hardware or software mixer

[buffalo man]

is a particular one better or has technology grown to the point that the software ones can rival the hardware ones?

Any help is appreciated thanks very much dear people of soft

 

[blueprintstudios]

if i didn't read wrong + assume wrong , your question should be

Hardware "analog" mixer vs Digital "w/onboard compression,eq,efx" mixer vs Audio interface/DAW (using laptop+vst) mixer

and what purpose/budget?

in my opinion,
hardware is mainly live use unless desired in recording. but usually requires lots of rack compression/eq gear as well. recording options from what I often see from these setups are usual "stereo mix" output only. simply means "don't get in the live sound man's way, recordist".

digital mixer is something like an all in one solution. each channel strip has its own compression/eq, so you don't have to run around back and forth as everything is "on the desk". recording options can be "stereo mix" or unless it has individual outputs or unless it even has a SD/HDD recorder.or a combination of audio interface support like them phonic helix mixers.

audio interface/DAW mixer requires an additional knowledge in operating software + stability issues with operating system (mac/pc) + latency issues and everything is mouse'n'keyboard (unless you use a controller which defeats the purpose of a portable/minimalist laptop setup) seldom/never used in live because of latency/instability (unless you're a skilled computer technician that solves any onspot problems within 5mins) , there's many software vst expandability for compressors/eq options for this one. but I won't recommend this unless you're doing location recording for live and not under the responsibility burden of live sound mixing. (because location recording itself is a pain already.) i don't need to talk about recording options for this one.

 

[buffalo man]

ok sorry man i should have read up a bit more and stated my purposes more clearly,i mainly make instrumental music and i'm using the audio interface/daw combination actually,when i wana mix down my track i was thinking if i should use the software one(just click and adjust faders etc with mouse) or buy a digital mixer and adjust the levels and stuff outside,sorry i've not learnt how to mix yet,just bought an audio interface and a DAW a couple of months back and still experimenting and learning.my budget is less than 5k in the long run (still saving for studio monitors now and alr quite broke lol)

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

for mixing of tracks within daw, other than using mouse to control, you can prolly get a midi controller with faders, encorder etc. A lil bit of midi mapping the faders, encoder to the various controls inside the daw, you can do mixing of tracks with the midi controller without touching the mouse. Novation has a remote sl mk2 midi controller with just faders, encoders and buttons. Together with their automap software, you can even skipped the midi mapping procedure as long the daw you are using is supported by it.

the mixer you need for mixing wont have to be a real mixer that route/summed signal, whats needed can be just a midi controller mapped to the daw environment controls and it be all good to go. The price for such device, will be much much lower then the budget you mentioned and more practical.

imho

 

[kongwee]

Other than midi control, other thing you can look for is MCU surface control but need to check your DAW for support.

 

[blueprintstudios]

buffalo man : don't need to be sorry there, just helping you ask a better question so you can get better answers.

if you already bought an audio interface (what is it?) and DAW (what DAW?) , i highly recommend you make use of it first as DAW = software mixer since you have it already. compare your comfort/luxury/necessity scales, if you can make do with mouse&keyboard instead of a specialised midi controller just to control faders(unless for midi piano recordings) , use the money effectively in upgrading the other necessities first, build your comfort later, and luxury last unless you have money to throw around as for less than 5K which is a decent amount but if that's all you got trust me it's not going to be a lot at all when you develop G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome) then you're better off having that money on standby to replace immediately something that's broken or simply dedicate a decent budget to make your girlfriend/wife happy. simply : if you know how to mix on software DAW mixer, you will know how to mix on digital hardware mixer. after all software copies/emulates hardware.

 

[kongwee]

If you already have luxury stuff like iPhone or iPad or Android. There are a few OSC and MCU base touch surface control app. No harm trying even you are a starter.

 

[blueprintstudios]

I got my iPhone at $200 and below and I've earned thousands operating my businesses and service and communication necessities from it. Heh.

