New at this need help!

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Member Since: May 28, 2009

I usually just did all my recording with an audio interface with only one input and now im looking to upgrade!
i am buying a Behringer MX2442A 24 channel mixer but i honestly dont know how to run it to my computer to do the recording any help or advice for me would be awesome!

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Formally Hydrial69
Member
Since: May 06, 2009


May 28, 2009 12:00 pm

well first off, i would personally stay away from behringer. just bad gear, not all of it, but, i do live sound like Rob and Mono, and i know from experiance and money wasted, behringer gear will not last you, especially inte way of effects and boards. i've wasted enough money on thier boards that fall appart. i just have a bad taste when i hear behringer... haha

also, for in studio, a board with 24 channels in most of our situations is overkill and not cost effective, its really only for preamps and routing.
i would suggest minimum 6or 8 all the way up to maybe only maaaaybe 12, but i dont even often use a 25 channel in my live application for small venues.

now that i have ragged on behringer,

the setup i used to use before my console, wich i think would work great for you,

whatever you want to record into the board, then out of the board using the L&R outputs, usoally most boards have XLR aswell as balanced quarter inch, i would highly suggest XLR if your interface can support that,

now one thing you said was it only has one input, what interface is that? :S lol, never seen only 1 input, so if you can list here what it is ill problem solve with you.

but, if it only has one, pan what your recording left, and output from only left, but that seems odd to me,

im sure other people will have ewaully good or most likely better ideas for you, but i love the classic, into board, out of board, into interface, TADA!

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


May 28, 2009 12:01 pm

You're gonna loose a lot of people here calling Behringer bad gear...a lot of us use it and love it.

Formally Hydrial69
Member
Since: May 06, 2009


May 28, 2009 12:04 pm

oh, a board i would recommend that packs amazing punch for the buck is by a company called Alto

great stuff, i happened onto them by chance, for some live sound stuff im buying a 16 channel board by them

they are based out of vancouver and are only cheap, because they havent broken into the market and dont have a particuar name in live sound, and thier effects processors are amazing too, this is just what i personally like, and it provides everything great in a board

here is the old one i have
i actually have two!!!

http://www.straight-connection.de/shop/images/Alto/Alto-Mixer-AMX-140.jpg


has served me well, bought a second one for on location external video sound capture

Formally Hydrial69
Member
Since: May 06, 2009


May 28, 2009 12:06 pm

oh really? sorry all! lol

in live sound application, i personally have had very bad experience, its to me the biggest piece of consumer gear, in my experience, they just dont last... didnt mean any offense, just my bias

Member
Since: May 28, 2009


May 28, 2009 12:42 pm

i used
www.guitarcenter.com/Lexi...849-i1126259.gc
technically it is two inputs one instrument and one mic
but i would just plug that in and i could do everything through sonar..
so im trying to switch over and i am kinda lost haha

MASSIVE Mastering, LLC
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2008


May 28, 2009 01:29 pm

Quote:
I usually just did all my recording with an audio interface with only one input and now im looking to upgrade!


I'd just look at interfaces with more preamps.

A) No real reason for a console if you don't need it.
B) Almost assuredly better preamps in most cases than you're going to get in the Berry.
C) You'd still need an interface with as many I/O as you'd need with or without the board.

Bang-for-the-buck, flexibility, quality, etc. concerned, you're going to be better off without it.

Formally Hydrial69
Member
Since: May 06, 2009


May 28, 2009 01:39 pm

ya, in this case its total preferance,
you could still use a board witht hat interface, in the back there is a line in L____R where you could go from board to interface,

and ya, external preamps are normally better, and those alto's built in ones are actually amazing, but i sternly stick by 24 being to many,
if you do go for the board, you should get something you know has decent preamps and and has max like 10 real channels.
i personally love having a small board in my studio, because i have everything already wired.
what i do, is have like, have different condensers in different channels, guitar am & or mic into others, one dynamic channel, bass, drums (different story with me, i used to use a electronic kit where it was just an L&R out, and before that, i had all mics set up, then a mixer, output into a stereo channel)

so the idea is, if you have limited time, or dont like constant set ups lol, then you can be like, volume knob and mute off guitar, done guitar, volume down, volume up on drums, etc

Member
Since: May 28, 2009


May 28, 2009 04:16 pm

so i get the board and hook it to my interface and i can run it through sonar just like i always did before?

