@@DanBakerMusic exactly. and its why i jumped at getting this vintage Series 600 soundcraft. Cant beat that old British sound, and like you said, super intuitive to navigate.
I'm a big fan of the Spirit M series, like the M8 or M12. It has a very low noise floor and has S/PDIF out, which can be useful. There are some Soundcraft desks that are notorious for their noise, be aware of that in case you're going to buy one.
I have an old Mackir1202 in the box. Might try this. Your old gear videos really get my blood moving. I feel like unpacking my old analog gear and seeing what it can do with iPad.
Bless you for doing this for us new folks! I am getting into making dub versions of my bands reggae and rocksteady tunes. I have wanted to do this for so long and I’m finally just biting the bullet and getting the equipment. But I am a lost child in the woods as far as tech knowledge goes. So this is incredibly helpful.
Oh wow! I'm glad I randomly stumbled on these videos! Kinda regret not speaking to you back when you were teaching in college. I will now spend my night binging on these videos :P
Dan, nicely done tutorial. One hardly ever sees this kind of setup described -- these concepts are not easy to describe nor easily understood. Bang-up job!
Thank you so much, you answered all the questions I came to YT to find answers to! I have just acquired a great Yamaha mixer for less than half price, but it lacks the PC connectivity of its sibling model. I couldn't justify paying full price just for that function and some digital effects. Especially when audio interfaces are less than $100. Your explanations are as clear as your well paced delivery. The diagram is incredibly useful to me as someone lesrning the ropes of audio mixing, visualising it is very helpful. I feel confident now in buying the equipment I need to interface my analogue mixer to my PC. Thank you!
Fabulous tutorial Dan, best yet in explaining the A/D-D/A process. Answered virtually all my questions THANK YOU! (I'm an old picker/recorder so I'll always have one or two more questions!)
Hi Mr. Baker, I'm getting into recording and mixing and mastering, and planning on getting the Soundcraft LX7ii series of analog mixing console,( either the 24 channel or 32 not sure yet. But this video told exactly how to connect my gear up, I'm wanting to use the mixer for actual mixing like yours is setup, Thank You so much for this video. You got a new subscriber as well love your channel.
I just found your video - Thanks so much - I have a Soundcraft Live 8 - 32 channel in my recording studio. Folks ask me why and I say it's because I like it. I go direct out to several multi channel interfaces that are daisy chained through ADAT allowing for 24 channel multi-track if necessary. I love analog, but appreciate what digital has to offer. I am working on the "best" way of creating monitor mixes for musicians, both for recording AND overdubbing. cheers
This is very helpful. I have a Mackie Onyx mixer I want to incorporate into a yet to be purchased interface in order to use the Onyx pres. This vid helps quite a bit.
Hey friend. Can you help me? I have a console (soundcraft ghost) and an apollo uad. My sampler is a sp1200 and i want to sample from vinil and sample from computer (voices, audios) all to Ableton. How can i link everything, especially sampling from the computer from the sp1200
I use other smaller samplers mpc live ii, sp404, to feed my older gear , sp1200, emax , etc… then run other gear into those samplers in the front of the sample line , then track all outputs 1-8 to a tascam model 16 or i. Your case your mixer into the interface to the computer
What an excellent and clear summary. I've a Soundcraft Spirit 24 currently gathering dust (power supply is noisy and seems hard to find a replacement/repairer around here in Liverpool), but have been looking to reuse it as I've given up on digital desks... I miss the simplicity and musicality of analog desks (and they're so cheap now if you can find one that's actually fully functional 😄). I imagine this would work well with some cheap ADAT interface like a Behringer U-PHORIA UMC1820 to get into the DAW with an ADAT audio interface? (I'm lusting after a BabyFace...). Subscribed for further insights - your descriptions are really clear.
