[ddots-l] Re: sound card and mixer recommendations

  • From: "John J. Fioravanti, Jr." <fioresq1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2012 15:21:02 -0400

Nickus: I run my hard synths into a mackey 1202VLZ and take the main outs
into a delta 66. I also have a separate preamp with two outs so combined
with the Mackey, I can record four tracks at once, unfortunately, not in
stereo. I use some soft synths. I generally mix in sonar and don't run back
into the mixer. I use automation all the time. Thanks for everything. 

-----Original Message-----
From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Nickus de Vos
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2012 8:02 AM
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: sound card and mixer recommendations

Hi
The focusrite Safire cards are full interfaces in other words you can use it
with out a outboard mixer. The safire pro 40 is basically a 1U sized chassy.
You connect it to the computer via firewire, then you connect your mics
instruments or synths directly to its XLR/jack inputs and your monitor
speakers or headphones directly to its outputs. It's basically like a very
simplified mixer with all the inputs and outputs but without faders and
channel strips with EQ, aux sends etc.

The advantage of using a control serfice when mixing in the box is that you
basically have some physical faders and knobs to work with and you don't
have to do everything on the computer keyboard. A control serfice makes
tasks like fader automation, muting/soloing/arming tracks, navigation
through tracks and even plug in control much easyer and hands on.

I won't say that there's a advantage of using a control serfice rather than
a full mixer. I would still always prefer mixing on a propper analog mixer
rather than mixing in the box even with a propper control serfice. It really
depends on your work flow and what you prefer, I've heard amazing mixes done
only in the box so it's not really a question of quality anymore like it was
a couple of years ago.

If you can explain a bit about your current work flow then maybe I can
advise you better. What gear do you have, how is your soundcards connected
to your pre amps, how is your mixer connected to your soundcard and after
recording to sonar, how do you currently mix, in the box or do you send out
to the mixer and mix analog.
I'm just trying to get a feel for how you do things and your current setup,
as it sounds to me so far, you prefer a analog workflow rather than doing a
lot of stuff in the box on sonar.

On 9/21/12, John J. Fioravanti, Jr. <fioresq1@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I am having  daw custom built. a
>
>
>
> From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of D!J!X!
> Sent: Friday, September 21, 2012 1:02 AM
> To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [ddots-l] Re: sound card and mixer recommendations
>
>
>
> Well, what will you be doing for the most part, recording with mics, 
> playing back lots of tracks (mixing and mastering), or messing around 
> with soft synths, or a bit of all that. Performance wise, PCI express 
> cards run better than firewire or USB, mainly because firewire 
> interfaces for the most part use dice II chipsets which has its 
> limitations; I think you can't go lower than 64 samples buffer. From 
> what I've seen PCIE cards have better latency and can go down to 32 on 
> a system that is properly configured, which is the question, what kind 
> of system are you getting, is it a prepared daw?
>
> Bak to interfaces, RME makes some solid stuff, but it's expensive, and 
> you'll have to buy the proper breakout box for your needs; not sure on 
> its preAmps and such, but the drivers, stability and latency is good.
>
> In the firewire land, there's the focusrite saffire lines, stuff like 
> the pro40, the liquid mix, the 56 etc. Motu also has some good stuff 
> in both USB and I believe PCIE and firewire.
>
>
>
> HTH, D!J!X!
>
>
>
>   _____
>
> From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of John J. Fioravanti, Jr.
> Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 10:50 PM
> To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [ddots-l] Re: sound card and mixer recommendations
>
> Haven't decided on the type of connection yet, either PCI or firewire.
> Would
> you recommend firewire? e budget is not the problem.
>
>
>
> From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of D!J!X!
> Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 10:43 PM
> To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [ddots-l] Re: sound card and mixer recommendations
>
>
>
> What's your budget? What kind of  connection capabilities does your 
> new computer have, firewire, PCI express, USB etc.
>
> How much controll do you want over control panel and such, do you have 
> outboard gear like preAmps and such or do you need something with good 
> preas already in it?
>
>
>
> HTH, D!J!X!
>
>
>
>   _____
>
> From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of John J. Fioravanti, Jr.
> Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 10:33 PM
> To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [ddots-l] sound card and mixer recommendations
>
> Hi: For a few years I've been waiting for caketalking to make 9 
> accessible and although I purchased 8.5 I've never installed it. Been 
> using 6; however, I'm about to upgrade to 64 bit  with a new computer 
> and sonar 8.5. Any recommendations for workable sound cards and mixers 
> to enable me to record at least eight tracks at once? Thanks in 
> advance.
>
> John Fioravanti
>
>
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