Mixer and Audio interface question

[Angeldevimon]

Hi music producers! Its quite a while since i post the best computer for DAW thread.

i wanna ask is it possible for me to connect a mixer to an audio interface? instead of a mixer/soundcard approach. I got a yamaha N8 mixer which was damn cheap on sale. I am thinkin of a Echo Layla 3G PCI audiointerface. is it workable and is it good?

Also , For my DIY PC, how many PCI slot do i typically need? There seems to be many types of PCI slots too! help..

lol thx alot.

AND rest assured, after i finish building my new DAW studio, i will share with everyone my process and specs and what i learned! THX THX

 

[blueprintstudios]

mixer (as preamps) > audio interface input #1 , #2 , pan full left and full right.

audio interface IS a Soundcard. but a recording soundcard.

anything echo's pretty alright, I used to use echo layla 24, was damn stable for years until a powertrip at a location recording fried it.

most mainboards come with a couple of PCI slots, and there's 2 types PCIe (express) and PCI (the old one). the evolution of that is ISA > PCI > PCIe.
graphic cards used to be PCI , then moved to AGP, then to their PCIe graphics card slot.
this one will give you an idea

new DSP cards like UAD use PCIe, so you don't need to worry about PCI slots. they simply look like this

the wiki details on PCIe's here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express

hope this helps

 

[kongwee]

Buy a USB or Firewire mixer if you do not need more than 8 mic channel. Alesis, Mackie does have this kind of interface. They can be standalone mixer if don't required computer. You could daisy chain on Firewire interface if you need more inputs.I don't see very practical to go PCIe if you are not going to Protool HD like solution.

Sidetrack a bit in 2007 or 2008, Brandi Carile do a live recording with a Macbook Pro with two Apoggee interface and an external harddisk. One of the live recording project is being feature in Logic Studio 8 demo disk. That project contain 26 tracks. I think all are audio recording with a few plug in. I am not promoting Apple, but let your know there are some other configuration you could do than desktop configuration.

 

[blueprintstudios]

angeldevimon : btw before I forget to say, by limiting yourself on something cheap you bought, you truly limit yourself. esp to "2 channel inputs" (mixer) like what kongwee mentioned there're many 8 multitrack inputs audio interfaces out there.

 

[Angeldevimon]

Now i'm unclear. I have a mixer. If i get a audio interface, i connect which outlet of mixer to which input of audio interface? and if i have a soundcard, which output of mixer to which input of soundcard?

Thx a lot to the few who always answers my noob questions. i can say i am almost done with my planning and setting up of my DAW personal studio

 

[blueprintstudios]

audio interface = recording soundcard. they're the same in general.
ppl don't call it a soundcard cos it's always been known as "audio interface", cos when ppl say soundcard they think "creative/realtek, onboard gaming".

what mixer brand and model are you using?

this is how it'll look
mics > XLR Cables > mixer > EITHER XLR or 1/4inch jack if any , depends on your audio interface inputs > audio interface > PCI/Firewire/USB > PC/DAW.

 

[Angeldevimon]

I'm using a Yamaha N8 mixer. so i connect from the pine output from my miixer to (lets say a Echo Gina 3g AI.) echo which input? the universal input? Eg. the Layla 3G AI, got both universal input and line inputs.

 

[blueprintstudios]

if you're using this :
http://www.dv247.com/mixers/yamaha-n8-digital-mixer-mixing-console--40676

how come you're not using the onboard firewire interface?

Yamaha N8 main features include:

* 8 input channels: discrete class-A microphone preamps, 2 stereo line inputs.
* 12-in/12-out FireWire Audio Interace

 

[Angeldevimon]

so i use it as my soundcard as well? cause if i use my com for own purposes, i would need to make use of my mixer ( keep it on ) all the time? even if i am not learnin music production? would it affect the mixer in anyway?

 

[blueprintstudios]

what's your computer specs?

does your comp come with onboard audio?
yes your mixer will need to be on whenever you need sound if you're using it for general purpose.

mixer ... well , I don't know, they say electronics breakdown easy if you DONT use them / keep dust. so if you constantly use it can be a good thing. but extra electricity

but how I would do it is, if it's normal movie use , then I leave my audio interface off, and use the onboard soundcard. until I do mixing or what, then I enable it (lechey) and time for work.

 

[Angeldevimon]

I am building a new com. Haven build yet but will be done by next week or so.
If i get audio interface i dun have to turn on my mixer right? And if i start workin i just turn on my mixer am i right ?
Your meaning of lechay issit cause have to plug in speakers to sound card , and then unplug and plug into mixer when workin?

 

[blueprintstudios]

if you get an audio interface your audio interface will always have to be on as much as your mixer because your mixer has an audio interface already. now what you're doing is getting 2 audio interfaces, like you got a car, it's working, you want that car to move, so you're buying a tow-truck just so you can get it moving. inefficient?

lechey because you have to plug in speakers in and out and re-configure set your primary soundcard in use.

 

[Cheez]

It all depends on how serious you are into building your DAW and your budget. Some people may do it, but I wouldn't, say, run Windows stuff and turn on a pair of Genelecs just to hear Windows blips. I would have 2 sets of speakers - one for DAW, one cheapo just for Windows. This also save power (and electricity).

If you are getting a medium range of monitor speakers, you can run everything through it.

One reason I would have 2 sets of speakers is for convenience. For everyday Windows/Office usage, I just want to turn on one switch (my PC switch) and start working. I don't want to have to turn on the mixer, the speaker etc just to listen to Windows startup and shutdown sounds and the little clicks when I open folders. Of course, the other reason is to save power. I wouldn't want to leave my large active monitor turned on for hours just because I'm working on my Word Document when most of the time, I'm not hearing any sound. Using blueprintstudio's analogy, it's like driving a Porsche just to go down half a block to buy ice-cream when I can just walk or cycle.

Most motherboards come with built-in audio interface. You really don't need to buy one.

What you don't want to do is to plug and unplug your speakers all the time.

 

[Angeldevimon]

Hahha. ok i think i got it. The problem arise for me as i am usin it for personal use as well as music.
Disregard my last post. i dint see CheeZZE post just now. Ok , so i can get 2 speakers, connect one to the sound card, and the other to the mixer, and when i work on music , i just on the mixer and use the better speakers connected to the mixer?

 

[kongwee]

Me just keep it on and never use the onboard sound, it is great for entertainment.

 

[blueprintstudios]

your choice now to choose you wanna spend more money on electricity (powering up your mixer) or new speakers (take up more space)

 

[Cheez]

Actually, cheapo speakers need not take up a lot of space. It doesn't cost a lot either.

 

[blueprintstudios]

cheez : yep man i'm on USB powered speakers. but since he said entertainment I assume he's probably some kinda movie buff or some home theatre setup

 

[kongwee]

You could buy a headphone if you don't really wanna use your monitor. Sometime I will do that.

 

[blueprintstudios]

usually I wouldn't recommend headphone unless your budget is really low, otherwise prolong headphone use at loud volumes (gradual ear fatigue tempts you to increase the volume level without you realising it?) may cause hearing damage.