DIGITAL MIXER QUESTION!

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eothitis
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2011/06/07 08:56:16 (permalink)

DIGITAL MIXER QUESTION!

Hey! I know this might sound a bit silly but i have been reading about digital consoles PreSonus StudioLive 16.0.2  http://www.sweetwater.com/c126--Digital_Mixers,  tascam dm320 http://tascam.com/product/dm-3200/  or allan and heath R16 http://www.allen-heath.com/zed/zedr16 online but i havent quite got how they work. So, you can have like a number of inputs into the mixer and that mixer is also an audio interface right? Then you record the tracks into sonar, e.g a full band in different tracks with one recording. But then, can you use the knobs on the mixer to control effects from inside sonar on the tracks? I've read the digital mixers have effect sends and some have like eq sends, compressor sends reverb sends on them. If you have a raw track e.g guitars recorded from the mixer to sonar and you want to add an effect, do you have to re-record a track from sonar into sonar again (output from sonar  into the mixer again with the external effect and back into sonar on another track) with the prepfered effect from the digital mixer or an external effect unit? is that how its done? 


 Can someone please explain or send me a link?

Thanks!!
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    eothitis
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    Re:DIGITAL MIXER QUESTION! 2011/06/07 10:29:34 (permalink)
    I've been mixing in the box all the time but i also have some external effects like reverbs, compressors, and stuff like that, and now i am wondering how its done with a mixer!
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    AT
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    Re:DIGITAL MIXER QUESTION! 2011/06/07 13:27:47 (permalink)
    If I get your questions right, it is that it all depends.  As far as a digital mixer going to SONAR, all the above listed act as your AD/DA via FW etc.  So your recording signal would go through the mixer w/ EQ and effects and get laid down in SONAR.

    The mixers are different, however.  The A&H is an analog mixer w/ a ADDA tacked on.  So you get a nice analog EQ going in, but I don't think it includes any digital time based effects (reverb, etc.)  It will also act as a control surface for SONAR - it has two different modes (analog and digital).  I don't know how well the other two digitial mixers work w/ SONAR.  But you should be able to re-record them w/ the mixer effects or use the mixer to add reverb etc. during mixdown since it all takes place in the world of digital.

    Again, the A&H is different.  You take your digital audio from SONAR (with all the in the box effects you want from SONAR) and pass it out as separate tracks or stems to be eq'ed and summed by the analog mixer.  You can, of course, use your analog hardware w/ it on mixdown (or recording), just like a regular mixer.

    Hope this helps.  If it was me, I'd take the A&H any day.  You can even add your own convertors, I believe, via ADAT, although there are some mixing restrictions as I recall.  But basically, it is an analog mixer while the others are digital.

    @
    post edited by AT - 2011/06/07 13:28:58

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    Cactus Music
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    Re:DIGITAL MIXER QUESTION! 2011/06/09 12:04:37 (permalink)
    In the instance of adding outboard EFX's to an input signal to Sonar, any mixer will do that.
    The words "Digital" mixer can confuse people.
    A true digital mixer converts the audio into digital right after the pre amp stage. The audio is processed and mixed in the digital domain and can be output as both digital and analog. I use a Yamaha 01V which is this type of mixer. I use SPDIF to my interface and into Sonar. If I purchased the ADAT card I could have 8/16 Channels of digital in/out.
    I can use it as a controller for Sonar and visa versa using MIDI. Newer boards would use USB.
    Not all mixers have all functions automated so make sure to read the specs.
    The Yamaha like most digital mixers have 2 built in EFX DSP engines. Some have more. These can be controlled with MIDI ( USB) They also have motorized faders with scene recall. True digital mixers are way more expensive than analog mixers. Digico is a well respected brand. Yamaha and Roland also make full consoles. Now digital snakes can be used with these boards.
    The Allen and heath is a Analog mixer with an audio interface built in so it's not what I'd call a digital mixer. I does get a big thumbs up. Some other brands like the Mackie have bad audio drivers so do not work very well with Sonar. It seems a lot of these swiss army knife mixers do a lot of things  but most of them not as well as if you purchased the individual component. In other words, with audio equipment, you always get what you pay for.

    PS- Second hand Yamaha 01v and sister boards go for peanuts on ebay.
    post edited by Cactus Music - 2011/06/09 12:15:43

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    eothitis
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    Re:DIGITAL MIXER QUESTION! 2011/06/19 09:24:23 (permalink)
    Hey guys!! Thanks for your replies!!!! that was a nice explanaition!! thanks and all the best! :)
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