Setting up a mixing studio: need opinion on gear!

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Member Since: Aug 29, 2007

Hey, I'm very soon going to be setting up a small home studio focused on mixing projects mostly.

My question is, should I go the control surface, digital mixer, or analogue mixer way? It seems impossibly hard to choose between these three combinations:
-Mackie Control Universal and C4.
-Mackie 24x8 (used) plus MOTU 24 I/O Interface
-Yamaha 02V plus appropriate interface

All of these would be around the same price, 2000-3000$, but I don't know which would be more effective. Plus there's a hundred other options I'd like to hear. Just on this board I saw the Tascam FW-1082 control surface/interface/digital mixer, and it looks like a fantastic option as well, especially combined with a Mackie C4.

So what's everybody think?

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Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Mar 02, 2008 04:09 pm

If you're not tracking, then a 'non' control surface mixer will be useless.

mixers in the studio are good for having a bank of preamps in one device. Once I track (i have a MG16/4) i then do all mixing in the PC.

Digital mixer still involves the same dilemma as the analog mixer: no control from software. The mixer can do a boat-load of neat things, but being controlled by software probably isn't one of them.

Control surface would be the way to go, I'd think.

Unless, you plan on tracking somedays, then you're in a pickle, I think the maudio has preamps (yes, it does). Yo may want to look at the projectmix i/o, as it's 18x12 firewire /control surface. seems it'd do all your needs in one, though it may not have as much control as the MCU + C4.

www.zzounds.com...m--MDOPROJECTIO

Hmm, maybe 2 ProjectMix on one box, that may do some real mixing =).

There's also the euphonix stuff, they look pretty darn nice, though I don't think you can track through them, just a control surface.

www.sweetwater.com/c726--...ontrol_Surfaces

Member
Since: Aug 29, 2007


Mar 02, 2008 04:52 pm

See, I would tend to agree with you that control surfaces are the way to go, it's actually what I'm leaning towards. But my only gripe is that with an analogue mixer, you get real, hardware EQ. From what I can gather, that's not something you can emulate well digitally under thousands of dollars. I don't know how much that matters, but in the end I don't think it's worth sacrificing the benefits of a control surface just for that one point.

Right now the Tascam FW-1082 plus a Mackie C4 (adding up to an amazingly low 1200$) is looking like a very appealing combination.

Also I forgot to mention one very important point, I own a firepod, so I can do some 8-input tracking if ever the need arises. Thanks for your input, much obliged.

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Mar 02, 2008 05:01 pm

Yah, no prob. I don't use EQ on my mixer, recording flat and using software EQ. I guess you may have a point about the sub-par EQ, but I guess I'll have to live with it until I get proven different. I have pretty good faith in my software at the moment, for whatever that's worth =).

One other angle, re: the Hi-$$$ EQ, is that if you have other components that don't hold up to the great EQ, then it may not be as noticable. Like, converters under 2k$ may negate the 2k$ EQ. I'm just theorizing, but it does come up now and again, and may be worth a few moments research.

Yeah, the FP definitely drops the need for the preamps. Good deal.

Master of the Obvious?
Member
Since: Jun 29, 2004


Mar 25, 2008 01:06 am

Hardware EQ on cheaper boards isn't anything to get excited about, especially Mackie (yuck).

As for what to spend the $2-3k on, it depends on what you've got to start with! For instance, what DAW are you working with?

Member
Since: Aug 29, 2007


Mar 25, 2008 11:34 pm

I'm working with Logic 8 right now, but I'd very much like to switch to Pro Tools. We're covering the program in detail in a class I'm taking, and I actually really like it. With that in mind, the combination of a 003 Rack and a Command 8 control surface looks pretty nice.

However I'm getting a lot of people saying that it's a waste of money to buy a control surface like the Command 8, seeing as it really doesn't *do* anything, and have been recommended something like this: presonus.com/products/Detail.aspx?ProductId=52

Are there really enough advantages in a board like that to warrant limiting my choice of software? I do like working in Pro Tools more than in Logic personally (for purposes of mixing) so I suppose I shouldn't settle for a piece of gear that can't let me use PT, no matter how attractive. Is that a good way to look at it?



Member
Since: Mar 03, 2008


Mar 26, 2008 12:50 am

Why buy a Digi 003 and a Comand 8? Just get the Digi 003 control surface/interface. It'll probably save you some money and it's less to have on your desk.

Member
Since: Mar 03, 2008


Mar 26, 2008 12:54 am

www.audiomidi.com/003-Factory-P9092.aspx

Member
Since: Aug 29, 2007


Mar 26, 2008 01:17 am

Well, someone who's opinion I respect very much on most things recommended I should get the control surface and interface separately. His logic is that if I need to upgrade to 004 when it comes out, I will lose less money selling rack 003 than selling the factory 003, the former being less expensive. I ... don't see how it makes that much sense. The pots on the command 8 are nice, but thats the only difference really. You raise a very good point.

Member
Since: Mar 03, 2008


Mar 26, 2008 03:35 am

The upgrade point is a good one. It's unfortunate that Digi are such stingy buggers when it comes to future compatibility.

Master of the Obvious?
Member
Since: Jun 29, 2004


Mar 27, 2008 01:50 pm

While that's true, I just recently got a used 002 control surface and I can't think of why I'd want to upgrade to the 003, or the 004 whenever that comes out (probably 3-4 years or so). Ultimately, it's just a control surface and a key to let you use Pro Tools. You can bypass the converters through ADAT/SPDIF, so you've always got another 8-10 channels you can upgrade without having to get a new interface.

Plus, I'd like to think my next upgrade would either be an older HD system, or (as I'm going more the producer vs. engineer route) working out of other studios all together!

Personally, I'd get a used 002 w/ a nice 8-channel pre.

Member
Since: Apr 06, 2007


Mar 28, 2008 02:13 pm

Yeah the 002 is the way to go, I just went over to the us(im from mexico city by the way) and i bought a digi002 very very cheap because the store was selling old inventory. Now there's almost no difference between the 002 and the 003, i think only the extra headphone jack, the aux outputs and the bnc connector, but thats it. As for the price we are looking at $800 difference.

I tune down down...
Member
Since: Jun 11, 2007


Mar 28, 2008 07:24 pm

Maybe I'm just bias towards Presonus. But, that live mixer that you mentioned looks like it'll be a GREAT tool. That and it's not just a ProTools device. It will control anything from what I understand.

That's one of the reasons I'm so, "no way" on ProTools, they are just sooo up tight about being universal. Just makes me think Limp Bizkits, My Way or the Highway, type thinking and that's not what music is about.

Personally, the way that I'm going to start doing things soon is routing things through an external mixer that DOESN'T control the DAW and just edit to sound the way I want then just re-record the mixed track to a new well, track.

IE. Through my 8110(one day) to a 24 channel Motu A/D/A converter into the software. Back out through the A/D/A through a patch bay, to external effects, and mixer. From that mixer back into the DAW to the mains. That way not EVERYTHING is digital. All the modulations and stuff I can control by feel and not a mouse.

Member
Since: Apr 06, 2007


Mar 30, 2008 06:42 am

Looks like the starting point of another PT battle. Just Kidding HA!

I tune down down...
Member
Since: Jun 11, 2007


Mar 30, 2008 02:13 pm

Easy!! Lol.

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