Mixing Console choice
Home > Home Recording Forum > Mixing Techniques > Mixing Console choice
Posted on Nov 25, 2008 12:59 pm
joe_nix
Member Since: Nov 25, 2008
I'm wanting to arrange a little studio and was wondering which mixing board is better out of
www.absolutemusic.co.uk/s...alemultimix8usb
and
www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/sh...product_id/8539
I wanted them because of the USB support, just sending multiple tracks straight to Cubase.
the number of channels is fine for me as i'm not needing a large amount
I'm also on a budget so if anyone knows of anything better in the same price range then please hit me up :)
cheers!
EDIT: yeah it should be in the gear gab section, just noticed hah :)
[ Back to Top ]
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Nov 25, 2008 04:29 pm Welcome to the HRC!
i don't think the berhinger model is an actual USB device. What berhy does, is send along a 2 channel usb/audio converter: the UCA200. Do a search on this forum, and you'll see quite a few threads about it.
I won't say they don't work, but some people have problems, though most seem to get them working after figuring out what needs to be done.
Now, the multimix, I think can send individual channels, but I'd want to make sure before I chunked down some coin. I know there are some versions of usb desks that only send the master bus to the PC. For tracking, that would mean only 2 channels.
I'm pretty sure the firewire multimix desks will do individual channels.
taken from that page you linked:
Quote:
direct computer audio interfacing for 16-bit simultaneous stereo input and output using standard recording software.
So that pretty much assures me that it's only the master bus being sent. That may be fine for you, but if you want more than 2 channels, you'll have to be creative.
Here's the yamaha version:
www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/sh...roduct_id/37810
They sport 2 channel, like the others, but it includes a analog compressor. Nice. I'd be looking at that, if i was only interested in 2 channels.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Nov 25, 2008 09:38 pm Yep, stay away from the Behringer deal as that interface they supply has been the heartache of many a user in the last couple of years.
Nov 26, 2008 10:35 am Cheers for the replies guys,
So the multimix only sends 2 channels via USB to the PC?
On the yamaha board - i'm totally new to all the ins and outs of recording but would there be a way to send each channel to my PC without using the USB interface?
I think ive heard something about aux outputs on each channel, but how would i connect those to my computer?
Thanks
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Nov 26, 2008 11:13 am Well, you're talking about several operations.
1. preamps, bring MIC level signal up to LINE level signal. mixers usually have several of those (4 on the ones I saw)
2. D/A conversion, and A/D conversion. Converting the audio (analog) into digital stream, and back again. This is normally the audio interface.
RE: the yamaha board & question: you can send 2 individual signals to the pc, using the mixer in full left, and full right setup. For more signals, you would need to send signal out some other outputs, but you would need a second audio interface, to do the D/A conversion. You could actually send analog signal out the mixer, to a different interface (D/A), but what's the point, if the mw10 has D/A conversion built in.
And, if you're going to put 2 separate interfaces on one machine, just get 1 interface that has enough inputs for your needs.
Which further complicates things, i know. Makes it more costly, too, unfortunately.
These options start getting into two camps:
1. devices with multiple preamps & input capabilities (firepod, 8pre, multimix-FW, io/26)
2. analog mixer, with multi-input interface (delta 1010, ESI esp1010, traveler, etc).
Both of these setups have their positives and negatives, and i'd say it's really up to you which works better. Lots of people on here work both ways, to good ends, so it's really a matter of personal choice.
Oh yeah, both of these camps start getting near 500 $usd, so there's that to think about too. I think that's around 388 gbp
You can check people's profiles (bottom of each post) to see what people use.
I'm in the mixer -> esp1010 camp.
Nov 26, 2008 11:32 am Right, I think the 500$ devices are a little out of my range haha :)
So on the yamaha board, I couldnt send each input which is connected into the mixer to seperate tracks on the software on the PC? It would all become one track not multiple audio ones?
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Nov 26, 2008 12:23 pm Exactly, it would become one stereo track and you would have very little control. Not a bad thing for capturing a quick jam\practice.
Honestly I would just save for a little while longer, if you jump in at the $500 range you will be set for many years to come.
If you can't wait, you could just record seperate tracks with that stereo output at different times using a click track. Guitars, bass, vox could all be seperate as they are only 1 mono channel anyways.
The only thing you would be lacking is total control of a drum mix, but I have heard some great sounding drums using 2-3 mics. Shoot, if you are good you could get a decent drum mix micing a full kit, just make sure you like the tone and levels of each piece before you capture.
Last but not least, what type of music do you plan on recording. You may not need more than two inputs if you are a solo acoustic act etc..
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Nov 26, 2008 02:25 pm No, you should be able to create two mono tracks. Keeping the 2 signals separate from each other.
Most software should let you create either: 1 stereo track, consisting of L & R, or 2 mono tracks, each having their own signal, coming from the L and R inputs.
On the mixer, you would have to set channel 1 full left, and set channel 2 full right.
Then in software tell track 1 to listen on input 1 (left) and tell track 2 to listen on input 2 (right).
Depending on your software, it shouldn't be a problem.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Nov 26, 2008 02:30 pm Not that I'm knocking Yamaha, but,
if you're going to go this route, there are other options that are not mixer-based.
The line6 UX2 is 2 channel, and it includes some nifty modeling and effects.
There's also other devices that may have MIDI built in, so you could start on the MIDI train later, if you wanted to.
Tascam has some small 2 channel devices with midi, as does edirol.
But if you can live without MIDI, the UX2 has been used by quite a few on here with good results.
LipazMember
Since: Dec 16, 2008
Dec 16, 2008 11:34 am I CANNOT FIND ANY ANALOGUE STYLE MIXING CONSOLE WITH MIDI CAPABILITY!!
However it would be the most useable stuff in software sequencer music-composing (like in Reason 4.0).
You can choose from plenty of analogue mixers, dozens of digital mixers, and many of mixing consoles with firewire card... but you cannot find a MIDI machine controll functioned analogue mixers with the same faders. :-/
If somebody says it's useless, try mixing with faders, or try mixing with your PCkeyboard+mouse.. Which one is better/comfortable/enjoyable??
Of course there arer plenty of MIDI controllers, too. But what kind of controllers are these? Most of them is rather a DJ mixer than a mastering studio console.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 16, 2008 09:23 pm Dude, don't double post.
Especially in 4 and 6 year old threads.
Go back to your first post and read.
You don't need an analog console to run Reason. Look at the Mackie Control or any other midi control surface and you will have everything you need to run Reason.
