easyjoey
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Mixers - anyone using them anymore? I might need one.
Guys,
Up till now, I have ran the outputs into my sound card that has 8 inputs. It has worked fine because I use a virtual mixer that came with my sound card (Echo Layla 24). Well I have more sound sources than and I do inputs so I find mysefl swaping cables a lot. Therefore, I have been thinking of adding a mixer that has enough channels so all my sound modules can plug into that with swaping cables all the time and just run a stereo pair out of the mixer and into my sound card.
Does anyone have any thoughts on that? I don't want to deteriorate the sound quality of any of these modules by using a mixer that is of poor quality. Also, I would like the mixer to fit in a standard width rack.
Any thoughts here? What good rack mixers are out there for studio work?
Thanks.
Joe
www.soundcloud.com/angryredplanet Sonar Platinum, Core i7 950, 6 gig RAM, Win7 64, Echo Layla 24 PCI sound card, MOTU 8x8 / Moog Voyager / Moog Sub37 / Access Virus B / Access Virus TI2 Polar / Roland V-Synth / Elektron Analog Four / DSI Tempest / DSI Pro 2 / Waldorf Q / Roland XV-3080
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leapinlizard
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Re:Mixers - anyone using them anymore? I might need one.
2011/11/21 11:17:15
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I use an Alesis Studio 32 mixer with my Layla 3G, and kind of like what you are wanting to do, I run the outputs of my outboard gear into the mixer. I have 4 submix busses on the mixer that I then run into 4 of the Layla's inputs (5-8). Inputs 1 and 2 of the Layla 3G have mic preamps (I don't think the Layla 24 has those) so I leave those free for whatever I might want to plug in. Layla inputs 3 and 4 are connected to a dedicated outboard mic preamp/compressor combination that I use primarily for recording thru microphones. All of the Layla's outputs go to the mixer so I can use the mixer to monitor what I'm recording, or use it to mix down a 2-track master. I suppose there's some signal degradation going through the mixer, but for my purposes (and my aged ears) I can't hear it.
As far as brands and rack mounting, most of Mackie's smaller-format mixers can be rack mounted. Also check out Allen & Heath and Yamaha, and maybe Alesis and Behringer. Gear snobs don't typically like Alesis and Behringer stuff, but I have owned both and found them to be nice low-cost alternatives. If we all had the dough, we would own SSL's, right?
"Surf music will never die." -- LeapinLizard, 1963 "We may never hear surf music again." -- Jimi Hendrix, 1967.
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leapinlizard
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Re:Mixers - anyone using them anymore? I might need one.
2011/11/21 11:28:33
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One more thing that I forgot ... plan on adding a patch bay as well. That way you can change routings without having to access the back panels of all your gear. You'll spend more in cabling, but the trouble you will save yourself will be worth it.
"Surf music will never die." -- LeapinLizard, 1963 "We may never hear surf music again." -- Jimi Hendrix, 1967.
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Bristol_Jonesey
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Re:Mixers - anyone using them anymore? I might need one.
2011/11/21 12:03:54
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Yep, that's exactly what I do - I have all my keyboard outputs, along with a CD player, minidisc, cassette (you never know), and a few other outboard outputs all plumbed into the mixer, then route the group outputs into the soundcard.
CbB, Platinum, 64 bit throughoutCustom built i7 3930, 32Gb RAM, 2 x 1Tb Internal HDD, 1 x 1TB system SSD (Win 7), 1 x 500Gb system SSD (Win 10), 2 x 1Tb External HDD's, Dual boot Win 7 & Win 10 64 Bit, Saffire Pro 26, ISA One, Adam P11A,
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Beagle
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Re:Mixers - anyone using them anymore? I might need one.
2011/11/21 12:40:24
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me too. and I use a patchbay for multiple input combinations. and my mixer is a 2 bus so I can send one bus to the monitors and the other bus to a headphone amp for separate mixes for tracking.
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Dave Modisette
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Re:Mixers - anyone using them anymore? I might need one.
2011/11/21 13:10:12
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I use a Soundcraft M12 mixer and I highly recommend the Soundcraft line of mixers. Right now, mine is in the shop and it's like I've lost a family member. It has switchable pres that can send the direct out on the channels pre or post fader which makes it great for monitoring as well as recording. I have an iso booth so I can keep several different guitar cabinets mic'd up with multiple mics and all I have to do is rout the inputs via my DAW and I can change things very quickly. I have 16 channels I/O with the use of some additional input sources.
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Cactus Music
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Re:Mixers - anyone using them anymore? I might need one.
2011/11/21 15:43:23
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Most name brand mixers will have as good,if not better pre amps than your interface so don't be to concerned about quality loss. I use 2 mixers, One for going in and one for coming out. I use a Yamaha 01v Digital mixer for input using the SPDIF output. I only use the 6 other analog outs when I do a live multi track. Input= I have a couple of amps miked up in another room, some drum stuff, bass system, a old Roland 505 drum Mach. My vocal mike, Acoustic guitar. A dobro with a lapel mike. They all stay plugged in and muted. If I could keep from getting tangled in all the dang patch cables all would be good. I then output to a little Behringer X1222. This controls my monitors and the sub. It also gives me much better oomf on my headphones. You could do this all with one mixer that had more buses and output options, but my method avoids any possible crosstalk.
post edited by Cactus Music - 2011/11/21 15:45:01
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NW Smith
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Re:Mixers - anyone using them anymore? I might need one.
2011/11/22 09:19:38
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Using a mixer is a part of my normal workflow. I use an older Ramsa WR-S4416 (Panasonic). I don't think it degrades the sound. In fact, the mixer preamps add an analogue warmth to my tracks. The headphone outs and also give me more flexible monitoring options when I am tracking (whether by myself or with other musicians). It's all a matter of personal choices, but for me a using a mixer is the only way to go.
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Bonzos Ghost
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Re:Mixers - anyone using them anymore? I might need one.
2011/11/22 15:23:36
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I use two 24 ch. mixers so I can keep all my outboard synths plugged in and ready to go. I'll either insert/out to my pc or directly plug a synth into my pc when recording audio.
I like the hands-on ease of a mixer for fast tweeking and applying outboard fx while a project is still in the midi domain. It allows for some experimentation which I can apply later in my daw once I dump the unprocessed audio. (or just record the audio including all outboard processing if it's "just what I wanted"). I like to keep tracks in the midi domain as long as possible in case I need to go back and make small edits.
If I was using primarily all soft synths, I could probably live without a mixer, but I don't, so I can't.
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