mixer unnessesary ????

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Member Since: Dec 06, 2007

guys..i hust baught a great digital mixer..the yamaha v16..i also bought the rme fireface 800 and the rme micstasy mic preamp..i ve done more than 10 recording on nuendo 4...and i realized that i dont use the mixer at all...i send the mics in mictsacy and the via adat on the audio interface...and i do my mixing and mastering on the pc...can i make a studio without a mixer?is it really nessesary nowdays?

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 12, 2007 08:32 am

If you do the mixing in the PC, then you have a mixer...it's the PC.

I haven't had a mixer for over a year...I came to the same realization you did, only for different reasons, I don't need one either.

It depends on how you record, sometimes they are useful, for some they are not. If you are not using it, well, there is your answer I guess.

Who was that guy that kept telling you to not buy stuff until you realize you need it...who was that again, it was a really smart, good looking fella if I recall...

;-)

Member
Since: Dec 06, 2007


Dec 12, 2007 08:40 am

hehe..thanx db...i saw all the studios have mixers..and i thought i needed one for surebut now i see that i dont..maybe i need it later thought...now i record at home but i found a space and i rent it and i ll make the studio there..and i think i need the mixer to control the mics if a band is doing a rehersal in the play room and dont record...in the rehersal i think maybe i need one or can i do every thing from the pc?for example maybe a band want to record a live rehersal..and in the play room the only sound they would like to come out of the loudspekers is the mics right?and i will use 4x400 watts loudspeakes..and the amps of the speakers wiil connect to the mixer right?or the can connect to the audio interface?and skip again the mixer?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 12, 2007 08:44 am

Well, look at it this way, all a mixer really is is a big collection of preamps (with a couple aux loops and stuff). If you have outboard preamps and use those for the mics, they do replace the mixer.

A mixer is useful in large applications for submixes, monitor controls to each performer and other tasks as well...so they still have their place in large studio's, I have personally found I don't need one for myself tho...you will have to be the judge of that for yourself.

Member
Since: Dec 06, 2007


Dec 12, 2007 08:50 am

yeah...from what i see i dont..the thing i am asking is if there is a way to connect the amps of the loudspeakers of the play room to the audio interface cause if there is a way to do that then i dont need a mixer for sure

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 12, 2007 08:51 am

If your amp has a line-level out you can just run that to the interface, or, mic the speaker...

Member
Since: Dec 06, 2007


Dec 12, 2007 08:57 am

sorry db bbut i dont know much in the english terms of the stuff..my audio interfave has 2 monitor outs..adat 1 and 1 in and out 8 balanced line level outputsand spif in and out..sould you suggest to connect the speakers to the line level unbalanced outputs?

Member
Since: Dec 06, 2007


Dec 12, 2007 08:57 am

sorry.balanced outputs

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 12, 2007 09:10 am

oh, I was thinking differently, sorry, I misunderstood your question...yeah, your amp outs could go to any speakers, if you need them to go to more than one, look for a speaker splitter unit...

Member
Since: Dec 06, 2007


Dec 12, 2007 09:16 am

i think i can control each person in a live rehershal from nuendo ....just record them alla but in the play room they hear onlu the mics i think i can do that and skip the mixer...i think i will sell it ..hehe..r.m.e rocks:P

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Dec 13, 2007 05:27 am

lol i thought i told you not to spend any money!!! i was getting to the point of explaining to you that you probably won't need a mixer!

i hope you can make your money back.

and fly me out there!

Mans reach exceeds his grasp
Member
Since: Oct 23, 2007


Dec 13, 2007 05:43 am

For serious capellino, I don't mean to be rude, but you seriously need to do your homework on ALOT of things. It's become apparent to a lot of us here that though you claim to have 'plenty of recording experience', you still seem to have little if no idea what you're doing concerning the professional recording field, which is ok because a lot of us don't either. We're home recording enthusiasts doing this for the fun of it, and a few of us have even gone to school for music related degrees, but still can't answer some of your questions. I'm speaking in reference to all the threads you've posted, so please don't be offended. I just think there are alot, if not all of your questions that could be better asked/ answered if you had a better understanding of recording equipment, effects, processes and environments. Recording isn't a field you can jump into, no matter how fast you may learn. There's a century of knowledge you have to absorb first before you can scratch the surface of how it all works.

Sorry to rant on you, but you've posted alot of vague, simple questions, which all have simple answers with the right level of dedication. You seem like a nice dude, and again I mean no offense. Just trying to help you reach your goal in a 'tough love' manor.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 13, 2007 05:49 am

lets ease up on dude...he knows what he doesn't know...

