are interfaces better than mixers?
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Posted on Feb 05, 2008 05:03 pm
fortymile
Member Since: Jan 18, 2003
just wondering what the advantages of each are.
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TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Feb 05, 2008 05:58 pm The quality of the interface mixers are a little hit and miss from what I can tell. Plus you've got to make sure that it can send individual tracks to your mixing software and not just a summed stereo signal.
But it's great to have multiple channels, each with its own preamp, insert and aux loop that can be routed directly to its own track in your multitracking software with nothing other than a single cable.
I think that one downer for these kinds of devices is the same that goes for any product that's integrated with other things in a kit or bundle, and that's the old "if one piece of it breaks, then you have to replace the whole thing" argument. And most of the USB and FireWire mixers that I've seen are in the "entry level" arena and would be more prone to breakage.
I think that they're ideal for the home studio though. Plus if you want to upgrade preamps, you still have line-level inputs available that would readily accept the incoming signal from a stand-alone preamp.
If I were shopping for an interface, I'd heavily consider a USB or FireWire mixer for the job.
Feb 05, 2008 06:02 pm when you say 'The quality of the interface mixers are a little hit and miss from what I can tell' you are talking about, like, not a standard mixer but the interface style units?
not sure which kind of device you're talking about in each part of your post...
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Feb 05, 2008 06:07 pm I'm talking entirely about USB or FireWire mixers. They just look a little flimsy, but pretty much all mixers in the entry level price ranges look flimsy.
Feb 05, 2008 06:09 pm That's like asking
Is Ben Rothlesberger better than Tom Brady ??
Just kidding of course.
Feb 05, 2008 06:12 pm haha tony
i just want to know cause my friend is having those motu problems, and also because i may end up getting a USB or firewire interface down the line if i end up moving my studio into this laptop.
but on the other hand, i see no true downsides to a plain old mixer...
Feb 05, 2008 06:31 pm is there any measurable difference in sound, as some claim? guitar center said something about tolerance thresholds?
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Feb 05, 2008 06:49 pm Quote:
but on the other hand, i see no true downsides to a plain old mixer...
The only thing I can think of is that hardware can get dirty/dusty and may introduce noise because of it.
Feb 05, 2008 08:01 pm There may be no downsides but I think interfaces have some upsides. Hard to list them out though. Lack of a need for external power is one, cleaner recordings I guess.
Feb 05, 2008 08:03 pm how are the recordings cleaner
Feb 05, 2008 08:04 pm It's a matter of opinion I suppose but going from your instrument into the mixer or interface is one step of potential noise/issues. Then going from mixer to soundcard is another (since it's analog), an interface goes straight in so should have less additional noise.
Feb 05, 2008 08:21 pm but in an interface, you still have the step of converting analog to digital. it just happens 'four feet down the line earlier,' inside the interface. but the soundcard does the same thing, correct? it's just 'over there.' one more audio cable to travel through. i find it hard to believe that that could make any discernable difference unless you're one of those cable wackos.
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Feb 05, 2008 08:33 pm Quote:
you still have the step of converting analog to digital
I think that there is the difference for sure.
There is a difference in the quality of AD/DA converters (I think anyways...) If the converters are better in the mixer then great. Same goes for an interface one would think.
Ya, I think I would go with the one that has the better converters and my guess is that it would get kinda pricey finding a good/great AD/DA converter in combination with a mixer.
....blah, blah, rambling thoughts about stuff I really don't know much about...
Feb 05, 2008 08:52 pm that must be why interfaces cost so much more. they try to get good converters in there as well as good preamps. or you could get a mixer with great preamps and a soundcard with good ones.
i dont see how there could be that much difference between this stuff. we're talking very small differences in quality between AD converters and preamps, aren't we?
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Feb 06, 2008 08:44 am The only real way to tell would be to play with them all. I'd bet Noise would have messed with a few by now.
