Hey Guys, Mixer Help

[RawknRoll]

Okay,

I have a Digi 003 set up and I'd like to be able to use all 8 inputs for mic inputs ( for drum recording. ) The way I want to accomplish this is to take a small external mixer ( 4 Mic pre's ) plug the cable into that and then take the 1/4 inch out into the Digi.....

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/closeup/MG82cx--Main

I was looking at that..... Will this work???

Thanks a lot!!!

BJ ( I love all you guys in the most professional way possible!! You all kick ass!!! Especially the tech guys and Smithcok and Tarktones such speedy replies!!)

[Tarktones]

Well thanks for the love, Rawk.

Sadly though, that won't really work. In theory, if you had some aux outputs it might but the issue you run into is that a mixer is going to sum those 4 inputs down to stereo. So you can get them all in there but you lose a lot of flexibility. You're essentially funneling those 4 inputs into 2.

I'll recommend the Behringer ADA8000. I'm not a big fan of theirs but it's a killer piece of value gear. It'll sync to word clock, it'll give you 8 additional inputs over lightpipe, it's only $230 and if you want to roll with it you can have Black Lion upgrade it for you when you have a little more money to allocate.

[RawknRoll]

Thanks a lot Tark,

Do you know of any other options at that price range or is that it?

[Tarktones]

Well, probably the least expensive route (without using your ADAT option) is the SM Pro Audio PR4. I can only speculate as to the quality of it, but it'd be better than nothing. It's 4 channels and only $80, so I'd imagine you're essentially putting a blanket over your microphones (not that the Behringer will sound THAT much better).

With the ADAT option, I'm pretty sure the Behringer is your cheapest option. Beyond that, there's the PreSonus Digimax D8. I have great faith in the quality of PreSonus gear. While I haven't used the Digimax D8 I have used the Digimax FS, FireStudio 26x26, Eureka and Central Station and been very happy with the results from all. So if you can scrape together enough for the D8, I'd highly recommend it.

[amarule]

That would absolutely work. You can use the insert points as pre everything sends from the mic pres to your 003. Use unbalanced cabling, and put the connector in only 1/2 way into the insert jack, which will connect the tip to the send of the insert. Don't put it in all the way, or you will lose the normal and get no signal to the channel.

You could go a step further, and use an insert cable, and literally insert the 003 into these channels, so the return of the insert sees a discrete output of the 003 that corresponds with the mic.

You can route the 4 inputs from this mixer out 4 outs of the 003, and the other (onboard) mic inputs of the 003 to the main out, and plug that into the stereo channel, and use the mixer to monitor from.

In either case, this absolutely will work, and give you discrete, pre everything, right off the mic pre signal to your 003.

[Smithcok]

Yeah, I guess it ccccoooouuulllldddd work, but its messy and feels too much like a "workaround". In a pinch, yes. But, if you are going to be investing in a piece of gear, I'd follow more what Tarktones suggested. Go ahead and save up for some different rack pre's, or get an ADAT unit to convert some other channels.

but, if you are short on cash, and need a solution asap, some cables and the mixer might work ok for you

[Tarktones]

Yeah.... any situation where the difference between recording and not hangs in the balance of a cable being only partially inserted into a jack spells trouble to me. If you're spending money, do it right.