Music Banter - View Single Post - Recording issue!!! Need help!!!
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Old 10-03-2009, 07:58 PM   #5 (permalink)
Freebase Dali
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You just need an audio interface that has as many inputs as you need, simultaneously.
If you can find an audio interface who's inputs also feature 8 microphone inputs with pre-amps, and two instrument inputs, then that's all you need.
If not, then you'll need an audio interface with as many instrument level inputs as you need (10), and a mixer with at least 8 direct outputs (very important for outputting your drum channels individually into your audio interface).

I'm assuming you're going to need 8 drum channels, correct?
If so, that means the first thing you'll need to look for is an audio interface with at least 8 simultaneous microphone inputs. A lot of the audio interfaces around say "x many inputs" but they cater to specific types of input connections. You have to make sure there's 8 (or however many drum microphones you're recording) MICROPHONE inputs. If you can find an audio interface that gives you that, then you won't need a mixer if you're recording drums / guitar / bass separately.
Hopefully, if you find something like that, its inputs will be switchable, meaning you can use the inputs as microphone inputs or instrument inputs. If that's the case, then you're golden.
If not...
You'll need a mixer / interface combo.

For your mixer, you'll have to make sure it has at least 8 direct outputs. That's extremely important, because it's the only way you'll get 8 individual channel outputs for your drum microphones to be fed into your audio interface simultaneously.
Direct outs on a mixer aren't a sum of all total outputs like sub outs and main outs... They're a specific set of outputs that are assigned to its corresponding channels.
These channels are not summed together like channels are summed together in the main 2-channel stereo output.
Basically, in the direct out scenario, the mixer is acting as a preamp for your drum microphones, while also providing your instrument inputs which you can output to your audio interface via sub outs and main outs. All simultaneously if you wish, provided you have enough inputs on your audio interface.

An example of this setup, one which I personally own and use, is a Mackie 1604VLZPro and an Echo Audiofire 12 audio interface.
Those two pieces of hardware would meet all the needs you require, and more. But the price tag is pretty hefty.
Generally, with audio interfaces, the more inputs it has, the more it costs. Same with mixers and available channels.

So basically, you just need to find an audio interface that satisfies the needs of your application... and if none are available, that's when you must use another hardware, like a mixer, in conjunction with your audio interface.
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