In theory, seperate functional systems are a better approach. An interface that is basicly only AD/DA conversion has been engineered with the focus only on this function. A pre-amp the same, your entire "buck" is going toward the the creation of that functional unit. The standards that interconnect these units have been around forever and are easy to adhear to.
Tolorance stack: Here your talking about how well a unit adhears to those interconnect standards e.g. line level sound. Think of it as buying all gear from one company that has been tested with each other rather than units from different manufacturers. Not a great arguement. Tip: believe nothing you hear and half you see at Getfiddle Center. I theory again; the all in one "system" should have no issues pertaining to functional units interconnecting. This is an age old arguement that is frankly marketing hype. Having said that 99% of everything you read on gear is marketing hype, so cutting through the bull **** can become a career choice.
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Feb 06, 2008 11:22 am I was thinking about this a bit last night. Wouldn't it be ideal to have the AD/DA conversion happen as close to the original sound source? I would think the sooner the conversion takes place the better. The more circuitry the signal has to pass through the greater "possibility" of introducing noise. Once it has been converted to digital, additional noise will not be introduced.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Feb 06, 2008 11:46 am If I could get a mixer that connected via firewire or USB and sent all channels seperately I don't see any reason it would sound worse than an interface. I think most the USB mixers sound pretty good, but capturing 1 stereo output is not for me.
I like the control of a mixer overall, find one with good quality converters\pres (that captures seperate outputs) and I see no reason why it would sound worse than an interface. Signal in -> conversion -> direct to your HDD.
On your closer to the signal thought, so true. With that UX8 I just got the signal goes into the pre, is converted and sent straight to the PC. I really am amazed at how well it duplicates what I am actually hearing.
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Feb 06, 2008 11:52 am I'm just thinking more of the analog side of things. Logically i would think there would be more analog circuitry in a mixer that it would go through before getting converted. However, I guess if the signal was sent to the converter pre-fader then I guess there wouldn't really be any difference.
Feb 06, 2008 04:54 pm i just have a hard time believing that you could pick up that much noise from traveling down one additional cable to the soundcard. i mean, guitars themselves are played through guitar cables, and few have ever complained about that.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Feb 06, 2008 06:26 pm But a small amount of noise gets compounded over and over on every track. If you're only recording guitars through a slightly noisy component, then you're probalby OK. But if you're recording 3 doubled guitar tracks, 3 vocal tracks, 6 drum kit pieces, a bass, keyboards, and a couple of etcetera tracks then even a small amount of noise will get multiplied and become pretty noticable.
The same principle goes for preamps as well. Budget preamps usually don't sound that different than really nice ones on a single track. But pile on a 48-track project and the absolute clarity of a high-end preamp will shine through.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Feb 06, 2008 07:28 pm forty, the majority of the affordable mixer interfaces do not have as good an AD/DA converter as a stand alone unit as of yet. At least not until you hit the multi thousand dollar mark anyway. Mackie is about the best but the good unit will run you over 2 grand for 8 channels only. So a good mixer plus a good interface is a better deal.
As far as the noise or any other matter such as stating it is cleaner is pure bunk!
The noise issue and clean issue are all related to your cables and how they are routed. A USB/Firewire mixer has all the noisey crap built into it already so you don't have to patch out to get that extra noise. I'm not a fan of having all the electronics sitting on my interface, and that is exactly what those things are. Now get into the big Yamaha and Mackie digital units and your talking better quality. But you are also talking upwards of 3 or 4 grand.
Right now I am using a 32 x 8 desk and I can as well patch through channel direct outs if I need extra outputs to interface. But 8 usually does it here.
Feb 06, 2008 09:57 pm thanks, we're just wondering, because of that whole motu thing.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Feb 06, 2008 11:17 pm Ya, that is still bothering me. I have heard from another client that his is running on Vista and the only problem he has seen is the occasional need to re boot after leaving a session open and the PC going into screen saver and then upon being brought out it lost the MOTU unit. But a simple re boot and it was all god again.