Yes thanks for saying that adjusting you eq it’s musical because I used to have a topaz board and I had a cheap condenser mic (Samsung with the annoying bright blue light on the front) and the mixer just give it a nice creamy sounds as of having being straight to a interface, the interface is just there to capture your expression and off course once it’s in the daw then that’s another party but I really missed recording and you have earn my subscription and I’m so motivated to get another board that would give me that experience in the first place
Excellent tutorial Dan. As an Elder Lemon I have a mixture of old and new gear so I have the equipment to do exactly as you explain but now I have a much better understanding of how to Acco,plish it.I am a home hobbyist who sings in folk clubs and plays guitar. By the way, your rendition of Maxine by Donald Fagan was incredible. Kind regards.Alan
If you wanted to save on xlr cable costs and not have a ton of XLR cables or a really costly and chonky snake running from A to B, you can also get cat5e or cat6 ethernet cable (pref individually sheilded as well as fully sheilded), and use the 4 twisted pairs as a sort of combination snake by just buying some xlr connectors and wiring them up into a small section of breakout using each unshethed twisted pair from the main cable along with it's respective sheilding, and some heat shrink to neatly finish off each xlr jack. Each cable is then basically a 4x balenced xlr snake in a single thin wire form factor. You can do it with multiple cat cables to and from sub-d25 connectors too (with ground pins), or even make your own ethernet sockets, with a box that breaks out into xlr or sub-d or w/e if you're that way inclined, and then you can just use straight ethernet cable! Not ideal for live reinforcement, but for perminant installation in project studios where no one will be going anywhere near the wiring with their feet, it's really nice, neat and cheap in comparison with around the same performance in a smaller form factor. You only loose a tad of robustness, but if you choose the right heat shrink, it should be pretty rock solid.If you use rj45 connectors then it's really durable (but it's also a real pain wiring up them rj45 plugs, the sockets suck too but aren't as bad, however the plugs really suck!), but why wire them when buying premade cat5e/6 ethernet cable is pretty cheap these days! Some places even have just the connectors for switching to M or F sub-d from ethernet rj45 and basically act as a conversion socket you just plug into your already present sub-d sockets at either end and then plug in your ethernet cable into them (which is probably the easiest way to set this up, but resrticts you to buying db25 capable gear and quite a lot of their convertors). It's much more versitile if you just wire the connections inside a box yourself, it's really not too hard as you can buy the fully assembled rj45 cat5e/6 network cables and all you need to know is the ethernet socket pinout really (and sub -d if not xlr breakout) as it's all just direct wiring with no other componants other than the sockets and the wires (unless you wanted to add features which are not just direct connections). You can repupose old XLR patch bays for this as a really cheap way to build the housing as they already have all the break out connectors and the wiring built in, you'd just need to remove some xlr, and replace with RJ45 and rewire them (the only thing you would need is somethnig to fill in the blank space around the RJ45 sockets, which is easy and could even be a just a few small bits of wood with some holes in if you wanted)! Even a broken old active patch bay with grounding and other powered functions could be even cheaper, you can just gut all the other electronics and use them for something else, or sell them, or just give them to someone who might use them if not you, as the grounds will be straight pass through from the RJ45 to the break out connectors, rather than needing to be grounded at the (no longer) active patch bay. ;)
Thank you so much for this video! I am actually considering picking up an older mixing console to have the musical knob turning goodness that I’ve grown up with. This was encouraging to me that what I am wanting to do is a viable useful way to go Thank you!
Friend of mine has this soundboard, sadly I only have a mackie pro 12 O.G. I also have a behringer FCA 1616. I can't seem to figure out how to add the ASIO device to pipe all the audio from my soundboard to the DAW? I have "stereo return" and "tape out" but the easiest solution appears to just use my main stereo out from sound board that goes to my studio speakers to instead one of the input channels on my Audio interface, and then plug my speaker to the audio interface output. I know this would work, however it would involve having the audio interface powered all the time, and I just want to keep the speakers plugged in to the mixer all the time for playing the keyboards, and spinning vinyl. So how to I get the audio out from the mixer to my audio interface to record on a DAW without sacrificing the main mixer out to speaker and still record the mixer audio to a audiointerface/DAW ? Thanks
So if I use an analog mixer with 8 or 10 mics for drums, can I send the kick on group 1 out and snare on group 2 out and the rest of the kit on 3 and 4 to an interface that has at least 4 line inputs built into the interface without having to go through their pre-amps, or will I have to go through pre-amps again and will the DAW show the kick and snare on seperate channels as well as the rest of the kit L & R on 2 additional channels? And this is accomplished via USB? Is there an interface with 8 or 10 1/4" TS line inputs and maybe 2 XLR with mic pre's that can get my analog signals into my digital DAW.
