Hi i'm pretty new to the recording world and would like some advice. I'm considering buying an analog mixer , the Yamaha MG 12/4fx and would like to know some things. I use cakewalk and want to mic various instruments , including drumkit and amplifiers. So is it possible to use a hardware mixer with a software multitrack recorder or do i need to use a digital mixer? If so how do i, for eg, when using 5-6 mics for the drumkit, make the individual channel strips on the mixer correspond to the tracks on the recording software, so that i can tweak say the snare,kick and toms individually? Do i need to have a sound card with as many inputs? Thanks a lot!
Mixer help
- Thread starter teleholic
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teraslasch
New member
1. You don't need a digital mixer.
2. Connect the mics to the mixer, the mixer to ur com
3. In the software, you should be able to see the inputs and outputs, select them correctly
2. Connect the mics to the mixer, the mixer to ur com
3. In the software, you should be able to see the inputs and outputs, select them correctly
Cheez
Moderator
If you want to have multiple channels and also to tweak them individually, you'll need a soundcard with multiple inputs. If budget is a problem, you may be able to get by with just connecting your inputs dirently to a good multi in-out soundcard and mix it directly within the PC environment, bypassing the mixer altogether. It is not ideal (faders always better than the mouse), but it will save you getting a mixer.
Cheez
Moderator
No, you don't need high end mixers. The key is the soundcard.
If you want to record 6 tracks simultaneously and tweak them indivivually (for example), you need a mixer with at least 6 inputs and a soundcard with at least 6 inputs. Or alternatively, you can feed into a soundcard with 6 inputs directly.
So the number of channels will depend on how many tracks you want to record simultaneously. If you want a mixer, something like Mackie 1202 or 1402 should suffice depending on how many preamps you need. I don't think they are that costly nowadays - but I'm out of touch with pricing of mixers. Others can help here.
If you want to record 6 tracks simultaneously and tweak them indivivually (for example), you need a mixer with at least 6 inputs and a soundcard with at least 6 inputs. Or alternatively, you can feed into a soundcard with 6 inputs directly.
So the number of channels will depend on how many tracks you want to record simultaneously. If you want a mixer, something like Mackie 1202 or 1402 should suffice depending on how many preamps you need. I don't think they are that costly nowadays - but I'm out of touch with pricing of mixers. Others can help here.
MadWerewolfBoy
New member
yes, i think the only way is to get multi-input sound card if u want to separate each sound for tweaking...
but 6+ inputs... i don't know any cheap ones...
or just go budget way la! record individually, put them together and tweak lor...
but 6+ inputs... i don't know any cheap ones...
or just go budget way la! record individually, put them together and tweak lor...
ok..i wanna tweak each drum you see..plus can do stuff like blend two bass guitar or elec. gtr tracks and such...is it ok to have say one input, record with analog mixer and mix in real time till satisfied then record to software, then use software's mixer to do mixdown? or if wanna have individual drum tracks must have as many soundcard inputs?
Cheez
Moderator
You cannot record into a mixer. Unless you are talking about a multitrack recorder.
Once the tracks are mixed, it will be very hard to separate them for tweaking. If you want to tweak, say, 6 separate tracks, there's no way around it except to record 6 individual tracks into 6 separate channels of your soundcard.
Perhaps you need to define what you mean by tweak. If you want to "tweak" each track with the mixer's EQ/outboard effects and reverbs etc, then mix them into 2 stereo tracks to be recorded into your PC, then apply mixdown with your software - this is still possible. But unless you have lots of outboard gears (like compressors, limiters, effects, reverbs etc), it will be cheaper to do all these in software as plug-ins.
Once the tracks are mixed, it will be very hard to separate them for tweaking. If you want to tweak, say, 6 separate tracks, there's no way around it except to record 6 individual tracks into 6 separate channels of your soundcard.
Perhaps you need to define what you mean by tweak. If you want to "tweak" each track with the mixer's EQ/outboard effects and reverbs etc, then mix them into 2 stereo tracks to be recorded into your PC, then apply mixdown with your software - this is still possible. But unless you have lots of outboard gears (like compressors, limiters, effects, reverbs etc), it will be cheaper to do all these in software as plug-ins.
thats what i meant, i meant like tweak the "real-time" sound of the kit, when i'm satisfied with the sound, then direct out to soundcard and record, but on software can only mix one stereo track..i went simlim today, was thinking of actually using laptop instead to record, so can laptops support ext soundcards? if so, which shld i get that can allow maybe say two mic inputs?
