Mixers vs. Interface

Posted on Aug 19, 2007 07:48 pm
keydaking
Member Since: Aug 10, 2007

Yo i got a question.....What would you say is better for recording USB mixers or Interfaces?????

Noize2u
Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Aug 19, 2007 07:58 pm

Well, a USB mixer will give you the option of summing however many input channels it has into one stereo sub mix going into the PC. Or 2 separate channels audio going to two separate track on the PC. This is OK for doing multiple vocalists at once and live drums or the like.

A standard USB audio interface will usually give you two channels to do either a stereo mix into the PC or two separate channels into the PC. IT is really a matter of exactly what you want the interface to do. And neither is better then the other performance wise if that is what you are asking. AS long as they are both good quality units they will both perform well.

AKoppenheffer
Member
Since: Jun 02, 2007

Aug 19, 2007 07:59 pm

Deleted By AKoppenheffer

Walt
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002

Aug 19, 2007 11:36 pm

Noise has it pretty well covered for sure. The challange for me was to map out the studio I wanted to end up with and choose componants that would work both imediately as well as fit in with furture purchases. This is not to say don't get a mixer, but just be aware that many functions previously provided by mixers are now available via software. Cubase 4 for example can provide up to four independant monitor sends to studio musicians layering tracks in a mix. This takes the place of 8 subs on a physical mixer. Understand that the loose term 'interface' is two descreate functions. The pre-amp and the Analog to Digital converter. Depending on your immediate needs and eventual goals seperate units for each funcion may be a better overall solution. Obviously it is impossible to totaly map out the eventual studio if like me you take a number of years to realize your goal. Equipment and software enhancements ultimately change the configuration as time progresses. But it is well worth the time and effort to do a lot of research and really understand the process and available options. It can save you bundles.

singaiya
Member
Since: Sep 13, 2007

Sep 13, 2007 02:03 am

Hi,
This is my first post here, and also a newbie alert.

I'm thinking about what to get for a modest computer recording setup, and was about to go with the Alesis IO 14, and saw that the Multimix 12Firewire is the same price.

Does the IO have features that the mixer does not have? I'm trying to figure out why they would be the same price if the mixer adds the faders and the option to mix outputs to stereo.

I don't have a need for the mixing functions at the moment, since the software will do that, but it seems silly to pass up the options at no cost in the event that I ever might want it in the future. But maybe I'm missing something.

By the way, most of my recording will be duo recording. Wife on drums, me on guitar or bass. I was planning on three mics for drums and one for my amp.