If I'm understanding this properly, it sounds like providing the outputs are available on the mixer, I can route at least 8 "outs" to the 8 "ins" on the interface, then use the mixer as a controller of sorts. Then if I want to get really slick, I can loop the feed back to the mixer from the 8 "outs" on the interface back to 8 "ins" on the mixer to mix the recorded tracks. Can someone tell me if that's correct? Before I start making purchases, I want to make certain I understand the possible routing.
love it , but whats the point, if the stereo out from the board goes straight to the speakers and not an anaolge prinnt sournce like cd or adat, mixing on the board would be pointless accept mixing the in put signal, so the formula would have to be set pre amp fader, record, mix on the board then print to cd or adat after each song???
Thanks Dan, your videos are so helpful! I'm slowly moving away from a basic DAW/inteface set up to putting a home studio together that is VERY* similar to this. Do you do e-mail or other forms of consultation? Would love to discuss ideas on optimizing this kind of hybrid set-up. I guess my main questions would be; when would you choose DAW over the Fostex disk recorder? Does the Disk recorder interface with this set-up (via ADAT or jack plug?) How would you use outboard effects with this set-up, or are you using plug-ins? How often do you find yourself mixing from DAW to board on the 9-16 returns compared to mixing in the box? When you use the busses to go into the interface are they typically individual panned tracks, or stereo pairs of drum bus, guitar bus, Keys. etc? What changes to workflow might you consider when doing your solo projects vs. tracking a small group of players live? (* Soundcraft Series1600 producer desk 24/8/2 with built-in bantam patchbay, Fostex D2424LV, Focusrite Scarlett18i20, Behringer ADA8200 ADAT interface, Mac Mini running Reaper)
Nice video. I want to use my 24 track Hard Disc recorder (Alesis 24HD-XR w/24 TRS jacks in and 24 TRS jacks out) as a way to get more inputs and outputs to do old school style mixing on an analog desk (with vintage rack gear). The Alesis HD recorder has three sets of light pipe connectors for input and 3 sets out, via 6 optical cables. Would you know of an interface that has at least 24 optical outs? (I don't care about 24 inputs so much, I mainly want 24 optical outputs from an interface to run into the line inputs of my 32 channel analog mixer. Very nice video..Thanks in advance. Phil NYC Area
What couldn't I just connect my analog mixer's Main Out straight into my Apollo's In? And do the mixing bit on the analog board. Why exactly do you need that audio interface between your Apollo, and the mixer. I don't understand.
You can do that for sure. The extra audio interface was for more inputs into the computer, so I could have eight buss outputs of the mixing desk going into the computer as separate feeds.
Great video. Very interesting. I have an A&H GL2 which is a very nice mixer with 10 mono channels, two stereo channels, four groups (buss) and a L+R channel. Besides this there are 6 AUX (5 and 6 are colored differently and lay out in a different group section on the panel of the mixer). How many channels do I need to have on my Interface for it to work and is it fair to say that in your setup I can use 7 channels?
I have an old 80's Tascam M520 20 Ch Analog Studio Mixing desk plus the power supply, that a friend gave me for nothing, and I'm very interested in getting it integrated into my little home studio, I also have a Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 Firewire Audio Interface that has 8 line ins and outs as well as an optical out, but I really want to replace it with something that is more reliable and is compatible with Windows 11, I've had no end of trouble with the Saffire Pro 40.
Great vid Dan, thanks! I have almost the exact samee disk it seems, mine is a 16ch Live version. But my left master out seems to have died :( Do you know if iit's worth/cheap to repair? Would hate to have to buy a new miixer right now. Cheers mate.
