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Routing/recording/mixer&computer...(?)

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Iron Keys

Iron Keys

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As I haven't done this for a while, and I'm considering buying some equipment as soon as funds allow, I need to remember how to set everything up (which may actually help with decisions on equipment)...


What I need to know, and feel free to link to any appropriate videos or threads that already answer this (I've had a look, and not found anything fully answering all my questinons) so...


Advice on how to go about the following would be madly appreciated...

I want to be able to set up my daw and mixer so that I can route my DAW's channels(or/and busses) to channels in the mixer, and do all my main mixing on the mixer. Then I want to be able to record the mix I've created...


What is the best way to go about this, i,e, routing my mixer's main output back into my daw, or what? Is it best to have my soundcard's main out going to my Monitors, or to have my monitors coming from my mixer?


Any suggestions?

Much love

~Iron Keys
 
Iron Keys

Iron Keys

ILLIEN MBAPPÉ
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 645
bthis!
war
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thedreampolice said:
Unless you have a REALLY nice mixer, like a NEVE doing that is a waste of time.
Click to expand...

How comes? The benefit I personally see in it, is I wouldn't be sittin' there clicking away and staring at a computer, when really I need to focus more on what I'm hearing...

LouBez said:
Why not just get a control surface
Click to expand...

As in hardware to control the DAW's mixer?



Also I'd like to be able to record things in... guitar/vocals/other random shit.
 
Iron Keys

Iron Keys

ILLIEN MBAPPÉ
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 645
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I've got a midi keyboard/controller, it has sliders and knobs, yet they seem to randomly control random parameters in vst's as opposed to being useful and controlling the faders in my daw's mixer.
I'm sure there's probably a way to link them to it, but seems to elude me.
 
S

Step Soprano

ILLIEN
ill o.g.
Personally, I believe Midi controllers are good for Midi, but when it comes to mixdown, you need an actual automated(motorized/touch sensitive faders) controller to really step up your workflow. Get yourself a used m-audio project mix for 700 at GC or something, and then buy a few high high quality preamps/channel strips to improve your quality while maintaining hte control surface, interface. However, if you have real money to spend, go for the SSL Nucleus, though 5grand, it is a 16 channel fully automated control surface, plus ssl super analogue preamps and monitoring section. Also comes with the SSL duende native plugin collection. Personally my universl audio la-610 mkii and trident s100 8 channel mixer/summing box fed into my project mix works fine for me. Though I plan to purchase the SSL nucleus within the next year to replace the project mix as my control surface/interface... along with the ua-610 mkii to compress to tape(la-2a style optical compressor built in to the tube preamp) and the ssl pre's when I want their sound, it should be a very nice set up. Especially with the duende plug ins.
 
Formant024

Formant024

Digital Smokerings
ill o.g.
honestly...the project mix must be the greatest pile of crap ive ever had my hands on. Poorly designed, very very bad fw implementation and phantom power switch that short cirquits the phantom power supply (yes all 8 die at the same time). One of the funniest replies ever in service history;

"you shouldnt flip the phantom power switch to often".
"ow, then why the hell is it a button? Any estimates on how many times i can press it before it blows up the phantom power again ?"

That being said, i think much of those midi controllers with flying faders are absolutly not neccesary for when it comes to mixing hiphop tracks on a daw. Especialy if you cant get it right without, dont get me wrong, not saying it useless but the application of flying faders imo is only practical, again, when recording/mixing a band. If you do want flying faders, get a cheesy bcf2000 since theyre a bang for buck. You'd also save quite a few bucks when realising that flying faders arent that beneficial.

On a note; Eucon protocol will be released so expect more artist mix/control like interfaces (hopefuly better designed) in the future.

Nucleus is nice, but eh, you need more cheese to capture the quality of such a setup. imo, nucleus in a bedroom techie setup is a waste. Second, 16 channel setup ? I think he's refering to 16 channels on his daw rather than needing 16 inputs, i didnt read anything on synths, drumcomputers or recording bands (even if so, ssl alpha link madi/madi card + artist console is a lot cheaper and adds even more i/o). If you got the cash and want to buy into some high end gear;

- get proper nearfields.
- check your room, have it measured and treated upon.
- i/o, audio interface usb/fw or interface + converters
- proper cabling
- a mac

It doesnt make any sense spending a fortune on a mic while using a radioshack cable for it, or, using a decent cable for it but using the pre of a ... something behringer interface.
It also doesnt make sense spending a fortune on a mic while recording in a room of which you might think is okayish (get an sm58).
Same goes for buying nearfields that are too big for your room, or getting really fancy ones and not having any room treatment.
I can go on and on about this, but the funny thing is that the opposite often can results positively.

