A choice to make !!

If you need both you won't be happy with either choice until you have both. The VS 700 system has both. Money is always an issue when buying equipment, but does it matter if you spend it in one purchase or several? It all depends on what you need to do and what you need to do in the future.

mike_mccue


Buy SONAR X1C Expanded first!

         Hi Mike,
         I'm going to buy it, I'm just about to get a new computer built, and that's the reason
         for the original question, control surface or mixer. 
 
         Thanks
         John

jwh


Hi,
I'm thinking of buying either a new control surface (I have a V-20 Studio) or a USB mixer, I know this is subjective but, control surface or USB mixer any thoughts !!
 
Thanks
John

Howdy John,

I'm curious as to why you think you need a "mixer."   With all the features of any modern DAW these days, I can't find a good reason to get one myself.

IF I was doing a lot of vocal or "mic" work, then perhaps.  But even then - we have so much control as it is ITB.

I would say go for the control surface first as it can provide a number of functions -- for example, it can act like a mixer (obviously not for acoustic work though), it can be an ACT controller, it can be a general MIDI controller, etc.

There are some great options available in both the CS and Mixer areas, so regardless of your decision you'll have good choices available.

But I'd still like to know why you feel a need for the mixer - just out of curiosity here.

I'm using a desk, but I don't use it for mixing!

I just find it a convenient way to hook in keyboards, pod outputs, CD players, minidisc etc.

I feed my group outs direct from the desk to my 8 interface inputs which make it easy to record anything into Sonar without having to repatch anything.

The desk is getting a little long in the tooth now, I have a couple of channels with problems.
It was taken into Soundcraft about 4 years ago and had an extensive re-cap and wiring job, but this time I think it'll need more than that.

I might not bother getting it sorted - it still does what I want it to do

For many home studio situations, a board isn't really necessary.  Nice to have, but unless you do a lot of band tracking, you probably don't NEED it.  Wanting it is different.  They do a lot of things, as Jonesey says.

A controller?  That covers a lot of ground.  If you work with sonar, the vs700 is da bomb (NY, please excuse).  A bit pricey and more than you were planning on spending, I warrant.  For that price you could get an A&H R16, which is both an analog board and controller.

I'm hoping to get my android pad up and running as a controller as soon as I rustle up some free time.  That looks to be a nice, mid-cost solution.  Or that is my hope.  And hay, you get a pad with it, too.

It really depends upon how you work and what you want to accomplish.  If you want to record bands a UBS board is a good way to get into that.  Of course, you need mics, headphones and amp, stands, and the list goes on.  If you want to mix your own stuff and maybe a couple of guest artists, a controller would be a better investment.  Whatever you buy, the higher quality you get the better off your investement will be.  If you decide you don't like it you can probably sell it for more than just leaving a POS in the corner, and if you keep it you won't have to replace it with a higher quality unit later.

@