gowans wrote:Could anyone give me a little help on this topic I've read numerous threads but I'm still a little puzzled.
I'm sick to death of mixing in a DAW on my computer. Say for instance I have a sound-card with multiple outputs, could I hook this up to an Analog Mixer and mix my track on that then Record it back to the computer or would this be completely pointless as its entering the digital domain again?
I'm having trouble understanding the concept of mixing desks as I've only worked completely in the box.
Say I had multiple tracks in Ableton would I just assign the outputs to the Mixers outputs? Its damn confusing to get my head around because I'm unfamiliar with the hardware and analog terrain.
Any help on this would be massively appreciated
you would run leads from your soundcard outputs to the individual channel inputs on your analog mixer.
then run leads back from the stereo ouputs to the soundcard inputs.
its definitely not pointless, although its going back into the digital domain, the analog mixer will impart its warmth and flavour to the mix and it also has the effect of glueing the mix together, which never seems to work for me in the digtal domain.
you can also do things which are impossible in the digital domain, like over-driving the channels to add analogue distortion to fatten up sounds.
dont EQ anything in the digital domain, leave it raw and use the analogue EQ's on the mixer.
Soundcraft do a slightly budget range of mixers called Spirit, Mackie are good but much cooler and brighter than the British desks, Allen and Heath are good.
if you arent using any hardware, you dont need a big mixer with lots of auxilliaries, you just need as many channels as you have outputs on your soundcard. if you want to start using hardware effects, then you need more auxiliary sends.
my advice, buy quality with fewer channels and sends, rather than cheap but lots of channels and sends, unless you intend to expand into hardware synths and effects.
avoid Behringer like swine flu, the EQ's are rubbish, you would be better off staying in the digital domain.