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Dec 13, 2007 05:56 am

there's an aphorism in there somewhere....

yeah after re-reading my last post, i can see it can sound a bit harsh, i put the 'lol' in there to imply the proverbial ***** slap and laugh track behind my post....

keith, you're on your own! lol

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Dec 13, 2007 06:02 am

....but i was serious about flying out there...

Mans reach exceeds his grasp
Member
Since: Oct 23, 2007


Dec 13, 2007 06:08 am

Like I said, I'm not trying to be hard on him at all. I'm simply trying to instill a sense of reality to his situation. It seems to me he has a dream, which is an awesome thing, but he expects it land in his laps with simple answers and he needs to understand that recording is indeed a culture of its own... a serious commitment if you will. Like marriage even! lol

P.S. Thanks for the back-up WYD... feed me to the lions why dontcha!
I feel like a kid gettin hit for telling dad not to hit me!

EDIT: I know he knows what he doesn't know, but the bulk of his questions can be better answered by simply doing the research. Jus sayin.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Dec 13, 2007 06:11 am

haha! i went to the bathroom and couldn't quit giggling thinking about your analogy! it DOES feel that way lol

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 13, 2007 07:36 am

While research can answer it as well, I don't wanna see this guy get run out of here and end up on a couple of the other forums that are FAR less friendly to newbies than we are and feel as though we fed the guy to the wolves.

This kid has lofty goals, but he also has incredible motivation and curiosity...that's a good mix.

Let him ask, we'll answer, that's our job...as long as conversation doesn't turn to piracy or illegal activities like that, we are supposed to be the "newbie-friendly forum" cuz God knows some of the others out there aren't.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Dec 13, 2007 07:38 am

sharks patrol those waters...

Mans reach exceeds his grasp
Member
Since: Oct 23, 2007


Dec 13, 2007 07:52 am

Well said dB, I agree. I'm not against him, I'm ALL for him and his goals. Thought I was helping in stating the need research so he could make better prejudgments and well educated questions. If you're going to shoot, shoot for the heart, right?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 13, 2007 07:56 am

fair enough.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Dec 13, 2007 09:16 pm

Yep, they all answered pretty well here. Although I do keep a 32 x 8 mixing desk here it is now mainly for my hardware synths and the occasional artist that come in here. Otherwise I do all my mixing and automation in Sonar. Once the audio is in it rarely leave the PC until it is finished.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Dec 14, 2007 02:33 pm

A mixer is nice to have for a few reasons:

- if you're micing a drum kit or other situation where you need lots of mic preamps
- for routing signals to your monitors from your PC (or routing to multiple sets of monitors, headphones, etc.)
- using the subgroups to allow different members of the band to hear different submixes
- looping in outboard gear and effects

In all of these situations, it doesn't take a very fancy mixer to accomplish these goals. The cheap offerings by Yamaha, Mackie, Soundcraft, Behringer, Peavey all offer the features necessary to do these things. Subgroups, AUX send/receive, channel inserts and multiple outputs are all features to look for to maximize your routing options. High-quality preamps are a must (although EVERY mixer manufacturer insists that their onboard preamps are superior to everybody else's).

Anyways, a mixer certainly isn't a necessity for a small studio but having one around will be handy from time to time.

A 16-channel, 4-bus analog mixer like the Yamaha MG16/4 would be ideal. Its moderately-priced, has good preamps, and is a great bang for your buck.

Ne'er ate 'er
Member
Since: Apr 05, 2006


Dec 14, 2007 02:39 pm

What Tad said, plus it's just nice to have the hands-on feel rather than fiddling with a mouse all the time.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 14, 2007 02:42 pm

I like fiddling with a mouse...

...trackball, actually, but I digress...

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Dec 14, 2007 02:42 pm

Yeah, even a simple control surface can make a difference in that respect. If you like that tactile, tangible feedback from pushing a slider or twisting a knob then a control surface might be a good compromise between the features of a mixer plus the interface it provides for your mixing software.

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Dec 14, 2007 04:24 pm

Quote:
and i think i need the mixer to control the mics if a band is doing a rehersal in the play room and dont record


Just for that reason alone, you will need a mixer. If a band comes in and doesn't have a PA, then you can use the mixer and your speakers.

Just a thought.


Member
Since: Dec 06, 2007


Dec 14, 2007 04:45 pm

yeah i researched all of that..i ll keep the mixer cause i need it for simple stuff like that..not to much fore recording..i have allredy nice mic preamps so i dont need the mixers preamps..when i record i ll record directly from the mic preamps to the audio interface..and use the mixer for simple stuff.like to put the headphone preamp and the talkback mic..and when i record a reharshal for the band to hear what ever it needs like you said

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