You have a good room to monitor/record, good nearfields and a nice pre-amp; you can use a crappy mic and make it sound right since you can actualy hear what you're doing.

Every budget has its quality but if you upgrade, you upgrade all for the sake of the added quality (or dont buy it at all).
This is not a big deal if you require the minimum of i/o, i consider the typical hiphop setup these days to be a max of 8 channels. But at 16, 24 or 32 you can see how much cheese its gonna take to make that upgrade. You only recording a mic?! great, lucky you :)
 
Formant024

Formant024

Digital Smokerings
ill o.g.
^^ i was aware, 48v is quite something lol, but the issue was the button itself! They used cheap materials causing the malfunction, the issue is not a user error if a button isnt build to shield 48v.
 
Formant024

Formant024

Digital Smokerings
ill o.g.
^^^ yes, the loudest summing available but, again,taking that route means maintaining the Dangerous output level which makes it complicating/expensive(think manley, cranesong, massenburg, weiss-- actualy, id go for the cranesong HEDD to keep it "cheap").
Start itb, digital realm is perfect for that low end theory track or club track. Key is to find an i/o with the most headroom/signal-to-noise ratio you can afford. So dont go hoppin on any bandwagon, read the specs...
 
Iron Keys

Iron Keys

ILLIEN MBAPPÉ
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 645
bthis!
war
bfights!
aotb!
biu!
Just to reinforce what I need (or because this thread has actually helped me work out a bit better what I may/not need).

The reason I want a control surface, is to 1. Speed up/smoothen my workflow. 2. So I don't have to be staring at a screen and clicking. 3. so I can actually turn my screen off and 'hear' what I'm doing as opposed to looking at it. So as to rely on what I hear more than what I see.

Mad love for the replies.
 
Formant024

Formant024

Digital Smokerings
ill o.g.
^^^ get the bcf2000, they control pretty much everything you want. The only downside is that fader movement stops creates "clack" kind of sound, but that's what you pay for it. Also used behringer nano bcn44, cost 30bucks lol but with both we control, eq and compress anything in logic.

There are also other options, like a remote http://www.frontierdesign.com/ or a Roland VS-100, which isnt bad at all but works best with sonar and both with motorized faders.
 
S

Step Soprano

ILLIEN
ill o.g.
Formant024 said:
honestly...the project mix must be the greatest pile of crap ive ever had my hands on. Poorly designed, very very bad fw implementation and phantom power switch that short cirquits the phantom power supply (yes all 8 die at the same time). One of the funniest replies ever in service history;

"you shouldnt flip the phantom power switch to often".
"ow, then why the hell is it a button? Any estimates on how many times i can press it before it blows up the phantom power again ?"

That being said, i think much of those midi controllers with flying faders are absolutly not neccesary for when it comes to mixing hiphop tracks on a daw. Especialy if you cant get it right without, dont get me wrong, not saying it useless but the application of flying faders imo is only practical, again, when recording/mixing a band. If you do want flying faders, get a cheesy bcf2000 since theyre a bang for buck. You'd also save quite a few bucks when realising that flying faders arent that beneficial.

On a note; Eucon protocol will be released so expect more artist mix/control like interfaces (hopefuly better designed) in the future.

Nucleus is nice, but eh, you need more cheese to capture the quality of such a setup. imo, nucleus in a bedroom techie setup is a waste. Second, 16 channel setup ? I think he's refering to 16 channels on his daw rather than needing 16 inputs, i didnt read anything on synths, drumcomputers or recording bands (even if so, ssl alpha link madi/madi card + artist console is a lot cheaper and adds even more i/o). If you got the cash and want to buy into some high end gear;

- get proper nearfields.
- check your room, have it measured and treated upon.
- i/o, audio interface usb/fw or interface + converters
- proper cabling
- a mac

It doesnt make any sense spending a fortune on a mic while using a radioshack cable for it, or, using a decent cable for it but using the pre of a ... something behringer interface.
It also doesnt make sense spending a fortune on a mic while recording in a room of which you might think is okayish (get an sm58).
Same goes for buying nearfields that are too big for your room, or getting really fancy ones and not having any room treatment.
I can go on and on about this, but the funny thing is that the opposite often can results positively.

You have a good room to monitor/record, good nearfields and a nice pre-amp; you can use a crappy mic and make it sound right since you can actualy hear what you're doing.

Every budget has its quality but if you upgrade, you upgrade all for the sake of the added quality (or dont buy it at all).
This is not a big deal if you require the minimum of i/o, i consider the typical hiphop setup these days to be a max of 8 channels. But at 16, 24 or 32 you can see how much cheese its gonna take to make that upgrade. You only recording a mic?! great, lucky you :)
Click to expand...

its not a 16 channel set up really, it only has 2 analog inputs I believe... but has 16 automated faders and all that
 
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