Lots of stuff about mixers, mixing-tips, sub-groups, & non-subgroup recording with a PC etc....
(page links)
CHOOSING A MIXER
RECORDING ON A MIXER WITHOUT SUBGROUPS
RECORDING ON A MIXER WITH SUBGROUPS
ADDING A SUB-MIXER
MIXING TIPS
There are many mixer configurations, but for dance music we can use a basic mixer..... We're gonna need a mixer whenever we need to blend any combination of outboard synths, samplers, fx mic's and maybe a DJ mixer, direct to a soundcard input to multi-track....There are various mixer configs... and we can get a certain amount of task from each....
MIXER WITH SUBGROUPS
This will be easier to work with & makes all forms of recording simple, because you have a bank of dedicated outputs, thru which you can route audio to inputs whilst not disturbing your monitoring or mastering chain......If you are working with any 8 input device....Adat, Layla, Fostex etc, an 8 Buss/subgroup mixer will make life alot easier, but will cost more money. Note, that stereo recording is not really necessary for vocals, as we can add stereo FX on playback.
MIXER WITHOUT SUBGROUPS & WITH 2 AUX SENDS
This will be cheapest sorta mixer you can get.... 6, 8 or whatever inputs blending to a stereo-master-out... there will be a stereo-monitor-out (a mirror of the Master-Out).... to send to your amp & speakers..... and 2 Auxilliary Sends.... (possibly returns if lucky)...,These mixers give more input channels for the money, and maybe cheaper.....it's the most basic you can get worth selling by a company really..... and there are a few ways to use it....
We will be able to pick out sounds from a mix of used mixer input channels, and set up STEREO recordings into our PC for recording things like stereo synths or a mono synth with a Stereo FX on it..... If you're working with a PC Virtual System with built-in FX combined with outboard midi-kit ..... this sorta mixer will do you ok....
MIXER WITHOUT SUBGROUPS & WITH 3 AUX SENDS
With 3 Aux Sends, we can record all our stereo stuff to the soundcard using 2 of the aux-sends ..... We can also set up a Vocal on the mixer with the 3rd Aux sending an output to a reverb input so the vocalist or whatever can listen to the stereo mix, and the mic, with at least one fx on it as he/she sings.....
You might think... "Hey.. I can just send the L/R Out from the mixer to the soundcard !"....
There is a downside to having the mixer master L/R sending to the soundcard inputs in this kind of set-up..... and that is this....
The mixer master out always presents to the soundcard input, the ENTIRE mix of ALL the outboard...... if you want to ONLY record a single synth in the mix, or a vocal whilst the midi outboard backing is playing.... you'll have to mute anything OTHER than the sounds you want to record... NOT practicle for multi-tracking at all..... That is why it's best to learn how to compromise if you're on a broke budget with the Aux-Sends...... or get a mixer with a minimum of sub-groups....
RECORDING ON A MIXER WITH NO SUBGROUPS
OK....This kind of mixer will have between 4 & 16 mono input channels, all routing into a main stereo output fader.
This kind of mixer will sometimes be described in the Ad's as a "Live" mixer. Slightly more expensive versions will have a monitor output which feeds the amp + speakers, and a L/R button on every channel to select whether the signal goes to the main stereo out.
To record a synth part/loop, with a stereo FX on it (with 2 Aux Sends)
To record a mono vocal with a stereo FX (reverb) on the vocal as the singer performs, but without recording the stereo FX (with 2 Aux Sends)
To record a STEREO vocal with a stereo FX (reverb) on the vocal as the singer performs, and ALSO recording the stereo FX (with 3 Aux Sends)
RECORDING ON A MIXER WITH SUBGROUPS
Ok....This type of mixer is exactly the same as the basic model, but it has SUBGROUPS. The cheapest kind will have 4 Subgroups, such as some of the earlier cheap Fostex mixers which were designed to compliment the early Fostex 8 tracks which could only record on 4 tracks simultaneously.
This ones very obvious but for you total beginners.....
Basic recording mono or stereo :
To record a sound (lets say a Synth), 'MONITORING OFF TAPE' with stereo FX added,
Basic mono recording (any non subgroup mixer)
ellow!
my compliments to your mixing tips! Especially the quote :substractive not only additiv. Maby add in that parapraph that it can also be applied with fader/volume levels.
