!!


which board would you guys recommend with a MINIMUM of 12 sends/returns? Heath Allen, etc...I am not name brand specific

P.S. I would be using a moto24 (is the software that comes with it any good?)
 
You could do what a lot of us do ....single track the guitars (unless you physically have 2 guitar players), or track only the lead vox and lay in backups afterwards.

My ancient Yamaha MC1204? has sends for each channel, and the pre's are decent. There are a bunch of others too.
 
I would like to do everything at once and re-track later if necesssary, and yes two guitar players. i could probably live with 8 tracks but if I can afford 12 I would like to...10 tracks would be fine, but it's hard to find a mixer that does 10 tracks
 
I can understand that. You have a bunch of options - all depends on your budget.

Generally, Mackie & Soundcraft are known for better-than-average pre's. I'd see if you can afford what you need from their available products, and if not...

On the low end, I got my Yamaha for $125 on ebay. 12 channels, 12 direct outs, and real analog VU's :) I've seen the 16's on there too for under $250.

You could go with the Mackie and a couple of slightly better mic pre's and use them for vocals. The Mackie 16 channel would still accomodate the extra tracks, you'd just be running the inputs from a different source.

You could go with one of the Alesis boards that have direct outs on all channels, yet still reasonably priced.
 
Seanmorse79 said:
The Mackie 16 channel would still accomodate the extra tracks, you'd just be running the inputs from a different source.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by this?


P.s. I am also a really big fan on buss's (I would like four - but can live with out it)


Ebay sounds good!
another good place I found was www.soundart.com they sell used equipment. I have bought from there before....always in excellent condition!
 
If you went with the Mackie 16 channel mixer you mentioned above, you'd have 8 direct outs to send to the MOTU. Add 2 2-channel mic pre's, and you're up to 12 inputs for tracking. When you're mixing, you can still run the direct-outs of the MOTU into the mixer and you're in business to mix in analog.

Just out of curiosity, why do you need 4 busses?

...checked out that site. This one looks real purty...
http://www.soundart.com/scepter.html
Allen & Heath makes good stuff. I'd bet you have 12 direct outs. If you could only talk them down on the price :)
 
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