New Mixer and AT2020 USB Question

Hey Guys,

Got a couple of questions about my gear.

I'm working on getting a home studio going. Right now I'll just be recording guitar and vocals, but hope to get my drum set and bass back (afraid it's been pawned by a former friend :cry:) or buy replacements. I'm really getting into country music, so for now we're talking an acoustic guitar, Tele twang, and my off key vocals :lol:.

I put in an order for what I think will be an acceptable mixer/usb interface, a Behringer X1222USB http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/X1222USB.aspx

I plan to hook it up to my old Yamaha PA for monitors
I found out before I ordered this mixer that the usb does not send individual tracks, just a stereo signal.... I should be able to pan left and right and seperate the stereo recording into individual tracks using Adobe Audition 3.0 right? Aside from that I was just wondering if anyone had opinions or tips on this particular board?

Moving on to the other question... A while back I got an Audio Technica AT2020 USB to record direct to the computer. It's a good mic, but now that I've got a board on the way I'm worried I won't be able to use the AT2020. I've been looking for a male mini usb to male XLR, but can't find anything, plus I'm not sure if that would work.... Does anyone have suggestions on how to get a phantom power usb mic to output to XLR?

I do have a few other mics, a couple SM58s and I think an SM48S then a few cheapo Nady mics that came with the PA, so it's not a huge problem if I can't use the condenser, but I thought it would be a great mic for acoustic and vocals, and maybe use it to mic my amps from a distance.... hopefully somebody can help out.

Thanks,
Aaron

One big question is what DAW (audio software) are you using?

I love your zeal, because it takes you a long way into those bastardly learning curves that can derail one with less zeal. That means you're one of us — the deeply hooked aspiring audio addicts who want only more, more! Hahaha!

Using your PA for monitors is probably not your best bet. There's a huge thread on it somewhere on the RIP forum, but I don't have time to look it up. ... You'd be better off using a home stereo type config, then listening to your mixes thru a variety of sources (car, boombox, computer speakers, home stereo) to see how it translates.

Hope you can get your mike situation straightened out, but if you've got 58s, you're probably good to go for now.

Thanks woodman,

I had planed to just use Adobe Audition 3 for my DAW. I've been using Adobe at work for several years, so I know what I'm doing on there as far as mixing commercials goes. I'm pretty sure it will work equally well for music.

I've noticed in my tdpri searches that most peoples choice of DAW is programs that I'm really not familiar with, so I'm open to suggestions if Adobe is regarded as the 73 Ford Pinto of home recording :lol: hopefully it's not...

Good call on the PA not being a good idea, I haven't looked that thread up yet, but I remember way back in the 90's when I had a Tascam 4 track... back in the days of tape.... I would run everything into that PA, and would always be shocked at how the finished product sounded on a stereo... the bass would always be way more boomy... so I'll be rethinking my monitor options.

Okay, so I've done a lot of forum searching over the past couple hours and I'm thinking Adobe Audition is probably not the best option... think it would work, but there has to be a reason hardly anyone is using it...

I'm downloading the Reaper trial. It seems to be one of the most affordable most liked DAWs out there, plus there is a lot of talk about great tech support for Reaper including a well regarded forum.

I can't afford the full license, but the discount license at $60 seems very reasonable if the program will retain full functionality.... I'm sure it's been asked before, but I'll ask anyway... does the $60 version of Reaper go above and beyond Adobe Audition enough to justify the purchase?

Getting off topic with this I know, but I really don't want to have multiple threads bouncing around with my newb inquiries. Any advice is much appreciated.

Edit - after looking a little closer at the Reaper site they make it clear that there is only one version of the program regardless of the license type... I'm still at work and haven't had a chance to do much with the trial yet, but suspect I'll end up buying the license after the mixing board comes in and I have a chance to compare the 2 programs.