why mixer in recording studio (pardon my ignorance)

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Newyork471

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Pardon my ignorance, im new at this kind of thing, but why do you need a mixer in a home recording studio? Can't you just plug into your interface and adjust the volume one at a time? Please tell me! Thanks,


Newyork471:D
 
You don't NEED a mixer, your DAW will have one, and hopefully your interface will have zero-latency monitoring. But, a mixer can be nice to have, for things like headphone mixes, and when you need a bunch of extra preamps, for drums, etc.

But mixers are not necessary. I have one that I use rarely, mostly I use the DSP mixer in my MOTU 828 MKII, with a bunch of individual outboard preamps.
 
Newyork471 said:
Pardon my ignorance, im new at this kind of thing, but why do you need a mixer in a home recording studio? Can't you just plug into your interface and adjust the volume one at a time? Please tell me! Thanks,


Newyork471:D
Click to expand...

You need a mixer because all the buttons and lights are impressive to the uninitiated! :D

There are great consoles for recording, but if you don't have one of them, there's no point in using a crappy mixer because you think you're supposed to. I have a couple midrange mixers--and I only use 'em in my live rig. In the studio the mics go into preamps then interface then computer.
 
I used a mixer for my home studio because I would record about 15 devices at one time - live recording - guitar players, bass, drums, vocals, keys, etc.. I didn't have enough inputs on my interface for it all, so I ran some sources into a mixer, mixed from 12 or whatever to 2 then recorded the two.

Since then I've daisy chained two Presonus Firepods, so I have 16 simultaneous ins into my DAW (Cubase4)..
 
I simply could not imagine life without a desk.
I'm into the 'hybrid' thing, always will be.....

I like these features that are intrinsic to many reasonable desks, (some cheap ones too)....

simple 'at-a-glance' connectivity, easy system fader lay-out and control, pre-amps a plenty, easier 'visual' signal-routing, zero-latency monitoring, para/eq and tones at a twist of an ACTUAL knob, I/O metering, headphone zone control, zoned talk-back to performer(s), reduced PC work-loads (as it just has to worry about recording my shit without clicks and pops!)....

Bad side??....Potential to allow/generate more 'noise' into the interface.....hardly seems to be a problem for me so far.

oh...another reason?.. that 'bridge of the Starship Enterprise' look.
 
Not having to mess with input monitoring unless I want to and being able to plug in and jam without having to turn on the computer are the main reasons I use a mixer.
 
I have always wanted a huge mixing board so I can look pro. Still havent gotten one though...

Mike
 
since no one's mentioned it, mixing boards used to be absolutely critical to the recording process...you know, before computers and digital audio and all that came along

it used to be that all sources were ran into the mixer and its accompanying preamps, along with the EQ/comp/whatever else was built into it...then you could either print the individual tracks to tape and play them back thru the mixer to mix them down to a stereo 2-track, or you could just sum them straight to 2-track and record live.

of course that's an extremely simplified version of history...but the point is, in the old days, you couldn't record more than a couple of tracks at a time without a console.
 
Ironklad Audio said:
since no one's mentioned it, mixing boards used to be absolutely critical to the recording process...you know, before computers and digital audio and all that came along

it used to be that all sources were ran into the mixer and its accompanying preamps, along with the EQ/comp/whatever else was built into it...then you could either print the individual tracks to tape and play them back thru the mixer to mix them down to a stereo 2-track, or you could just sum them straight to 2-track and record live.

of course that's an extremely simplified version of history...but the point is, in the old days, you couldn't record more than a couple of tracks at a time without a console.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if it wasn't mentioned as a point.
But I personally enjoy discussing it.

Yes...indeed the truth be spoke....and I'm still stuck (happily) in that time frame!....actually a 'hybrid' timeframe.

With the advent of good mixing software and interfaces (at a considerably reduced price), the mixing desk has very good opposition, even during the tracking stage....especially in our fantastic 'hobby/semi-pro' studio situation.
I love having my desk, but so many of us find great quality and versatility without one.....:eek:

I will always be of firm belief that if you can afford a desk, and feel it could be of benefit to you, then it's probably a very good investment....(but hey, that's just me!)
 
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superspit said:
With the advent of good mixing software and interfaces (at a considerably reduced price), the mixing desk has very good opposition, even during the tracking stage....especially in our fantastic 'hobby/semi-pro' studio situation.
I love having my desk, but so many of us find great quality and versatility without one.....:eek:

I will always be of firm belief that if you can afford a desk, and feel it could be of benefit to you, then it's probably a very good investment....(but hey, that's just me!)
Click to expand...

While that is true, a console is only benefitial if its a "good" console, usually too expensive for a newbie to afford.
A lot of smaller studios are opting for something like a 32 channel control surface for front end, rather than mixing board.


Mike
 
I use a mixer for the preamps and other mentioned bells and whistles.


And I don't record into a DAW, so I need good preamps. I record into a Fostex MR-8, and the pres on there suck. Too noisy and not sensative enough...
 
My mixer only serves as a means to route to different monitors. After I finish mixing I route the stereo out to monitor of different size/type and stereo systems to see if it sounds good on all systems. One set of monitors is on the main mix out, another on the monitor out, another on the control room out, another on aux sends, etc. I also use it for practicing and rehearsal before the computers, pres, converters, etc get turned on. To get the quality needed for serious recording found in major studios would cost a lot more than I could afford.
 
yes...the price is (mostly) always going to be a factor.....

But all monies asside, if people had the choice of a Desk/No Desk I wonder where they'd go?.....would they go mixerless as they don't know any better, or insist on a mixer, as they don't know any better???

Cheers.
 
superspit said:
yes...the price is (mostly) always going to be a factor.....

But all monies asside, if people had the choice of a Desk/No Desk I wonder where they'd go?.....would they go mixerless as they don't know any better, or insist on a mixer, as they don't know any better???

Cheers.
Click to expand...
I went mixerless until I found out that I really needed one.... :rolleyes:


But I am sure if you spent enough money on that interface that it would do the same as a mixer or a good preamp...
 
If I had the money I would invest in a "good" desk, mainly because I like faders:p And lights, and buttons, and VU meters:D

Mike
 
i ended up with a 16-channel mixer as the front end for my DAW...not only are the preamps pretty decent, but i like the talkback and monitoring/routing options, and it's also handy to be able to monitor inputs straight off of the console as opposed to through the DAW when tracking...no latency!
 
Ironklad, what do you use as convertors before going into your PC? And what console did you decide on?


Mike
 
nothing too special...mackie onyx 1640 w/ the firewire card

i have a buddy who has an onyx 800R, fed into an RME fireface...then he had to add a mackie big knob to control the talkback and monitoring and such later on. for how much he spent on the individual pieces, he could've just gotten the console and been done with it.
 
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