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


May 28, 2009 05:05 pm

Yes you can, if you are good at creating a nice sound on the mixer then you should get a decent capture.

Make sure you do any panning you would want before capturing with the Alpha and then do final processing on the finished track.

Also, you can still do some multitracking just doing different takes. Say 8 mics for drums all mixed to one file, then guitars etc...

Should be a workable setup for sure.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 28, 2009 05:11 pm

And not to be the bearer of bad news Nate, but Alto is one of the lowest rated quality portable mixer's around.

The old school Behringer's were built very well in the case of the MX series which is what he is looking at.

But that aside, as Massive stated. you need to realize that adding a big desk is not going to give you any more tracks on input. It will allow you to record more sources at once into the single channel you have, but it will still only be the one or two tracks you have available. And that isn't going to do any good to improve the recording.

What exactly do you wish to accomplish, adding the ability to record more separate tracks at once, such as 4, 6 or 8? Or simply having more inputs to send to a stereo or mono mix into the recording software?

Formally Hydrial69
Member
Since: May 06, 2009


May 28, 2009 05:23 pm

another, more pricey option is what is called a "work station"

good ones allow you to plug in, say 4 mics, and them record on to all different tracks,

like i said though, its pricey. great if you have the money though.

also if you go that route, you need to make sure its compatible with sonar, which a very good many are.

and alto really is rated that badly? i've read 85% great stuff about thier analogue mixing consoles, i havent quite bought my big board yet, mind sending links on that so i dont make a grave error? lol

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 28, 2009 07:57 pm

A work station is not what he needs at all. He needs a bigger Audio Interface with more inputs. 4 channels is not really even pricey anymore. 8 channels can be had at a reasonable price as well depending on the make and if it has pre amps on it or not. But as Massive stated one with pre amps would be a good option indeed.

And I don't know of any interfaces not compatible with almost all DAW's.

If I get some spare time I'll look for them. They are basically the same type of copy cat company as the rest. If it is selling they copy it. Different color knobs, almost the same guts to most of them.

Member
Since: May 28, 2009


May 28, 2009 10:05 pm

so if i get a bigger interface i can just run the inputs to more tracks then to sonar?
alright sweet!
i really just want to be able to record my band easier for the time being.
im about to attend mediatech institute in dallas tx
to do all the proper studies in the field.
thanks for the help guys

Formally Hydrial69
Member
Since: May 06, 2009


May 29, 2009 12:01 am

good luck man!

ill look that place up, im currently at Harris Institute in toronto, great place

Member
Since: May 28, 2009


May 29, 2009 07:53 am

any suggestions on a good affordable interface?

Formally Hydrial69
Member
Since: May 06, 2009


May 29, 2009 09:20 am

well, what is your price range, i have quite a few myself,

and your looking for one with a few inputs and preferable built in preamps?


Member
Since: May 28, 2009


May 29, 2009 09:41 am

well i need to record bands.. so what ever makes that easiest would be ideal.

Member
Since: May 28, 2009


May 29, 2009 09:42 am

i bought that mixer...
and i already have the little lexicon alpha
and i have sonar
so how should i run this?

Formally Hydrial69
Member
Since: May 06, 2009


May 29, 2009 01:28 pm

ok, well, is it the 24 channel mixer? cuz if it is, i suggest someone trading it in for a one around half the size, because you could use the money is better application. if you have a purpose that it will double for such as live sound, then thats a great asset to have, but i highly suggest saving your money if money is an issue, because as you learn of new useful gear, you will want it, lol.

but, that aside,
this is what i currently still do in many situations.

what you want to record into the channels,
from the L&R outputs via Quarter inch >>>> plug those quarter inch output cables into the L&R i see in my pic here in the back of the lexicon.

then right into your computer, its that simple.

now a good thing to know is, if you have a manual to the lexicon, check to see if the L&R inputs are what are called balanced inputs.

this just means you can use a cable with a more stable signal,

this shouldnt make a world of difference, but its nice to know,

so fill me on what the manual says if you can find one, or ill check online

Member
Since: May 28, 2009


May 29, 2009 02:04 pm

thanks alot ill get on that asap!
so is it gonna just make everything i record go to one track?

