why do you need a hardware mixer?

[restland]

maybe it's a stupid question... i've read that you should record tracks as dry as possible without adding any eq. eq tweaking should be done later during mixdown, which i'm hoping to accomplish with software (CEP+soundforge) and not hardware.

so why do people use mixers and not just plain pre-amps?

thanks!
restland

 

[Sennheiser]

1.) Helps to be able to group instuments on a single buss.

2.) Signal routing flexibility.

3.) Difficult to have a monitor mix without one.

4.) Mixing is impossible without one.

5.) I don't use software.

 

[Track Rat]

I record with mostly stand alone preamps but I still have to have a mixer for monitoring.

 

[James Argo]

maybe it's a stupid question... i've read that you should record tracks as dry as possible without adding any eq. eq tweaking should be done later during mixdown, which i'm hoping to accomplish with software (CEP+soundforge) and not hardware.

so why do people use mixers and not just plain pre-amps?

For some reasons, I DO use Eq & Compressor while recording. What's wrong with that. If it helps build the character better, then no such "Don't do that". Just be wise using it. What better NOT to do is adding Fx such Chorus, Reverb out wet, etc while tracking. It can be done latter as the mix quests it. Many people take an advantage of bundled Pre-amp on their mixer. Not to compare with those special made ones, but most of the time, it's just okay and safe. I do 80% of my homerecording using Mackie 1202 mixer's bundled preamp along with SM57/58... And happy with them. In studio I work for, I prefer special preamps along with various mic. Mixer is simply the heart of recording / mixing system. Never more, never less...


Jaymz

 

[restland]

thanks for the replies! i'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. i guess the reason why i'm confused is that i was hoping to use the delta44 breakout box or delta66 omnistudio outs to monitor.... in either case, i thought it would be possible to monitor without an outboard mixer.

http://www.midiman.com/support/manuals/pdf/Delta44_PC-Mac_Manual.pdf
page 23... will this work?

if i'm to avoid behringer mixer preamps, the only other mixer that i could afford is the soundcraft notepad.
http://www.soundcraft.com/products/spirit_notepad.html

any other suggestions for a mixer with preamps, 4 mics, <$170?

thanks!
restland

 

[Middleman]

If there are speaker outs and a headphone jack on the 44 box then you can get away without a mixer. Otherwise you might want to pick one up. The notepad is a great little box. Very clean sounding. Limited on the aux buss side of things but has a great sound. I use to own one.

 

[James Argo]

Hey Land of the rest, Go search in eBay. They got many used good mixer for under $200.

Jaymz

 

[BradD]

For what you want to do, you may not need a mixer. Ever since I got my Digi 001, my mixer is used only for live gigs. Monitors and headphones go directly out of the Digi 001. Unless you are planning on tracking numerous tracks at once, I don't know that you'll need a mixer. Put the money into good mics and pres.

 

[cominginsecond]

4.) Mixing is impossible without one.

5.) I don't use software.

Don't you mean "Mixing is impossible [without a mixer], because I don't use software."? Obviously you can mix using virtual mixers.

 

[cominginsecond]

thanks for the replies! i'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. i guess the reason why i'm confused is that i was hoping to use the delta44 breakout box or delta66 omnistudio outs to monitor.... in either case, i thought it would be possible to monitor without an outboard mixer.

You can. I don't know what these people are talking about. I do exactly that with the Delta 44, and it couldn't be easier. Just connect outputs 1 and 2 into your speaker amp. That's it.

 

[Sennheiser]

Don't you mean "Mixing is impossible [without a mixer], because I don't use software."?

Yes.

Obviously you can mix using virtual mixers.

Maybe you can. But I cannot.

 

[Track Rat]

You can. I don't know what these people are talking about. I do exactly that with the Delta 44, and it couldn't be easier. Just connect outputs 1 and 2 into your speaker amp. That's it.

Try that with 7 mics on a drum kit, a bass D.I., a couple of mics on a guitar amp or two and a vocalist all tracking at the same time. That's what I'm talking about.

 

[Beezoboy]

Track Rat, I recorded all that with my setup no problem. But actually I only had 5 mics on the set, no overheads. So mine was 5 mic drumset, 2 mics on congas, 1 on KB, 1 on Bass, 1 on vocalist. 10 tracks is all I can do until I get my next Aardvark q10 in January.

It really isn't all that hards. You just have a mouse on a fader instead of a finger on a fader. If you want to listen to it, it is here.

Track Rat does have a point though. With multiple tracks a mixer allows you to turn down more than one track at a time if you need and is ab out 20x more flexible. Thats why I am investing in a limiter/compressor soon so that I can track with light compression ONLY IF I HAVE TO. There is one more HUGE advantage to having a board though. Clients in a studio love to walk in and see a huge console stretching wall to wall, or even a studio craft large format mixer would be impressive. The more buttons the better they think you are. Thats horrible but somewhat true.

You can go the computer route though with no board. I am because I am recording in my bedroom or living room and don't have the room for a big board. I also happen to really like the pres on my Q10, so that is a factor. But I amn just saying it can be done quite easily with sum skillz.

Beezoboy

 

[cominginsecond]

Try that with 7 mics on a drum kit, a bass D.I., a couple of mics on a guitar amp or two and a vocalist all tracking at the same time. That's what I'm talking about.

I don't see how that changes anything. All those things you're talking about are inputs. I'm just talking about connecting the main out of your soundcard into your speaker amp so that you can monitor what's going on. What am I missing here?

 

[cominginsecond]

Oh, I guess you're probably talking about feeding 8 or 9 different sets of headphones. Couldn't you do that with a couple 4 output headphone amps?

 

[Stefan Elmblad]

"why do you need a hardware mixer? "

If you don't know, you prolly don't need it. Personally, I don't need computers to record. Also a common studio tool these days.

 

[Track Rat]

I concede that a mixer is not essential for monitoring. If you work by yourself or just with your own band where you can dial in a good headhone mix that doesn't change much session to session. Multiple discrete headphone mixes I suppose would be possible if you have a sound card with 4-8 outputs. It's just that in my experience with my set up dealing with 24 faders & associated aux sends and a different band and music styles, it's a hell of a lot faster for me to set up a controll room mix and four different headphone mixes witha console than in software. YMMV.

 

[jitteringjim]

I recorded 24 simultaneous tracks into a SoundBlaster Live! mic input that sounded like they were run through an SSL - all without a mixer, or even a blender. Take that!

 

[A Reel Person]

You guys and your soundcards!

-[dude] I've got 4 inputs, nyah nyah,...
-[other] Nuh-uh, I got 6, so there,...
-[other] My 10 input soundcard'll kick both yer asses,...
-[other] I'm gonna cascade two or three of these things together for 20 or 30 inputs, and kick all of your asses, combined!

Geez,... soundcards!

Hey, Mixers RULE!

 

[Sennheiser]

I agree. I haven't yet heard of a soundcard with 32 inputs at mix-down.