mixing decks in digital recording

AlFo · July 25th, 2007, 08:48 AM

I've been recording using cakewalk for ages. I know a lot of professionals are now using computer programs but I still see them with huge mixing decks.

Is it worth getting one?

Al

Tim Armstrong · July 25th, 2007, 10:55 AM

Not unless you have lots and lots of money to spend and are making professional recordings in a professional studio.

A really great mixing desk is a beautiful thing, but no where near as vital to good recordings as a good-sounding room, good mics, good mic preamps and lots and lots of practice!

Cheers, Tim

AlFo · July 25th, 2007, 08:25 PM

Thanks for the response. I've been doing a lot of reading and to be honest the mixer topic can get very confusing.

I generally only record one track at a time. I imagine, if I wanted to record a whole band at once, then I would need to route the instruments into the mixer and then the mixer into the computer.

But then how do you gain control over the seperate tracks?

What I really want to do it to play a track in Sonar or Cubase and as its playing, be able to adjust each tracks volume, eq etc with the mixer. How can I do this?

Thanks for any help anyone gives.

Al

Ben Harmless · July 25th, 2007, 10:06 PM

To use a mixer that way, you need an interface that will provide as many inputs and outputs as you plan to use. The mixer will hopefully have direct outputs on the channels, but if it doesn't, you can take the line level out of insert points, and then into the system. Then when mixing, just hook up the outputs to the line inputs on the mixer. This is mixing out-of-the-box, and it's pretty much for making your final stereo mix, which you could then run back into the computer if you want.

If you don't have that many in/outs, the best you can do is run the main bus into stereo ins, and try to get a good mix going into the computer. This is often known as the "live to two" approach - meaning you're going straight to a stereo mix. There's not much mixing you can do afterwards.

And yes, you can mix entirely in the box too, and many do. Lots of people just like having the faders under their hands, and prefer their final mix to be summed in the analog mixer.

There are also digital mixers that have preamps and basic mixing capacity, as well as offering digital control of the in-the-box functions, so that the faders control the onscreen channels.

Oh, and then there are control surfaces which are purely a set of digital faders and other assorted controls which can be assigned to functions in your recording software.

AlFo · July 26th, 2007, 01:49 PM

Thanks for that response.

So I'm thinking then that what I really want is a control surface. Since I generally want to record one track at a time and I just want to adjust the mix using real sliders as opposed to digital ones.

Skully · July 26th, 2007, 08:09 PM

A month or two ago, I bought an AlphaTrack, which might fit the bill for you. It's a great tool, but, unfortunately, I haven't used it as much as I thought I would. I thought I'd rather be setting the levels with nobs and faders, but it turns out I prefer the precise control I get mapping them with a cursor.

AlFo · July 26th, 2007, 09:32 PM

Looks pretty good. I think I'll probably find I'm the same. If I was to get a control surface I'd like something that looks like a proper mixing desk. However I could imagine myself not using once I got it and just using the mouse.

July 25th, 2007, 08:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
AlFo Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wolverhampton, UK Age: 28 Posts: 111 10 Photos	mixing decks in digital recording I've been recording using cakewalk for ages. I know a lot of professionals are now using computer programs but I still see them with huge mixing decks. Is it worth getting one? Al

July 25th, 2007, 10:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 9,654	Not unless you have lots and lots of money to spend and are making professional recordings in a professional studio. A really great mixing desk is a beautiful thing, but no where near as vital to good recordings as a good-sounding room, good mics, good mic preamps and lots and lots of practice! Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

July 25th, 2007, 10:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY US of A Posts: 3,263 6 Photos	To use a mixer that way, you need an interface that will provide as many inputs and outputs as you plan to use. The mixer will hopefully have direct outputs on the channels, but if it doesn't, you can take the line level out of insert points, and then into the system. Then when mixing, just hook up the outputs to the line inputs on the mixer. This is mixing out-of-the-box, and it's pretty much for making your final stereo mix, which you could then run back into the computer if you want. If you don't have that many in/outs, the best you can do is run the main bus into stereo ins, and try to get a good mix going into the computer. This is often known as the "live to two" approach - meaning you're going straight to a stereo mix. There's not much mixing you can do afterwards. And yes, you can mix entirely in the box too, and many do. Lots of people just like having the faders under their hands, and prefer their final mix to be summed in the analog mixer. There are also digital mixers that have preamps and basic mixing capacity, as well as offering digital control of the in-the-box functions, so that the faders control the onscreen channels. Oh, and then there are control surfaces which are purely a set of digital faders and other assorted controls which can be assigned to functions in your recording software. __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson

July 26th, 2007, 08:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
Skully Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Glamorous NoHo Posts: 3,987	A month or two ago, I bought an AlphaTrack, which might fit the bill for you. It's a great tool, but, unfortunately, I haven't used it as much as I thought I would. I thought I'd rather be setting the levels with nobs and faders, but it turns out I prefer the precise control I get mapping them with a cursor. __________________ Myspace.com/skullysounds Last edited by Skully; July 27th, 2007 at 02:09 PM.

July 25th, 2007, 08:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
AlFo Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wolverhampton, UK Age: 28 Posts: 111 10 Photos	Thanks for the response. I've been doing a lot of reading and to be honest the mixer topic can get very confusing. I generally only record one track at a time. I imagine, if I wanted to record a whole band at once, then I would need to route the instruments into the mixer and then the mixer into the computer. But then how do you gain control over the seperate tracks? What I really want to do it to play a track in Sonar or Cubase and as its playing, be able to adjust each tracks volume, eq etc with the mixer. How can I do this? Thanks for any help anyone gives. Al

July 26th, 2007, 01:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
AlFo Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wolverhampton, UK Age: 28 Posts: 111 10 Photos	Thanks for that response. So I'm thinking then that what I really want is a control surface. Since I generally want to record one track at a time and I just want to adjust the mix using real sliders as opposed to digital ones.

July 26th, 2007, 09:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
AlFo Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wolverhampton, UK Age: 28 Posts: 111 10 Photos	Looks pretty good. I think I'll probably find I'm the same. If I was to get a control surface I'd like something that looks like a proper mixing desk. However I could imagine myself not using once I got it and just using the mouse.