Formally Hydrial69
Member
Since: May 06, 2009


May 29, 2009 02:41 pm

yup, all to one track,

but like i mentoned there are things called workstations that allow that to change

they let you record each input to a different track, which is always handy ^.^

but if your just beginning, this the best way to start. dont get to over your head right out of the gate ^.^

but i still use the method you are to this day at home sometimes, its a simple and great quality method.

Member
Since: May 28, 2009


May 29, 2009 10:47 pm

ok well for future reference what is a good affordable workstation to get?

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 29, 2009 11:02 pm

Do you want to record to your computer or to a little box that doesn't allow you much editing accept on a little bity screen?

A frickin work station is a sampler type pieano keyboard synth that has mulit track functionality and some have 2 channels of audio input.

Again, editing is done on a tiny little screen and you are limited to what you can do. Great for beat making and the like, suck *** for working on rock or anything else.

Your computer can be your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) with the use of an 8 channel audio interface you will get far more out of it and have a big PC screen to edit on with far more tools and all the free VST effects and synths you could ever want.

And that route will cost you a lot less the the 4 or 5 grand you will spend on the type of workstation Nate is referring to.

Sorry if the post sounds rude, not meant to be.

Formally Hydrial69
Member
Since: May 06, 2009


May 30, 2009 12:48 am

i dont think its rude at all man,

by work station i mean something like the "logic controller"

if you go to sonars webpage, they often recommend good sonar work stations, meaning, something with several inputs that records to different tracks in programs.

for example. i work on a brand new SSL into protools,
each input records to a different assignable track.

i totally know what you were thinking when i said Workstation, and what you thought i meant i am i HUGE anti supporter, haha, i find them a waste of time and money when there are much more cost effective ways to do a million other things,

a cheap controller i was speaking of is around... hmmm, for sonar you know, i dont want to give you a wrong quote.

for me, im about to buy a logic controller, and thats about say, a couple of hundred, up to a nice one i wish i could get for close to a grand.

a good quality one you wont regret for logic atleast is around say 500$, canadian

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 30, 2009 12:41 pm

Well these are what Cakewalk and Roland teamed up to turn out. A perfect match of gear and software for Sonar. Complete with the audio interface on the 700 and also the 100 is available for those of us that already have invested in large audio interface's.

www.sonarvstudio.com/index.php

Formally Hydrial69
Member
Since: May 06, 2009


May 30, 2009 03:29 pm

yup, i wouldnt buy the 100, but the 700 isnt to bad, if you look what logic turns out, it is quite significantly better haha, and the logic ones are very expandable.

but none the less, thats what i was thinking about, and yea, thier totally for after you've invested a lot already, very very much haha

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 30, 2009 08:33 pm

OK, now I'm gonna sound really harsh. You talk in circles here and most of what you are saying is nonsense.

I would buy the 100 if I needed a rig to be portable. Its a vully integrated system and compact and dependable.

700 isn't too bad???? Have you used one, touched one or even read a review by someone that has?

And honestly, do you have a clue on the Logic XT controller you are talking about significantly better? If you noticed, its not being made any longer and never really flew to begin with as it was a complete failure and was riddled with problems.

As well it was not made by Logic, it was made to be used specifically with Logic 5 and above and is an exact copy of the parent companies exact same control surface that failed miserably as well.

They never did get the Logic Control XT to function fully. And just a note, it took 3 years for it to become a real piece of hardware and not just a picture as did the parent companies piece.

And as far as being totally for after you invest a lot of money?????

If I was outfitting a rig from scratch, the 700 is the system I would opt for starting from scratch with cash in hand.

