Who wants to help me get everything straight?

[shoe1]

Ok. I'm super confused about recording, but thanks to everyone who's helped me out with my many questions! I'm gonna go through this step by step.

Lets assume i'm trying to record drums here. Say i have these mics: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...3239983/g=live/search/detail/base_pid/609009/
That's 7 mics.

First, they go through a mic preamp: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...93239983/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/185277/
I plug each individual mic into it's own input jack. Then, using the 1/4" outputs on the back, i take each individual cable and send it to the computer. But how?

Would i have to get a larger soundcard, like the Delta 1010: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...93239983/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/701376/ ?
So if i got that soundcard, the 7 cables from the pre-amp would go into the inputs on the soundcard. From there they would transfer to the computer in whichever program i'm using, and record as 7 different tracks?

Also, where would a mixer come into play here? Could i substitute it for something? Thanks! And if you only know the answer to one question your advice is still greatly appreciated. thanks again!

-Shoe

 

[TexRoadkill]

You've got it right.

Mixers have a bunch of preamps as well as make it easier to mix different sources together for monitoring or mixdown.

 

[shoe1]

Thanks! So i could replace the mic preamp with a mixer and it would work well?

-Shoe

 

[James HE]

depends on the mixer. look for something that has inserts on each channel, or better yet tape outs on each channel. That way you can send the signal from each chanel "strip" to an individual channel on the soundcard and not be limited by the number of busses or aux sends on the board. That probably went over your head.. oh well.

 

[darnold]

Your gonna wonna look for direct outs on the mixer for every channel, not tape outs. At least ive never seen them referred to as tape outs on a tech sheet. Inserts arnt balanced and ive never found them to work that well, but if its all you can get, go for it.

Mixers are just plain out easier to...well, mix with.

Especially if you need to option to use the subgroups which can really come in handy when you need to take multiple tracks into 1 mono or 2 stereo tracks.

Danny

 

[pennylink]

I use an Aardvark Q10 audio card/interface, which has 8 inputs, includes good preamps and phantom power, and has its own virtual mixer which works like a mixer, but on your computer desktop. Basically an all-in-one solution.

Using a mouse may not be as intuitive as using faders on a mixing board, but depending on how much time you spend recording/mixing and if your space and/or budget are limited, this could be a good alternative to a soundcard combined with a hardware mixer. It certainly works very well for me.