Do you enjoy analog consoles patched into the computer more satisfying , or the big full digital consoles that sometimes offer direct recording into the unit.
I have an Alesis HD24 Digital recorder that receives audio from my DAW via 2 M-Audio 1010 LT audio cards which then goes out to my Mackie Onyx 24.4 sound board and then into a Denon DN-300R digital recorder (onto an SD card) and finally our through my KRK 8" NF monitors. This setup recently cost be a small fortune, especially all of the cabling, but I love the ability to record old school while still utilizing a DAW with it's numerous plugins and features! I would recommend this to anyone who is a bit old school like myself, who wants to work with an analogue system as well as a DAW on their PC! I wonder, however, if the M-Audio 1010's are really up to par with today's standard and if having this hooked up the way I do may introduce more noise than I want...
Something in my setup isn't working for me, although it should.. I have a Behringer UMC1820 interface connected to my Mac (usb cable), and I cabled its Main Outs to an old Mackie mixing desk, going into Ch22 and Ch23. The CTRL Room outs of the Mackie go to a woofer and a pair of monitors, and the Mackie's Main Outs go to 2 inputs on the audio interface (because I'd like to record the hardware synths). I also would like to use VST's along with the hardware synths cabled to the Mackie. For some reason, I'm getting no sound at all from the Mac even when I just want to play an audio file. There's a monitor knob on the front of the interface, turned all the way to the right (playback only). I have no idea what's wrong here :( Should I hook the woofer and monitors up to the Main Outs of the audio interface?
Hi Dan, great video, but i have a problem. I use Garageband and there are no outputs in the smart controls to assign a channel to a U-Phoria UMC1820. I want to use this way to mix my already recorded songs. There must be a way around it? Any help would be greatly appreciated...Thanks, Jay.
Thank you Dan! I am trying to hook up all my Dad’s old gear (Alesis Quadraverb, Alesis Adat type 2 8-track, Type c aural exciter, peavy cs-800 amplifier, and some other dsp stuff all circa late 80s) to a Alesis studio 32 mixer and then to my Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 interface and my pc This breakdown is EXACTLY what I needed and that diagram is a lifesaver
Hi Dan. You are a really good comunicator! May i ask you a question? Can we use the daw effects with the groups inserts in a mixdown process?. Im studying to make this kind of process in an digital-analog hybrid setup, but i dont know if latency its going to be a problem. I think it could be a fun way to use plugins as compressors, eq... as if it were hardware gear. I hope that you will understand my question, English its not my first language. Thanks Dan, i apreciate a lot your channel.
@@henriqueulbrichoficial I've seen a video where Dan explains how to use plugins with a mixer using the aux sends. That video is, in fact, the reason im doing this question. I want to use this same technique but with the subgroup inserts "ala michael brauer" 😁. Thanks for your atention Henrique.
Yes that is an interesting one and different to my other method. I would think latency could be the deciding factor. My desk has slightly dodgy send and return jacks on my board, but it does involve ripping apart my current setup. If you use aux sends as I did on my other video this will be fine for things like reverb and delay but more of a problem with compressors unless you muted the channel and just listened to the aux send...
Thx for the vid. I lost you where you said you route back to the mixer and out to your master fader to monitors? Wouldn’t you want to plug monitors in the interface? Why run back to the mixer? Would that create a circle of signals to the monitors? In other words your original input on the mixer would want to run out to the monitors while also running to the interface?
There are many ways of doing it and yes: the computer interface could feed the monitors directly. Because I don’t run a patchbay, I just run the monitors from the mixer and plug everything else into that...
Just wondering, where is the diagram for the wiring? And also, if I have a sound craft series 1624, we don't have any patch cable direct out channels, and just 4 stereo channels sends. What would be a suggested way to get the 24 channel board hooked up?
