Signal to noise ratio....

[EloHiR ElEnDIl]

What's that? I was checking some mxr and I notice that the behringer has that from 110 dB - 119 dB
while other yamaha (more expensive and less channels) has from 80 dB - 89 dB

I want to use it as a mixer for my home studio is the noise of the behringer would affect my recording? Or It is not big deal?
Could you recommend me one?I could go as a high of $400 (top max...having other things to buy)but I need 12 channels at least

Or it's the behringer a good gear?

[lighthouse]

Dude, what you need the mixer for?, how many inputs does your interface has?


Juan Pablo

[EloHiR ElEnDIl]

I want a mixer to record all the instruments at once I havent buy the interface yet that's another thing to buy but I do not like the way of recording instruments separately and I think it's better to record a mixer through the outs of the mixer than directly through the interface or am I wrong?:S

[Luca_Capozzi]

you'll change your mind when you'll find how frustrating is to redo the whole record for a little mistake of a single element... or when a sound don't fit into the mix.

The day you'll experience that.. remember of an Hercules 16/12FW or similar ;)

Luca

[lighthouse]

Dude, I seriously recommend you to buy the interface first, depending on which one you buy you wouldn´t need a mixer!, seriously as uncle Luca says is not a very good idea ;)


Juan Pablo

[EloHiR ElEnDIl]

:s ok....

So you're saying that is better to connect all the instruments directly? and the mics too? and to equalize that things? how do you do that??so you think I'd better spend $800 on a interface wich one do you suggest?

[EloHiR ElEnDIl]

and ok I won't record all the things at once but the problem is that I don't want a big interface like these one : http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/buy_presonus_firepod_10channel_firewire_interface_ with_cubase_le?full_sku=102791357

isn't better to buy a normal mixer and record (ok...sperately) all the instruments?
cause I need a small interface 'cause I'm planning to carry it for live use (for some vst's) and I couldn't be carrying that 10 channel thing...

what I want to do is buy a single interface with two (it's ok) balanced ins and 2 outs like the firebox or other one and have a mixer at home for not being connecting and disconnecting cables..

would that be a bad idea?

Hey I din't understand the hercules thing but I searched for it and it was great lots of ins and compact but they don't sell it anymore.. any other like that one?

isn't the same what I'm trying to explain you? to use the mixer only as kind of a snake?that way I could also record jam sessions and for rehearsals...

other thing but with that kind of interfaces like the hercules and presonus firepod can I record all the channels at once? for example with the firepod with 10 ins could I record the 10 tracks at once? cause from what I understand you can't...that's why I was planning on buying a mixer but If you can I'm considerating

[EloHiR ElEnDIl]

and please PLEASE help me I don't want to waste my money and I'm not apro in these things...!

Help me fellow costarricense :P

[lighthouse]

other thing but with that kind of interfaces like the hercules and presonus firepod can I record all the channels at once? for example with the firepod with 10 ins could I record the 10 tracks at once? cause from what I understand you can't...that's why I was planning on buying a mixer but If you can I'm considerating


Yes you can, that´s actually the idea to have an interface with various ins, so you can record 8 or 10 or whatever instruments at once into "separate tracks" that´s the key word "separate" cause with the mixer going into an interface with one in you would be recording everything into one track, limiting the tweaking you can do to the tracks, so limiting the mixing to the tracking session which is very bad if you don´t have years and years of experience in microphone placing and the most expensive and wonderful preamps and mics :D


So with that said I truly recommend you the Presonus Firepod, you´ll never need more than that.


Juan Pablo

[EloHiR ElEnDIl]

Yes you can, that´s actually the idea to have an interface with various ins, so you can record 8 or 10 or whatever instruments at once into "separate tracks" that´s the key word "separate" cause with the mixer going into an interface with one in you would be recording everything into one track, limiting the tweaking you can do to the tracks, so limiting the mixing to the tracking session which is very bad if you don´t have years and years of experience in microphone placing and the most expensive and wonderful preamps and mics :D


So with that said I truly recommend you the Presonus Firepod, you´ll never need more than that.


