Today’s TECH TIP explains how one piece of gear can help your complicated digital world!
Today’s synthesizers, sound modules, samplers, and recording gear often include digital outputs. Musicians, however, have never had a way to mix all these sources at once, since most digital mixers offer only one or two digital inputs. This is where the new Roland M-1000 10 Channel Digital Line Mixer can help. It’s like having a Swiss Army knife for your studio.
The M-1000 is a 1U rack mount mixer that can mix up to four stereo digital signals, each with different sample rates up to 96kHz. The M-1000 also provides two stereo analog inputs and USB for mixing audio back and forth between a PC and Mac. Take a look at the back panel, and you’ll find four S/PDIF digital inputs and a stereo analog input with high-quality A/D converters. Each of the stereo inputs can be controlled easily from the front panel knobs. The result can be output from both coaxial and optical outputs, and the M-1000’s analog Master and Monitor outputs.
The TECH TIP is how the M-1000 can really help you organize your studio – especially if your goal for your studio is to go completely digital. Let’s say you have a sampler, keyboard workstation, and sound module, each with digital outs, but your recorder only has one digital input. Typically, you would have to keep plugging and unplugging the different digital outputs from sound modules and synths just to record. This is not just a hassle, but comes with a tangle of digital cables everywhere.
Now, take the digital outputs from your sampler, keyboard, and sound module into Inputs One, Two and Three of the M-1000. On Input Four, you have your computer connected to the M-1000’s USB input. The USB interface is a great addition, as you can send audio to your computer for processing in your favorite plug-ins, then back to your recorder for tracking!
The M-1000 includes a Word Clock input and output, so you can use it as a Word Clock Master. This is important if you want to work with different formats of digital gear or video equipment. You can also connect multiple M-1000’s together, or cascade them, using the Word clock input and outputs, as your digital needs increase.
M-1000 is also helpful for use as a live mixer for a keyboard rig. By connecting your gear digitally, you can use longer cable runs without the worry of picking up hum from guitar amps and electric cables on stage. At the same time, you can send a mix to your keyboard amp and control it with the M-1000’s monitor control, and send a mix to the house PA, via the M-1000’s XLR outputs and control this with the M-1000’s Master control knob.
Whether you use it live or in your studio, having a digital mixer such as the M-1000 is a great way to make your life a lot easier!