Thinking of not using mixer anymore??...

Thinking of not using mixer anymore????.....

Posted on May 19, 2004 07:39 pm
ILLbizzel
ILLbino - one of WA's finest
Member Since: Feb 10, 2004

My studio is focused for hip hop. Meaning that: I make a beat on the computer using the Triton keyboard and then record the vocals on top of the beat on my PC. Today, I started to think if I really needed my mixer and I don't think I do. I don't plan on recording bands. And I can do all my EQs on the computer.

So what else made me think of not using my mixer anymore? Well, I had my keyboard and condensor mic hooked up to my mixer which was hooked up to my soundcard. I experimented and tried bypassing the mixer and hooking the keyboard straight into my sound card. I've noticed a better sound quality like as if the mixer has noise that could be picked up. So the only purpose I see my mixer would be good for is my condensor mic since my sound card doesn't have the condensor mic plug in (the 3 prong plug).

So my questions are this:

Since my soundcard only accepts XLR, Digital, and coaxial inputs, should I buy a dynamic mic for vocals?

If so, which one would best replicate a great sound of a condensor mic?

Or should I get a new sound card with multiple inputs (including the 3-prong) which could connect my condensor mic?

Should I sell my mixer? lol.

Do they make an adapter that changes a condensor mic plug (3 prong) into a XLR?

I know its a lot of questions, but any help would be appreciated.

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BennisHahn
Ex-Wookie
Member
Since: Aug 29, 2003

May 19, 2004 07:51 pm

Well, the three prong plug you speak of is an XLR plug...

You need phantom power for your condenser which most soundcards don't have so I think you should just bypass your mixer and only use it when you are recording vocals. Dynamics don't sound as open and I don't think there is one that is comparable to a condenser. You might want to look into getting a dedicated preamp for your mic.

CompSem
Member
Since: May 03, 2004

May 19, 2004 08:08 pm

I know I wouldn't go without my mixer and I'm doing the same thing as you are much of the time. I use multiple synths though. But yes, direct from synth to soundcard is usually cleaner, especially with some of the lower-end mixers (not that high-end gear doesn't have noise). Do you have a digital out on the Triton and a digital in on your soundcard? I go out my AES/EBU on the Kurzweil directly into my soundcard at the Kurz's max which is 48kHz/16bits. It's clean... like flatline...

ILLbizzel
ILLbino - one of WA's finest
Member
Since: Feb 10, 2004

May 19, 2004 08:41 pm

my triton is the older version 61 key workstation/sampler without the digital in/out. What is AES/EBU?

CompSem
Member
Since: May 03, 2004

May 19, 2004 08:48 pm

That's the specific digital interface standard that the Kurzweil uses. Popular interface.
More: whatis.techtarget.com/def...i213476,00.html

coolo
Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003

May 19, 2004 09:10 pm

For the most part, I only record vocals to my computer. I used to use my mixer for phantom power and a mic pre. I did purchase a dedicated mic pre (which now covers phantom power and preamplification), but I still use the mixer. Basically, I send the tracks that are playing from the computer into one channel, and send the vocals into another channel, and then use the headphones out of the mixer to let the mc hear his own voice in the headphones as he/she spits. Seems like it's kinda being wasted, I know, but it serves a purpose.