Why do so many hate mixing ITB??

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eyema_believer

eyema_believer

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Why is it that so many folks yearn for a big ole controller for their DAW?

My front end for Cubase is a 32 channel digital mixer, flying faders and all. Personally, I hate having to think about so many things as it is... ** is my routing set up correctly on the mixer?... is the compressor on or off?...are the tracks in Cubase set to record the correct channel?? yadda yadda** To me, every single time I let go of the mouse and go even to my keyboard it's like a waste of time. I mean... I only have two hands anyways.... why do I need all of those buttons/knobs/faders?

Additionally, why would I want to limit myself to the number/layout etc of buttons/knobs/faders that any controller would come with? The joy of working in the box is that I'm able to setup any way I want, and have it be completely different the next project.

I dunno.... maybe I'm just new-fashioned :D

The only time I ever wish I had a big controller for my DAW is when people come to "look" at my studio. They sure do "look" cool. ;) :p

Peace!

~Shawn
 
eyema_believer said:
Why is it that so many folks yearn for a big ole controller for their DAW?

My front end for Cubase is a 32 channel digital mixer, flying faders and all. Personally, I hate having to think about so many things as it is... ** is my routing set up correctly on the mixer?... is the compressor on or off?...are the tracks in Cubase set to record the correct channel?? yadda yadda** To me, every single time I let go of the mouse and go even to my keyboard it's like a waste of time. I mean... I only have two hands anyways.... why do I need all of those buttons/knobs/faders?

Additionally, why would I want to limit myself to the number/layout etc of buttons/knobs/faders that any controller would come with? The joy of working in the box is that I'm able to setup any way I want, and have it be completely different the next project.

I dunno.... maybe I'm just new-fashioned :D

The only time I ever wish I had a big controller for my DAW is when people come to "look" at my studio. They sure do "look" cool. ;) :p

Peace!

~Shawn
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I agree. I like mixing in the box. Although, I know no other way. :D
 
Greg_L said:
I agree. I like mixing in the box. Although, I know no other way. :D
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I'm presently doing all my automation with a mouse. Blecch. Gimme faders! I'd never do live sound with a mouse!

I have a little Behringer controller that I've never taken time to figure out - sitting right there. Maybe I'll make a pot of coffee tonight....

But I get really tired of the mouse, even though it's a fancy trackball palm-fit kind of thing.
 
I agree with you for the most part. And I'm totally ITB--no controller for my DAW. But the one thing I'd like a decent controller is the ability to automate faders with an actual controller instead of my mouse. I just do better riding a real fader.

When I do this in the box, I draw a curve for the track instead of riding the virtual fader with my mouse/cursor--and that has it's own advantages, so I'm not complaining too much.

And then there's the cool factor. I wouldn't mind having one sitting there for the "oohs & ahhs"...
 
NL5 said:
Again, a DAW controller is still mixing ITB............
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You're right, it is still ITB. And I'm fine with that. For me the issue is one of tactile response. My fingers like real faders--even if they're just sending commands via firewire to the same software that my mouse does.
 
i think the question should be : 'why do so many hate mixing WAM??'
 
eyema_believer said:
Why is it that so many folks yearn for a big ole controller for their DAW?

My front end for Cubase is a 32 channel digital mixer, flying faders and all. Personally, I hate having to think about so many things as it is... ** is my routing set up correctly on the mixer?... is the compressor on or off?...are the tracks in Cubase set to record the correct channel?? yadda yadda** To me, every single time I let go of the mouse and go even to my keyboard it's like a waste of time. I mean... I only have two hands anyways.... why do I need all of those buttons/knobs/faders?

Additionally, why would I want to limit myself to the number/layout etc of buttons/knobs/faders that any controller would come with? The joy of working in the box is that I'm able to setup any way I want, and have it be completely different the next project.

I dunno.... maybe I'm just new-fashioned :D

The only time I ever wish I had a big controller for my DAW is when people come to "look" at my studio. They sure do "look" cool. ;) :p

Peace!

~Shawn
Click to expand...

I dunno... it seems most people mix ITB these days, and like Greg_L said, he knows no other way, which nails the reason why most people do.

I'm in the minority... one of those that really won’t mix ITB on any level. Even my digital tracks are processed through an analog mixer with outboard gear... no plugs.

The reason? Sonic excellence as I perceive it always comes first in my studio... before features, convenience or anything else. I don't represent most people, but I can say many people that keep mixing ITB to a minimum have been recording a long time and don’t like the sterility of a total digital system.

:)
 
Well, I don't have any experience with console mixing, but it seems that it would suck for me. I sometimes use 25+ tracks, and I don't want some big assed console taking up half my room. I like the compactness of mixing in the box.
 
I feel that mixing is cheating. I just play every part at the appropriate level and walk away.
 
DavidK said:
I feel that mixing is cheating. I just play every part at the appropriate level and walk away.
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and move to different rooms and place the mic at different distances for just the perfect amount of reverb....and for delays....first mic at 6 inches, mic 2 at 10 ft, mic 3 at 25 ft and so on....depends really on how much delay you want...I personally think that 3 mic's is plenty..


oh oh oh!!! and Flange = mic on a rope....with pop filter.....wait...its already on a mic cable....
 
Greg_L said:
Well, I don't have any experience with console mixing, but it seems that it would suck for me. I sometimes use 25+ tracks, and I don't want some big assed console taking up half my room. I like the compactness of mixing in the box.
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Fair enough if you're in a situation where you barely have room for a PC, but mixing consoles don't have to be huge. There have always been compact options with great sound. But of course you’re limited by the number of analog outputs from your DAW or whatever sort of system you have.

Greg_L said:
I mix with my cock!
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You'll shoot your eye out!

In my case, even though I have tons of channels, the lack of mixing automation is no big deal... the voices tell me what to do, and the spirits do most of the actual mixing.
 
ITB is the only thing I have, so it's the only thing I know. (In analog studios where I've recorded before I was never behind the desk....). But it works fine for me and I enjoy doing it, I don't mind the mouse :)
 
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