My tip. Wenn starting to set a channel, set the fader to nominal (0 dB) and do not open it fully. Then set the gain till your pfl-meter hits the 0 dB led(not more!!). The rest you've already explained.
Keep up doin' the good work!!!
Anyone got any tips about mixers ? Im a newbie and are going for a mixer these days. I was thinking of something like Roland vs-880ex, then I dont have to go for dat etc. Or should I go for Mackie (or likewise) & dat instead ? And how good is Behringer ? I would be grateful for any tip ! thnx!
hey,
I make music with my synth and rebirth
in Cakewalk 8. Now i want to buy a mixer
to mix these sounds together. I was thinking of buying the Behringer MX1604a.
Is this a good choice for a beginner.
And when i want to record it on minidisc, can i just connect my minidiscrecorder on the l/r out of the mixer?
I've just read some where that processors (compressors, limiters, etc.) should be patched to the channel inserts. Is that what the inserts are for?
I'm loving all your advice. I'm new to recording music and I need the help. I'm not that far into the rest of your literature, but I hope you mention what other equip I need to get started. Thanks again
Tony
Good material!
I've just purchased a little Behringer mixer 1602A and its great. I'd really reecommend them, especially to people who are setting up home studios. Mine has 12 channels, no subgroups but alot of other features. Its compact, very easy to use and very clean sound and best of all, its about half the price of anything comparable in its range.
Hi,
it would be nice if you could include something about live mixing. I had my
first live gig yesterday, and believe
me that when you are alone on stage you
have absolutely no time to EQ, to set
levels 100% accurately. So if I can
give you a hint : when playing live
just get simplest of mixers. (I use
a Roland M-160 line mixer). Then stick
the WHOLE mix through an eq and
set high bass and high treble as this
is what people want to hear. But then
this is just my opinion. Anybody
willing to share experience of playing live ?
Hi
I am from Romania ,Some day I want to be
more than a Hobbyist,I'm crazy about mixing and audio stuff.Who can tell me
what I must do to get in the business
the producers industry.I must tell that
I've not been working in the industry so
how do I get experience?
So please give me some back stage tips to be succesfull.
i did a few years on PA.. there are different situations different rigs - different musics... um... well, i like to have a feather sleeping bag (army type) to use in any kikdrums... if the band is ok with it, get the stage levels down, but whack them a fat foldback so they are playing inside a more 'produced' sound... ok... you can have the band REAL loud.. and that is needed for the vibe fine with some musics..., but where it is more 'produced' music, they want to sound 'polished'... get them to turn DOWN... get up a fast monitor mix with some fx on vocals etc put in a touch of kik, any treble-mid range instruments, snare and try to then get a good balance between feedback threshold and giving them a LOUD (as they want it) 'polished' stereo field to play inside... if you have more foldback chains you can obviousoy give individuals whatever chains you have available it's whatever you have...
some bands are quite surprised , cos it sounds so polished, like they are in say a rehearsal room, but it's all been mic'ed and balanced and is blasting out of the stereo speakers at them to augment the backline hum...
like i say, for some musics certain backline will be so loud to get the vibe, then you go for blending any PA into it FOH only and concentrate on individual monitor chains for the musicians....
when i do that sortof mix, i deaden the kit alot, obviously you might get protest - try to get the drummer happy - if he's wacking out in a big drum sound stereo feild, then the others will want to get on ...
sometimes ive taken out the kayboard/synth players amp/cab completely, and pumped it thru the sidefills so it is 'all over the band' as they move around the stage with stereo fx ! - heh heh - it makes the event special for the band too cos they are hearing it 'polished' too - so y'know makes a nice vibe - the bass should be ok with the cab only cos it radiates, but if you put bass into the sidefills roll off bass end and add a tweak of short 'verb maybe, to accent the treble edge of licks
boxes...
please don't put yellow charachters in the texts, because yellowman and many others won't be able to read the articles en tips properly!!!
Thanks, Yellowman
Kilo,
i want to add a DJ desk to my kit with the FolioNotepad.
Its got 4 mono ins 2 stereo ins.
I have to run the Line out fx to the Soundcard to record.