Nice video can i ask a question ive got my mixer running with ableton all channels work no problem but when i come to pan a channel i can hear it in the speaker i want to be in but when i record and play back i can hear it through both speakers again what am i doing wrong thanks
Dan, this is a wierd one to describe but I'll give it a shot. I love real string sounds..Not crazy about sample based ones. I'd love to record a series of individual violin tracks then output them via cable to a small speaker (via bluetooth to a Mobile Phone)...So the idea is you now have these 4 or 5 violin tracks outputting indvidually in unison but to 5 speakers in a room. Then I want to mic that output so that I am effectively recording a naturally sounding 5 piece violin set up which now sounds alot like real strings! Thats the Theory anyhow..Any chance you could put together a video of this..I'd be amazed to see this 'Strings machine' work!!
Hi, I think most serious composers agree with you on not being keen on sample based STRINGS, but those with a limited budget go about this process differently. They compose, using their chosen DAW, with VST Strings and then hire a violinist (or quintet) to record to the track. They only hear through headphones. This then makes the Sample strings sound so much better. This also means you can use any musicians in the world. Look up Christian Henson whose company (Spitfire Audio) create great VSTs and tell you how they compose and record, including the likes of Hans Zimmer. The also produce vsts under LABS which are free. Look up Christian on RUclips. Your idea I find objectionable for my ears. I don't think you need to record a mix of 4/5 strings through a speaker to make it sound authentic. Two strings often become a problem (intonation) but anything over two should be good. Maybe I don't understand your idea, but I would like to be proved wrong. We are all capable of learning. Hope this helps.
Hi, thanks for this great video, just what i was looking for. I have 2 questions: -In the diagram at the end, you list 10 inputs to DAW. How do those 10 inputs fit through the 8 outputs back to rhe desk? Are some combined to one track, do you not use all 10 at once, or have i misinderstood something? -Do you have feedback issues when recording a live mix of your project to the DAW? Can that only be done on tape? Thanks, i hope i 'm making sense
I had two of those spirit studios but had to sell as both had unfixable issues with channels dropping out, crackling, etc was so frustrating as they sound great.
The dropouts can almost always be attributed to the insert points on each channel-I soldered across the ones in my desk as I don’t use effects on the inserts. Mine is starting to crackle a little, but that is more likely than not to be the power supply. I’ll have to get that sorted out...
I just don't have the money for a multi-input audio interface. I found a Mackie onyx 1220 12 channel mixer for $50 which I'm currently using as my "hub" so I don't have to plug in and out instruments every time and set their gain. Really speeds up my workflow and it also has DB25 outputs which I can then use to do individual out on the 12 channels if I happen to ever get a better audio interface.
Obviously very late on this vid, but can I simply use a Liquid Safire as an expanded output (adat), sending DAW tracks directly to the board's inputs and skip the firewire connection? I just want to mix with the board, not use it to track. So would this work: Interface out (adat) -> Liquid Safire outs -> board ins -> -> Stereo out final mix back to DAW through Interface? Hope that question makes sense.
One has to set the sample rate on the Safire via software, but if you’re happy with 44.1kHz, you’ll be good to go with no problems. You can clock the Safire either via ADAT or via BNC word clock, but I can’t remember off hand what it defaults to if it’s the slave...
I’m having so much trouble trying to set this up, I have two 8x8 plus spdif working as a 16x16 though a desk and the spdif as my monitor out. It’s a real pain in my ass atm, using direct ins and outs on desk. Want to record through desk then send recording back through desk and back to interface 16x16 [my bus isn’t working properly on desk]. Have had a major issue Figur the ins and outs of the daw plus interface mixer, including hours trying to get a sound out, things not working properly, earth loops and latency issues trying to lay a new track on a daw sent prerecorded track. It’s doing my head in. Presonus fire studio/ universal Control/ Logic Pro x nightmare. I’ve spent a good month fucking with it already
hey i really could use some help. I’m using pro tools ultimate and a zedi10 hybrid mixer. Everything works fine i can hear myself through headphones while recording but after i record and go to play back my audio i can’t hear the playback through my headphones. i’m guessing it’s my I/o settings. any help would be greatly appreciated
Got a Amek Tac bullet console desk 1980 and UAD Apollo twin duo 2 as well but not another interface like your Focusrite Sapphire FireWire adat out option as what you have. Do I need another interface to make this work… I have a lot of synths that need to be connected. Can I just connect to my analog mixer console (Tac Bullet) thru to inputs on the Apollo twin and hook all keyboards and synths to the mixer?
