Mixer vs. Mic Preamp: Help Please
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Posted on Feb 06, 2005 02:20 pm
sax_fan
Member Since: Feb 06, 2005
NOTE: I originally posted this in the Home Recording Forum and realized it was probably more appropriate here. I apologize for the duplication.
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Hi, I'm new to the forum and new to home recording. I've been getting opinions from various folks about the following and would greatly appreciate your input as well.
I am a woodwind player (primarily saxophones) and plan to be doing some recording -- one man band kind of thing. I will be using audio and midi. In short, I am trying to decide what to use to record my saxophones to the computer. Since I have a condenser mic, I need something with phantom power.
Would you recommend (1) a small mixer -- I have been looking at the Yamaha MG 10/2, but think this may be more than is needed given that I am a one man show; or (2) a separate mic preamp. I would like to keep things under $200 I don't have a lot of experience with the recording side, so I want to keep my cost down for now, while I am learning, but I don't want to have to junk whatever I buy in 3 months.
As an alternative, I have also been considering the M-Audio Mobile Pre USB soundcard. This would give me the preamp and, presumably, a better sound card than the audigy (which I plan to replace eventually), but I have heard some folks say that I should avoid USB for audio recording. By the way, I don't need a midi port because my midi controller connects via USB.
Thanks for your thoughts. Please take a look at my equipment list if you need further info about what I currently have.
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cooloFrisco's Most UnderratedMember
Since: Jan 28, 2003
Feb 06, 2005 03:14 pm Well, when I first started, I picked up a small behringer mixer, used, for cheap ($40 or so). I originally used it for preamps, but, eventually got more comfortable with what I was doing and decided to up the ante so to speak, and got a much nicer pre. The pres on the Behringer will do the job, and if you're not used to dealing with high end gear, you prolly won't realize their supposed short comings. I still use my Behringer to assist with signal routing, but don't really use it for pres anymore.
From what I hear, you are likely to experience more latency with a USB soundcard, but I have no actual experience with them.
Feb 06, 2005 08:46 pm Get the mixer. I have the MG 10/2 and thought the same as you, way to much for me to use.
I don't regret it at all, i have used all the features and am thankful I have them.
Feb 06, 2005 10:03 pm Thanks for the input. I decided to go the mixer route. Now all I'll need to do is figure out how to set it up and use it!
Feb 07, 2005 09:43 pm This is, perhaps, a strange question given that I said that I thought that a Yamaha MG10/2 may be more than I need, but if I am getting a mixer, does it make sense at all to go a little higher up and get something that has sub-outs? I read that this is preferred so that you can hear the mix through headphones.
As you can probably tell, I don't know much about this yet, so if the MG 10/2 makes sense, that's great. I just don't want to kick myself 3 months from now for not spending an extra $50 or so.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Feb 07, 2005 10:56 pm Hey sax fan, i've played sax in the past, but haven't recorded it yet.
Anyway, I have the mg 16/4, and use the channel inserts to get signal into the computer, then the outs of the PC soundcard go back into the mixer in a stereo pair. Then you can hear both incoming, and already recorded tracks from the mixer through the mains, no sub outs needed.
Hope this helps.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Feb 07, 2005 11:01 pm I just looked at the 10/2, it has a phones jack, so you'd be all set to use the mains out to go to a monitor setup, and use the phones for headphones.
Personally, I dig faders, but for 100$ you'll be happy you have it.
Feb 08, 2005 10:49 pm Thanks all. I bought an MG 10/2. Much to learn now and I'm not going to have time to play with it for several days. Wish me luck!
StoneToneman of musicMember
Since: Dec 12, 2004
Feb 12, 2005 08:14 am i use the mg 10/2 w/o problem....this mixer is gettin real popular....
Feb 12, 2005 08:22 am Yeah, it seems like a lot of people are using Yamaha mixers these days...getting quite popular indeed.
I recommend against getting a simple 2 bus mixer though, as most people outgrow it very quickly, the 4 bus mixers can fit the one man band type situation, or people that record only one thing at a time, for years...and virtually never outgrow it.
Feb 12, 2005 11:16 am DB (or any others interested),
I do still have some time left for a return, so what would you recommend? A Behringer 1204? I know in a lot of other forums people don't like the Behringers, but here they seem popular
As I am trying to keep things simple for now, I guess I come back to the original question -- would I just be better off starting with something like a M-Audio mobile pre, Tascam US-12, Lexicon or M-box -- or is that likely to be a waste of money and the MG/10 (or 4 bus mixer) with an M-audio PCI card is a better "bang for the buck" and ultimately more flexible even for my "one man band" situation? I just don't want to get overwhelmed with the technology so that it takes away from the music and I just wind up giving up.
Feb 12, 2005 11:27 am Behring takes a bad rap at some places by some people. I have found that typically, while more expensive brands such as Mackie to have better specs, the typical home recording musician won't even hear the differences. Also, a lot of it is bragging rights...personally, I have never been hung up on "well I have this brand not that brand" type of thinking. If what I have sounds good and does the job, I really don't care what name is on the plate. I have had two Behinger mixers and a Bass Vamp and I consider them all, while not the best available by any means, they are the absolute best value for the money. Bar none.
Just my two cents.
You go to some forums/places they will trash on you if you don't have ProTools rigs and Neumann microphones. Most of here don't think that way. Most of us have budgets and have to live within them and look for getting the best value for our money, not the coolest brand name...
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Feb 13, 2005 10:24 am If you use channel inserts, you don't need the sub outs, they can be used for monitoring, or something else. Just insert one click, not all the way, and viola, single track signal.
Feb 23, 2005 05:09 pm So I bought a Yamaha MG 10/2 just before going away on vacation (and before reading DBs response about not getting a simple stereo mixer!). Now I'm back and still have some time to assess before deciding whether I should return it and get a 4 Bus instead.
As I'm new to the whole mixing thing, can someone tell me how to monitor with headphones through the mixer previously recorded midi and audio while laying down a new track. I know it's easier with a 4 Bus.
The equipment I have to hook up are a condenser mic, a synth, a keyboard controller (hooked up by USB), an external sound module and an audigy 2 soundcard (I know, it's on the list to be replaced). Currently I don't have the synth hooked up, I am running the mic into Channel 1 (XLR), the sound module is hooked up to channel 2 in stereo. The Stereo Outs are hooked up with an adapter into the line in of the audigy card and the output of the audigy is hooked to the tape in of the mixer. It works (sort of) but I have 2 problems: (1) I have to keep the volume of the tape in down or I get feedback and (2) when I monitor previously recorded midi tracks while recording audio, all of the previous recorded stuff is recorded as audio on the new track.
Any thoughts? Should I justexchange the mixer for a 4 bus? Please try to be simple in your explanation, I am just getting the hang of this.
Thanks.