Juan Pablo

Ok thanks man you really save me big...I'm going to buy a mixer later on then..!just one question: HOw do you eq with that? in the computer?

how am I going to be able to hear what I'm playing? through the outs of the firepod?obviosly I will have to set my pc to send the audio trough the firepod right?is the cubase that comes with it good enough? I think so

[Omega Monkey]

If you ever want to record good sounding drums (ie closemiked) then you will want something like that Firepod. And worrying about the size of something like that is ridiculous. Its 1 rack space! Probably weighs about 5 pounds. Your average 2 input interface would probably be 1/3-1/2 rack space sized and weigh about 2 pounds. Basically a negligable difference when you take into account 30-100 pounds of keyboard, a laptop, any other processors, amps, etc... Plus, its always easier to pick up a smaller one down the line if the big one really is cumbersome (which I dont see how it could be). I would say if you want to use this frequently for live use as well as recording, you should get something like this firepod (I'd say 4 inputs would be about the least you'd want for drum recording, or recording any live jams or the like), stick it in a 5-10 space rack, then accumulate some nice outboard processors gradually, like a nice 30 band stereo eq (very useful for tweaking sounds, alternately you could go for a nice 3 band parametric eq), a nice stereo compressor, and maybe a nice multieffects box like a Lexicon or an Ensoniq DP4 or DP2.

But you have to start with a good audio interface, because while you can do a lot with plugins/etc... you cant do shit if you cant get the music into the computer in the first place.

[EloHiR ElEnDIl]

thanks ppl

yeah you're right omega

some questions

1- "the keyboards should be connected directly or through and amp?"
2- "Waht's the best way of monitoring?"
3- "How exactly does the monitoring work"?

[EloHiR ElEnDIl]

this question has nothing to do with the previous post but I'm going to ask it here to not creat another thread

could I use this midi controller , I mean with not too much real-time controllers (I don't need those only the wheels) I mean could I be constanly changing sounds only with the laptop? you can right?

http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/buy_maudio_keystation_88es_usb_midi_keyboard_contr oller?full_sku=102931664

how do the keys feels?in comparison with a pc1-x? well that is like an optional thing I could go trying it...

and another question:

would it be better to buy the things online and to be shipped to a house in the US or go to a guitar center and buy it 'cause I'm considering buying (mostly the expensive things like the firepod)online to save taxes...cause online you don't get that charged...I know there are like $100 only but I could use that to buy a mic...lol

[lighthouse]

Ok it works like this:

The firepod is an interface, which means that is a device that connects something with some other thing, in this case audio waves or digital signals like midi. So basically what it does is to take the analog wave signals you send from whatever you connect into the "ins" and transform it into digital signals that goes into the computer and are recorded or more correctly "captured" and then "ordered" into the software you´re using, in your case Cubase, and then eq it, put compression, effects etc , (those signals are sended through the cable or peripherial that your interface supports, in the case of the Firepod is Firewire, it could be USB or PCI). At the same time that same audio you send from your ins through the interface is being sended to the outputs in which you connect your monitors (speakers) so the interface works as a soundcard too, taking the place of the one you have integrated into the motherboard of your computer.

So basically, if you want to play something and hear it in your speakers you have to connect it to the ins of the firepod, that way you also can record whatever signal you send through the ins into the software.

There´s a lot lot lot more into recording but this will help you to understand at least what does what


BTW "Signal to Noise" is the title of one of my favorite Peter Gabriel tracks hehe

Juan Pablo

[EloHiR ElEnDIl]

thanks for clearing it up juan pablo!
any monitore recommendations?

[lighthouse]

The only thing I can recommend you is to buy the pair or active monitors that suits your budget, monitors are like underwear hehe, it depends on one´s taste and you don´t develop taste until you try some and find out what you like and what you don´t like.


Juan Pablo