can I connect a mixer to a DAW?

[dannymacc]

I'm starting to build a small studio, looking for a small to mid-size mixer that could function as a pre-amp to a computer, as well as handle small live gigs. Nothing is purchased, yet, so I'm even open to Mac vs. PC. Is it possible to use a Mixer as the front end, and still be able to dump, say, 24 channels straight into a DAW?

Danny

[shaneperc]

Hi Danny,
It's very possible. Common, in fact. As far as 24 channels is concerned, do you mean recording 24 channels simultaneously? That could get expensive! (Now that I think about it, MOTU has a 24 input module for their hardware series that's fairly inexpensive.) You can also use the main stereo outs on the mixer to get several channels of audio into the computer (and you only need a stereo card!). Then you can record as many channels as your mixer will allow, and your computer won't be strained so much. You wouldn't really want to do this for 24 channels, because it will all end up as one stereo track on your computer (you won't be able to change the levels of individual instruments), but it's a great way to record multi-mic instruments (drums and midi controlled sound sources) using a simple stereo sound card.

[dannymacc]

Yes, it would be nice to record multiple tracks into my DAW (24 just sounds like a fun number, I suppose 8 would be just fine). Okay, so further questions are: Where do I find multi-channel sounds cards? and which are available for Mac or PC? Do I still need some kind of interface between a mixer and the sound card or is there some kind of connection like ADAT that could dump 8 channels into a DAW all at once? Are all cards compatible with all DAW software (such as, Nuendo, Cubase, DP3, etc.)? Just when I read something in this forum or in a magazine, I get confused again how to go about building this system. (I know, I know, Sweetwater can do it for me, but I want to know how it's put together.)

Danny

[shaneperc]

First, it sounds like you're still deciding which platform to go with (Windows or Mac). If you have the money for it, go with a Macintosh. For many reasons, they're a little more friendly towards audio, or any other kind of streaming media. If you CAN'T afford it and opt for a Windows machine, you can still make a good, stable DAW of it. You just have to be more careful about what components and software you put together.

As far as the soundcard is concerned, there are many, many options. Most soundcards are now available with Mac and Windows drivers, so you can use the same card in either machine. If you're going to be recording multiple channels, you'll probably have to get a soundcard that has a breakout box, like the MOTU 2408, or MAudio 1010 (Those are examples, not recommendations.) These breakout boxes usually have onboard a/d and d/a converters. For every channel of a/d conversion your soundcard has, that's how many channels you can record at the same time. These are more expensive than typical stereo soundcards, but MUCH less expensive than buying external converters and using an all digital soundcard.

[dannymacc]

Aha! Break-out box! That's the term I didn't know. I've been thinking "pre-amp" instead. Okay, I'm catching on to how the pieces fit together, but what I still don't know is, if I buy a MOTU or Digidesign box and card, for example, am I limited to their software, or might their hardware be compatible with other software packages like Cubase, Logic, etc.? And would the same hold true for other manufacturers like Aardvark, Edirol, or even Mackie?

[shaneperc]

Yeah, preamps (mic preamps to be specific) are used to amplify a microphone's signal to line level. It doesn't have anything to do with the computer end of things, but you do have to use one for microphone input because soundcards will only take line level signals. Obviously, some soundcard makers have started putting mic preamps in their soundcard breakout boxes, so then you can plug a mic right into the box.
Most soundcards don't come with proprietary recording software (the Digi001 is an exception). They do come with a software mixer, but most people just set that to unity gain, and use their recording software's mixer.
Other than that, you can put MOST soundcards and software packages together. The key thing to remember when matching a soundcard with recording software is to make sure your soundcard has a driver that corresponds to your software. All recording software (Cubase, Logic, etc.) require a specific kind of hardware driver to communicate with whatever card you have. Actually, most programs will accept more than one type, but perform better when you use the driver that's most fitted to the software. For example, if you want to use Cubase, it prefers soundcards that have ASIO drivers. It will also work with soundcards that have MME drivers, but not as well.

Just to sum up the signal path, going from microphone to hard disk:

microphone->mic preamp->soundcard->soundcard driver->recording software->hard drive

[levon]

yes dann,u need to pay alot of attention and time, because all softwares and soundcards are not standard.so it needs a lot of patience first and a lot of searching and asking questions in this case or u will run into a lot of hurdles.
i am saying this because i ve been searching patiently for months now and still runing into new problems.ofcourse i am not trying to discourage u i am simply trying to convey my experience so it would be easier on u.
ok,to sum it as best as i could there is no standards in the digital world whaether its the digital audio or the computer industry and in one world they suck in this year of 2002 of our so called advanced world.
we the consumers suffer because of the industries greed .its all about control who can stick it the most,hence no standards to make life easier.
anyways make sure u do lot of searching and asking around .good luck.

[shaneperc]

Levon,
I agree. It's frustrating to think about all the digital formats (digital file formats specifically) and how you need to bend over backwards just to get your 0s and 1s to be recognized in different machines. But, it outright SUCKS when you think that, for a majority of the cases, these incompatibilities are encouraged because the larger, already profitable companies are trying to improve their bottom line.

AES-31! Where are you?! :)

[levon]

absulutely its the greed that makes life impossible and that goes for everything in life.man if i get into this greed subject you will have a lot of pages to read but i am not in the mood to get pissed off at these morons everyone of them has a ceo and some more than one.if u know what i mean.lol