the necessity of a mixing desk....
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Posted on May 07, 2005 05:13 am
mccarty
eeeeeeemo.
Member Since: Oct 30, 2003
hey everyone
i am currently in the process of shopping round for upgrades to my studio - my main priority being increasing the number of simultaneous inputs i have so that i can record drums with 4 mics.
i have settled on the delta 44, which from what i can see comes with a break-out box, which has 4 analog I/O.
now, before i ask this question i should say that i do EVERY LAST BIT of my mixing in software (Cubase SE).
what i've been thinking about is.... do i really need a mixing desk to route all my signals through, or could i just buy 4 mic preamps and run straight into the card, then plug my monitors into two of the 4 outputs (leaving 2 outputs spare for headphones and whatnot). have i missed something here that would mean a mixing desk is absolutely necessary?
i was considering buying 2 audio buddys to do this job... any opinions on them also appreciated.
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May 07, 2005 05:37 am as long as you have preamps of some sort, you'll be fine without a desk.
May 07, 2005 06:19 am I have a Delta 44 and an Audio Buddy. 2 Audio Buddies would do jsut fine.
The AB is a good pre and does not colour the sound. Phantom power is included adn its no too big...finally, its not too expensive tho there are cheaper oot there...
Id run 2 of em in a flash...good we pre's they are.
Cheers
Coco.
mccartyeeeeeeemo.Member
Since: Oct 30, 2003
May 07, 2005 06:24 am cheers guys!
i've heard nothing but good things about the audio buddy, so i may go down that route.
from what i've gathered, to get a mixing desk with the capability of 4 signal outs, i would have to get some 16 input monster which i dont really want right now...
thanks again!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 07, 2005 10:28 pm mccarty, I still have one from the very early models. I use it mostly on my acuastic as it doesnt add any color or distortion when I bring up the gain. It also allows me to keep the gain down on my desk.
RigsbyUltra MagnusMember
Since: Nov 13, 2004
May 09, 2005 06:49 am Quote: "from what i've gathered, to get a mixing desk with the capability of 4 signal outs, i would have to get some 16 input monster which i dont really want right now..."
Not if you get a mixer with direct outputs on each channel, then you only need as many outs as ins if you're just using a mixer for it's preamps.
May 09, 2005 06:56 am I generally couldnt find any mixers as Rigsby describes hence the reason I nabbed the Audio Buddy.
However, if there are wee mixers with the same outs as ins, Id sure as hell be interested...for future use, MIC'in drum kits for sub mixes etc.
Aye - any models rigs??
Coco.
mccartyeeeeeeemo.Member
Since: Oct 30, 2003
May 09, 2005 12:17 pm yeah coco, that is EXACTLY what id been looking for, but couldnt find anywhere. surely somebody makes such a thing!! its such a simple device, yet i cant seem to find one!!
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
May 09, 2005 12:21 pm One of the Behringer mixers has direct outs on all of the inputs, I think...I've read Geoff saying that his Behri mixer does that. Maybe look into his profile to see which he's using.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
May 10, 2005 10:38 pm don't overlook that channel inserts can be used for direct outs as well. Been working very well for me.
mccartyeeeeeeemo.Member
Since: Oct 30, 2003
May 11, 2005 01:00 pm when you use channel inserts as direct outs, is that the method of plugging in a jack cable till the first "click"? does that degrade signal quality at all, as surely they arent intended to be used like that...?
GregorMember
Since: Jan 08, 2004
May 11, 2005 01:39 pm Quote:"16 input monster " I find this statement hilarious. Haha Have you ever seen an SSL 96 channel board? :P
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
May 11, 2005 01:42 pm yes, that's the 'first click' operation.
they are intended to tap signal out of the channel, very early in the chain. So this is a valid and normal use of the insert. The whole function of the jack and insert point is to tap out signal, send it through a outboard component, and then return the signal back into the channel, all within one 1/4" stereo jack. so there would actually be less degredation than at the end of the signal chain (within the mixer), as the signal doesn't have to go through the mixing amp, and other signal points (like faders, mixing amps, effects, etc.)
mccartyeeeeeeemo.Member
Since: Oct 30, 2003
May 11, 2005 01:45 pm what could EVER require 96 channels??
ahh, thanks for clearing that up pjk - i thought maybe because you werent making a "proper" connection between the jack and the insert, that maybe you would degrade the signal...
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
May 11, 2005 01:47 pm no prob, right in my yamaha mixer book, it stated you can tap signal out at that point. The connection is totally secure as well, proper as any other connection.
May 11, 2005 02:34 pm 96 channels, hell when Noize and I were doing a film soundtrack we used up 30 channels within the first 20 minutes of the song...
Large percussion kits, wind instrument sections, multiple mics per instrument, large choirs...you'd be surprised how easily you could burn up 96 channels in some situations.
mccartyeeeeeeemo.Member
Since: Oct 30, 2003
May 11, 2005 03:32 pm ahh.... id completely overlooked what would be needed for large orchestra type music.... point taken.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 18, 2005 10:47 pm Ya, I consider my 32 channel 8 buss mixer small. But it is plenty for in here now. Especially when you can now do all the final mixing right in software.