Optimal use of an analog mixer and an audio interface???

[punkgod94]

Hello all,

I'm still relatively new to the world of recording. I bought a LOT of gear before I really knew what to do with it all. Probably would've paid off if I bought it as I needed it, but now I've managed to cure my GAS (gear acquisition syndrome haha). Now I have a question for all of you fine people. Before I get started I'll state for the record that I'm using Logic Studio 8 for mostly audio recording (very little MIDI recording) and most of my work is with rock music.


SITUATION:
I have an Allen and Heath Mixwizard 3 16:2 analog mixer. I also have two MOTU 8pre audio interfaces that I use to record. As of now I just record using my MOTUs while the A&H is just collecting dust. I KNOW there's something I could be doing with it that would enhance either the quality of my recordings or just the ease of the overall process, giving me more available options.

QUESTION:
What would you do given the gear that I have, and how would you go about it?? What would be the optimal use of this gear?

I truthfully don't even know where to begin, so in your suggestions please understand that I'm clueless when going into detail about what I can do. The only thing I AM really aware of is that, typically, analog inputs give a warmer sound. I also know that each XLR input on my mixer and interfaces serves as a "preamp". However, since the prices are nearly identical when its broken down by channel (mixer cost me about $1,000-1,100 for 16 channels; two MOTUs cost me the same), I'd assume the quality of the mic pres are roughly the same, with the exception of the mixer's possibly being a little wamer - how much so I don't know.

What can I do with my mixer so that it adds something to my studio and doesn't just collect dust? Please be specific as to how I'd connect stuff, etc. Id appreciate ANY ideas you could give (as well as how I could make it happen of course).

Thank you all VERY much in advance!!! I hate to see such a nice piece of gear not being used!

-Ed

[punkgod94]

Anybody lol?

Is this a really stupid question? Cause if it is I understand and I'll just delete the post. I know there's a lot of more audio savvy people on here than me (some who do this for a living) with more important questions.

[Smithcok]

Personally, I would ditch the mixer.

Granted the AH pre's are probably a bit better than the MOTU's, but by the time you run extra cabling, and the extra hassle, I would choose to ditch it.

Assuming you have your headphone and monitor routing worked out without the board already, I wouldn't use it.

(Other people may have other opinions, and there are certainly valid and good uses of the board in your studio. This is just what I would do)

[punkgod94]

As for my headphone and monitor routing, I basically just use the MOTU to get ONE set of headphone monitoring, and I have a set of Samson Rubicon R8as connected to the computer for mixdown monitoring, but I don't have anything for monitoring while recording except the headphones, which are usually in use by the artist overdubbing stuff. Would the board be good for something like this?? My studios just a bedroom/basement studio, so my control room is the same as the recording room....live, dry, isolation booth, bedroom, control room all in one lol.

[Smithcok]

If you are finding the need for more (and customizable) headphone mixes for multiple artists, then you could use the mixer for its preamps and use the aux sends to generate multiple mixes.

However, it seems like what you have going is working for you.

The Mixwizard is a fine board, but now that you have interfaces with 16 preamps, I really don't see the need. Granted, if you wanted to use it as pre's and routing, that would be totally fine and well.