Cheez
Moderator
There are a number of options for notebook soundcards - firewire or PCMCIA.
You can check out Echo, M-audio, MOTU etc to see. If you're running it all through a mixer, there's no need for 2 mic inputs. If you intend to mix on your mixer - then one stereo line input into the soundcard will do.
Echo's Indigo IO is one of the cheapest and hassle free PCMCIA option - I'm using one. Great drivers and very low latency.
You can check out Echo, M-audio, MOTU etc to see. If you're running it all through a mixer, there's no need for 2 mic inputs. If you intend to mix on your mixer - then one stereo line input into the soundcard will do.
Echo's Indigo IO is one of the cheapest and hassle free PCMCIA option - I'm using one. Great drivers and very low latency.
iansoh
Moderator
hey jem007,
laptops can support external soundcards definitely. USB is not as bad as it may seem offhand. it's not so much the sound card, it's how well u tweak your OS to maximise it for DAW operations. and of course, good processor, plenty of fast RAM etc..
if u want a cheap soundcard with 2 XLR phantom powered inputs, there's the tascam US122. also has one insert. purely USB powered though. i've used it to record a 2-set gig once(using 2 condensers) and it held steady throughout. also comes with its own ASIO drivers. METAL casing. built like a tank.
i think it's available from hung bros at simlim for slightly over $300 but u can try to negotiate. the echo indigo is a good option too, for roughly the same price i think. but i forgot who the dealer for echo products is.. i think he's located somewhere in katong shopping mall.
laptops can support external soundcards definitely. USB is not as bad as it may seem offhand. it's not so much the sound card, it's how well u tweak your OS to maximise it for DAW operations. and of course, good processor, plenty of fast RAM etc..
if u want a cheap soundcard with 2 XLR phantom powered inputs, there's the tascam US122. also has one insert. purely USB powered though. i've used it to record a 2-set gig once(using 2 condensers) and it held steady throughout. also comes with its own ASIO drivers. METAL casing. built like a tank.
i think it's available from hung bros at simlim for slightly over $300 but u can try to negotiate. the echo indigo is a good option too, for roughly the same price i think. but i forgot who the dealer for echo products is.. i think he's located somewhere in katong shopping mall.
Since you said an Onyx or 01X is out of your budget, one of the few options available is a soundcard with 8 mic preamps, like this:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Firepod/
That allows you to mic up 8 channels that will appear as discrete tracks on your DAW for further "tweaking".
Anyway your budget doesn't make sense to me since to record so many instruments at a time you'll probably need to buy mics as well.
In any case I don't see the point of buying a mixer and having to "mix down" all mic channels to a stereo output into a basic 2 input audio interface, when you can get an audio interface which you can record to 8 separate tracks at a time and "mix" later in the DAW environment (your budget notwithstanding)
If you can work without DAW convenience, use the $ you allocated to buy the laptop to get some portable "workstations" type like Yamaha AW series, just find a model with enough preamps onboard. Then you don't even need a audio interface(soundcard).
(Do check the Presonus website, from what I last heard they are discontinuing one of their porducts, don't know if its the Firepod).
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Firepod/
That allows you to mic up 8 channels that will appear as discrete tracks on your DAW for further "tweaking".
Anyway your budget doesn't make sense to me since to record so many instruments at a time you'll probably need to buy mics as well.
In any case I don't see the point of buying a mixer and having to "mix down" all mic channels to a stereo output into a basic 2 input audio interface, when you can get an audio interface which you can record to 8 separate tracks at a time and "mix" later in the DAW environment (your budget notwithstanding)
If you can work without DAW convenience, use the $ you allocated to buy the laptop to get some portable "workstations" type like Yamaha AW series, just find a model with enough preamps onboard. Then you don't even need a audio interface(soundcard).
(Do check the Presonus website, from what I last heard they are discontinuing one of their porducts, don't know if its the Firepod).
Sinamex has the Alesis mixers (8-channel and 16-channel versions) which come with a USB interface for direct stereo out hook up into your PC.
So from instruments to mixer, then mixer/USB to PC.
Think it comes with a free Cubase software that you can use for audio recording straight out of the box too!
QF
So from instruments to mixer, then mixer/USB to PC.
Think it comes with a free Cubase software that you can use for audio recording straight out of the box too!
QF
Jem007 said: