Hi everyone, great community here!
 
I've been using the full version of Sonar for a while now with just a DI (Octa Capture) for recording guitars.
However i'm upgrading to a full on "professional" studio. I'm reading and learning a lot but one thing i just can't figure out: the mixer.
 
Correct me if wrong, there are 3 types of mixers. Anolog, analog with usb/firewire, digital.
To make it easier, i won't go digital. Not my kind of thing.
 
So then i thought, let's go analog through USB but i keep reading how that won't let you record more than 2 tracks at the same time. And that's my biggest concern. I want to be able to record 24 tracks at the same time. Is this possible at all? Either through an analog mixer or analog with usb? Will Sonar handle this? Do i need a super computer for this?
 
Anybody who understands this better than me who can help me a out bit maybe?
 
Thank you so much!

Hi and welcome to the Cakewalk forum

I can only assume that you are reading about a specific mixer. That still surprises me though because recording two tracks only certainly isn't a limitation of USB.

For instance, you mention the OCTA-CAPTURE, which I also use and you can record ten tracks simultaneously via its USB connection.

What outboard mixers have you considered so far?

Hi, thanks.
 
You're right about the Octa also being usb and being able to record multiple tracks. Maybe because i don't consider it a mixer i got confused. I read quite some (maybe old threads) on forums talking about usb mixers being limited to 2 channels at once.
 
TBH i have no specific mixer in mind. I preferable would like to buy something 2nd hand. Anywhere from 500 to a 1000 dollars.

Maybe a difference between USB1 on old mixers and USB2 on new mixers?

The number of channels recordable at the same time from USB mixers varies deending on the mixer in question,

Another option to a hardware mixer is something like an RME UFX plus one or two 8-channel ADAT units. That would give you up to 28 input channels, depending on sampling rate. RME's Totalmix software looks and feels like a multi-channel mixer because that's what it is. All faders and eq etc. can be accessed without menu diving.

For a good analogue or digital mixer that has analogue "feel" SSL are worth a look.

USB 1 could barely handle stereo.  But USB2 can handle 16-24 realistically, and USB3 can do that and more with less latency.  So USB ain't the bottle neck.
 
Some "USB" mixers simply send the mixer output to the USB output so you can capture that stereo mix to your computer - great for documenting rehearsals and recording shows but lacking when it comes to multitrack recording.  Other mixers can replace your interface and deliver 8-16+ tracks in and out of your computer.  That is more what you are looking for, if I'm interpreting your question right.  And a mixer can help if you are doing multitrack recording often.  Setting up mics and sending and bussing signals and headphone mixes is easier with the right board.  But  higher quality is usually available by buying a board and interface separately, although it can be cheaper to buy an all in one.  But there are compromises at the lowest end, such as USB 1 and other restraints that only become apparent once you start using that board.
 
If you are using an octatrack you can simply add an analog board in front of it.  The roland has perfectly acceptable sound and you can get most of the benefits of a hardware board by simply finding one with direct outs and use that with the octocapture.  Unless you go with an extremely low end board you won't compromise your signals enough to matter and for band recording you can skip the latency of the Roland and SONAR by sending a speed of light signal from your analog board to the band while you worry about recording the proper signal.  That's what I'd do, if I'm reading you right.  I would not risk replacing my good interface with a cheap board with worse conversion and lesser pres (most likely) for a little convenience.  And remember, most pros choose separate hardware - I can't think of a new pro board/converter combo since Allen and Heath.

Just a thought, but another way of interfacing a multi-channel interface and a mixer is using Mackie’s trick of partially inserting TR jacks into the channel inserts so they tap the insert signal without interrupting it so the mixer channel is still available for setting up the monitor/foldback mix.

You do lose the ability to eq or use channel dynamics on the sends to the interface using that method though.

I agree with AT about replacing an existing interface for one with poorer convertors or poorer quality supporting circuitry being less than the ideal road to go down.

There is a thread about the Soundcraft http://forum.cakewalk.com/Soundcraft-Signature-MTK-m3417894.aspx
 
You'll see the OP gave up because the multitrack USB output was about half the level he desired. 
I still like the features of that board over the similar Presonus studio live series. But for me it would be a live mixer first not a studio interface. Those 2 are Analog boards with USB multi channel interfaces. From there you get into digital boards which are better but not for everyone. Many require an iPad to run, I kind of want the physical faders to be there. 
The one I was looking at for the studio because I felt the audio drivers would be a higher quality was a Motu interface. Either that of RME. You'll want to upgrade from the Roland if your going to have clients coming in.. I wouldn't trust one after the numerous threads with issues with drivers. 

Oh wow, this is a lot of information to go through. I appreciate the detailed replies and will go through them one by one, trying to understand them. Thanks so far, i will reply with probably some more questions :)

Oh wow, this is a lot of information to go through. I appreciate the detailed replies and will go through them one by one, trying to understand them. Thanks so far, i will reply with probably some more questions :)