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

if on ipad, touchOSC or ipad lemur be pretty good choice. Both allow users to do own template for daw/vsti control, wirelessly

 

[buffalo man]

i'm currently using a steinberg cl1 for audio interface and cubase 6 as my daw(fed up with all the vst limitations of cubase le 4),ok man thanks for the advice,i'll stick to software mixer and use the rest of my money for essentials,another thing i have to overcome now is the issue of monitors,there is currently a deal for the month of march at resolution sg, $430 for a prodipe ribbon 5",i'm duno anything about acoustic treatment of home studios and studio monitors and i'm currently trying to read up as much as possible,any advice if this monitor is worth it? cuz my room is small and i'm looking for a pair of not so expensive monitors for the next 3-4 years to use

 

[blueprintstudios]

for monitoring - studio monitors means you need a good room with good acoustic treatment. either you can try adam monitors from luthermusic.com or go the headphone monitor mixing way. I'm using an audio technica athm30s (6 of it) it's about $70 now i think from hungbros.com my belief is if you can't make it sound good cheap headphones , studio monitors will be just overkill. it starts with your EARS.
the other thing is I will check my mixes on all hearing mediums (iem,headphone,iphone earphone,pc speaker,car etc) and get my clients to check on theirs (which they're familiar with) . that's a cost effective way of cutting costs as well. gd luck with the mixing though heh.

 

[buffalo man]

ok man i'll try that out,thanks so much for the advice

 

[bleedingboy]

i'm currently using a steinberg cl1 for audio interface and cubase 6 as my daw(fed up with all the vst limitations of cubase le 4),ok man thanks for the advice,i'll stick to software mixer and use the rest of my money for essentials,another thing i have to overcome now is the issue of monitors,there is currently a deal for the month of march at resolution sg, $430 for a prodipe ribbon 5",i'm duno anything about acoustic treatment of home studios and studio monitors and i'm currently trying to read up as much as possible,any advice if this monitor is worth it? cuz my room is small and i'm looking for a pair of not so expensive monitors for the next 3-4 years to use

advice:

when it comes to monitoring your music, it is best to check it with various headset, speakers and even broken ones.
YES, broken ones. meaning the more broken it is, the more you'll get an idea, how your music sounds like in worst case scenario.

As for my suggestion, try to look for a FLAT MIXED headset, to ensure proper levels are on the same '0' level.
and not those bass-boosted headset, or whatsoever. meaning you'll have more control with the music you're recording,
free from clipping on several level. an example would be, the older "apple" iPOD headset.

Normally not all bedroom musicians, can't afford gears at an instant, but then, DIY does make use of what's available.
a GOOD ACOUSTIC room is essential, but then, what if you don't have one?

DIY TIP. when you record your vocals, a think blanket, will help you record good vocals in mono.
DIY TIP. guitars, so long as your PC/LAPTOP or whatever you're recording has a direct input, then you're ok.
but check the latency, very well. (this part you'll have to research.)
DIY TIP. Record in mono. without effects (in guitars). there are several VST and such that can be loaded for FX.
but if you feel you have more control when you're actually playing it, record at a minimal rate.
adjust later when you're arrangement.

as for the main topic. SOFTEE (software) vs. HARDEE (hardware digital or analog), you'll have more control when you click and point a certain note. but it ends up, too COMPUTERish when played. and no matter what, software will be limited to what hardware you have (your computer/laptop, surface controller etc.). while hardware gives a certain feeling on shifting from one note to another, but due to budget constraint, you're limited to what you can do with what hardware you have, as of now. hence you end up selling just to upgrade and/or you buy one, but need it for just one purpose. and you end up in gearlust, without even using your hardware's full potential) and it's always fun when you play on the fly.

my advice. learn and own both softee and hardee. but don't try downloading all VSTs and ending up using just one. if you're to use it for live gig... you don't want your laptop to hang in the middle of a song.

 

[kongwee]

Hardware mix for live is good to learn,especially some in house technician not giving support.

Cos of that, I do my mixing only in studio monitor. Don't care about headphone and earphone. All like to see the woofer moving.

 

[blueprintstudios]

buffalo man : you're welcome.