And just so you're aware of it. The company that built the Logic Control XT was Mackie, it was an exact copy of their Control Universal. They should have stayed with their HUI system as it actually worked.

Sorry to be cold blooded here, but I've watched a lot of folks come and go here and it irritates me when they spout off on things they don't have a clue about.

Formally Hydrial69
Member
Since: May 06, 2009


May 31, 2009 02:01 am

sorry you feel that way man, but for me the 100 just doesnt cut it in functionality, and there is a brand new logic control surface, and is great, i've used it within the last few months, only downside is it is ofcourse expensive. and do have a clue of what im talking about. the biggest downside for me is that its sonar control only, i used to operate of sonar, and used to love it, but its not professional grade for where im in the industry (toronto) so it just doenst have appeal for me in that way,

ill get back to here or another thread with the controller im particularly talking about

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 31, 2009 02:00 pm

I'd like to see the link to the New Logic controller.

I searched last night before posting and I can find nothing new at all. Not on their website or any other about Logic.

And complaining about the V studio being Sonar only, well what in the blazes do you think the Logic controller is????

Its Logic only if you read the fine print.

Formally Hydrial69
Member
Since: May 06, 2009


May 31, 2009 09:21 pm

lol, yea it is only logic, my point was it doenst work for me, cuz i dont run sonar anymore :P

and im having trobule finding it too :S

i go back to class tomorrow, ill ask some contacts about it, we were talking a bunch about it, maybe it has a weird new name

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 01, 2009 06:10 pm

Ya, I'd be curious as to what it is. So far I have not seen anything yet on it. I know several who are looking as well.

Formally Hydrial69
Member
Since: May 06, 2009


Jun 02, 2009 12:39 am

found the first one i was thinking about getting, but didnt look to far into it, but on the surface seemed good, its the "command central" by alesis,

this ones for controlling many differnet programs which i think is pretty cool, so if you get a new program your not out of luck and having to buy a new one haha,

and one specifically for logic, im emailing one of my instructors about it, we saw a whole like 40 min video on it, it may still be pre marketing stages :S so ill find out soon i hope, but my teachers are lame at getting back punctually -_-. i remember it was a british guy talking lol, and it was expandable which seemed super awesome, so when your studio grows, you can add more inputs and faders for better control. but ofcourse, its going to be expensive.

all this talk of sonar though is making me want to play around in sonar again now that i know much more than i used too ^.^

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 02, 2009 06:55 pm

www.alesis.com/mastercontrol

Mastercontrol is what it is called. It is the bundled interface controller. Still a bit buggy from what I have heard so far. Can be stable in certain condition's. A bit over priced for its performance features as well though.

And I do believe that the component's for V-Studio are available as separate pieces to be used with what ever software you like. It is simply designed by Roland and Cakewalk to integrate perfectly with Sonar.

You should just pop for an Icon system and be done.

Formally Hydrial69
Member
Since: May 06, 2009


Jun 02, 2009 07:04 pm

ya, the reviews on master control arn't too great :S

its hard to find an affordable non buggy system, let alone even pricy ones that arnt buggy.

im actually sitting near a new ssl beside me, and its still buggy as hell in protools lol, console just crashed on us a few mins ago,

technology is just buggy in general which just sucks :(

but its the digial industry now, no matter how much us analogue guys wish it wasnt lol.

im keeping up my search though, there has to be a good interface that works in many programs! there has to be atleast one! :'(

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 02, 2009 09:23 pm

The M-Audio and Mackie are getting there. But for control surface J L Cooper is killer and stable. Not cheap at all though.

Formally Hydrial69
Member
Since: May 06, 2009


Jun 03, 2009 12:03 am

lol, yea my money lately has been going into live sound gear, since i actually headed that direction from recording... but i do miss it :(.

on tuesday nights i track some bands in class and such, but its boring cuz i know most of it and we go over stuff a bunch cuz others dont know it, but the stuff is like common knowledge to me XD. but yea, ill totally check those out cuz im not giving up on my studio at all! at the very least i'd be doing live recording :P

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