I run the Soundcard to the FX ins on the Folio;
Thats what i got to mix with now.
I want to get a dj desk so i can Record EQ movts ,grab switch ,stuff like that.
Now,i want to just connect the stereo outs of the XP30,and the Mono out from the DBX.
I will be adding a Nova,so thats 6 mono.Have to change the Folio too?
I want to be able to run the sampler from the soundcard thru the DJ too so the sampler can be fx,d and recorded too.
I looked at the Roland DJ2000,but its way too pricey,and has a buggy dsp apparently_ clicks on the Master out when u change fx.
I tried to get 2 consoles to run back into the Soundcard in my mind,but with the Folio its not possible,only one line out.I could do it with just the DJ2000,but its too pricey.It has 5 pairs of stereo RCA tho.
Thats I for the XP30,One for the Soundcard and 3 for the Nova.Means i would have to connect the DBX instead,when i wanted to record vocals unless i can connect some stuff to another desk.
So,i need info on either getting 1 big DJ desk with as many cool features as poss,getting an FX hw Processor to use with it,and if i need 2 mixers to get a recording chain back to the In on the soundcard,what bigger analog desk can i get?
I keep getting confused trying to go in and out as the actress said to the bishop.
I,ve seen other threads about using hw fx boxes into 2 mixers,but nowt on one of the mixers being a DJ type.
I thought and thought,and i can,t see another way of getting these dj effects into my mixes.
The XP30 only lets u use 1 fx on All 16 parts.Otherwise,just Rev and Chorus.
Yeah,the Nova is much better.
So i want to run at least 11 channels into a DJ desk,or 2 desks,and use a hw fx box too.Record into VST
I know i sound dumb,its cos i started with PC,not hardware,i,m just not able to see how these things go.
I,ll go test a DJ console soon as i understand a bit more.
Thanx Guru.
exelent.
HI MY NAMES CLIVE THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO ABOUT MIXERS . IM ON A TIGHT BUDGET
FOR MY HOME STUDIO IM LOOKING FOR A MIXER THAT IS THE DOGS NUTS 200 IS MY LIMIT DONT LAUGH THE MUSIC IM DICING WITH IS PROGRESSIVE HOUSE IM RUNNING OFF VST V. 5 CU-BASE HOPE TO HEAR FROM U SOON.
HI MY NAMES CLIVE THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO ABOUT MIXERS . IM ON A TIGHT BUDGET
FOR MY HOME STUDIO IM LOOKING FOR A MIXER THAT IS THE DOGS NUTS 200 IS MY LIMIT DONT LAUGH THE MUSIC IM DICING WITH IS PROGRESSIVE HOUSE IM RUNNING OFF VST V. 5 CU-BASE HOPE TO HEAR FROM U SOON.
Great article Kilo. You touched on a lot of things that you learn pretty quickly after someone suggests them - especially the subtracting thing. Some other good suggestions too about listening from various places to your mix (the kitchen). I haven't tried that, but now that you mention it, I have gone into the kitchen and thought - hey that sounds funny. You're right that is a perfect way to determine what to fix. :)
I'd like to see some more Mixing/Mastering articles if you have the time - it's an artform that takes some guidance sometimes. :)
-z
how much will it cost for a yamaha mr 1642 16 channel mixing desk ????
What is the monitor section used for?
I have been running the board at my church for 8 years and we just got a midas legend and I would like to know where I can get some professional training. School shop etc. I live near St. Louis , Mo. Thanks
Can you, please review the Peavey PV8 mixer. Can't find anyone who's worked with it. Please send your comments to my e-mail address.
Many thanks.
Meanwhile, I remain sincerely yours,
John.
I have a TOA electronics rx5 mixer
Do you know if it any good for mixing and recording with a computer
Do you a scematic for it as well? or know where i can get one?
Tracy
what's up with all these cussing and bad words.. let
people learn stuff without all those stupid stuff ok!?
I have a behringer SX2442FX but I want to connect from the two main output which are XLR (L/R) to the cross over and the other output TRS (L/R) connect to the power amps. It is possible at the same time?
I am using a Behringer DDX3216 but I am getting some serious latency which makes it very difficult when it comes to recording overdubs
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