I’m going in a different direction after realizing I don’t really need simultaneous recording that a larger interface requires. I don’t always have my laptop hooked up in the room I jam in, so it’s really annoying when I can’t just use my stuff without setup.
I’m keeping my small ID-22 interface but selling my ASP-800 preamp and instead just landing all of my instruments into a mixer and only running stereo outs into the ID-22.
I might be able to do something nifty with some aux outs into separate channels on the ID-22 to acomodate my Octatrack… more on that in a bit.
I’ve read a few threads and a few mixer manuals but haven’t seen anything describing the kind of setup I’m after. It could be my own failing to understand this stuff too.
Stuff I’m confused about:
I want my monitor speakers to be hooked up to the mixer so I can jam without my laptop and interface connected. BUT I always want to hear the computer audio from my interface through the speakers. Maybe I just need a Mackie Big knob as well to switch these outputs? I’m looking for solutions with just the mixer for now.
The Octatrack. One of the main reasons I want a mixer is to have a single stereo summed signal to run into the OT. I often take this with me outside of the studio. I want to bring it into the studio and just plug the mixer output into the OT and record some stuff onto it easily.
But I also need to hear the OT through the mixer without creating a feedback loop. I’m thinking the “2-track” option on some mixers might work for this. Or maybe even running the Octa as an insert on the master?
It looks like it could offer some creative setup options for me.
I should note, I don’t really care that much about having the EQ on the mixer or having sliders. This is more about functionality of routing and removing the current setup barriers I keep hitting when trying to jam.
I’m also considering something like the MOTU 828mk3, which is an interface that can run without the computer.
Basically I’m just trying to find an elegant way to have all my shit hooked up and ready to go whether I’m…
On the computer using a DAW
Totally standalone with no computer
Recording into Octatrack as main hub and monitoring its sound
Recording Octatrack into daw as instrument alongside others (not necessarily at the same time.)
To complement: Maybe the OT fed by a separate mix bus or aux out in order to be able to send specific channels (not assigned to the main outs) to the OT while hearing the OT on the mains…
One minor “problem” I have encountered with my DJ mixer (Model 1) is that inputs are in stereo and (in the Model 1) are neither normalled for mono signals, nor can be panned. This requires splitting the signal and sending it to both L and R inputs…
I’ve got an older Soundcraft Notepad, and would not buy another inexpensive Soundcraft without assurances that there are no major “shit component” problems. The noise level on my headphone out renders the mixer unusable with headphones.
I have a 402VLZ4 that I bought new and a 1202VLZ4 that I bought used. Other than needing a little deoxit to clean up the jacks on the 1202, I have zero issues with the cheap Mackies and would strongly recommend them.
If you dont need high grade low distortion, high headroom good quality channel strips and preamps then the soundcraft will do what you need except ad/da conversion. I had the epm 12 a few years ago and its fine for jamming. Not good for proffesional recording.
I’d personally reccomend the cranbourne audio 500 rb for ultimate flexability and great ad da conv.