You could use an analog desk to mix the keyboards together and then into line inputs of the UAD, but the Focusrite Safire does give you a little more flexibility, especially if you’re using multi mics on drums or similar. To be honest, the Behringer 8 way mic to ADAT are worth a look, especially if you just want to experiment..
@@DanBakerMusic I got a motu 828 mk3hybrid to slave to the UAD Apollo twin duo mk2 via the Amek tac bullet console …this gonna work!? lol thanks for the reply🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Dan I love your vedios and have question to ask? I hv a soundcraft series Five 48 mixer and two 8 channels presonus interfaces. Now i want to get 16 inputs to my DAW and 16 returns from DAW for optional analog mixing. Is it possible or give me some advice to go through pse. Your diagram shows me 8 inputs going through buss outs to the interface. The issue is busses.......😢😢😢
is that microphone the se 2200 a large diaphram condenser? because i got that one for music recording but i wasnt sure if its outdated since its from 2006?
If you are wanting to use it for mixing after tracking you have to redo all of your routing right? If you want to record from the interface outputs into the mixer and then from the mixer back into separate daw tracks?
Hello Dan. Thanks a lot for this super video. Do you think it's possible to do the same with a Creamware A16 Ultra instead of a focustire saffire? I'm a very very beginner. Maybe this is a stupid question... sorry :)
Not a stupid question at all: your Creamware A16 will do twice the number of channels as my Focusrite saffire. You just need shares in a jack plug manufacturer! All the best to you…Dan
I liked the video because I'm wondering how I'm gonna record the next session with an analog mixer and a multitrack audio interface plugged in the PC. If I understand your setup correctly, the recorded track from the performer goes from the instrument to the mixer channel, the mixer bus, the audio interface to the DAW and then back to the audio interface and to the mixer and to the monitor for the performer to hear it. I did this and we experienced a lot of lag between the playing and the (not so direct) monitor. Am I missing something?
will this analogue mixer work at all with garageband DAW on my Macbook pro computer with my midi keyboard with my midi UM one USB Midi Interface for the purpose of recording different piano and different software instrument Midi sounds ? or not ?
I had a converter to run my Safire with the iMac which has thunderbolt (USB C) and it was fine with Catalina, but I’m not sure more recent OS supports it…
Hey. I have a problem. Everything sound right both on mixer headphones and on the computer/apollo. My problem is when I record in studio one or adacity, the left and right side are flipped in the recording and in the daw, so the sound comes out wrong in the daw 🤔 what can cause this. I see you also have the apollo. Mine is apollo twin solo and my mixer is Yamaha mg10xuf
When I play back my recordings on my Behringer 4 input interface it is fine until the end of the recording when I get a bad feedback through my sound system. I am using Reaper. I know it is because the mics are live. How can I stop this??
Hi Gordon, it sounds like you have “auto-input monitoring” on. This may be settable in Reaper, or with the software that came with the audio interface.
Could you have a cheap DAW such as audacity but a really good mixer with eq compressor and all otherer things etc, and make up for the DAW and be really good?
@@DanBakerMusic what mixers would you recommend for that where it has effects compressor, eq, etc. And phantom power for microphones so strictly for "recording vocals"
Hi - I'm looking to purchase a cheap studio mixer for use in Garageband to record our band practices. I've used an Alesis Multimix, but I can only control 2 separate channels. I need to control at least 6 'instruments' separately. Can anyone tell me which mixer I should purchase? I don't care if it's older tech - this is for a really simple recordings. Cost is a major issue.
please, I want to ask. if i have a personal monitor mixer behringer p16 and i have an analog mixer but i do not have a direct out . So what should I do ? i have only 2 aux
Hello Dan Thank You for this video. I'm hoping you can give me some advice. I want to run live sound with analogue mixer and be able to use some digital plug ins I'm using a Soundcraft 200 24x4 and wondering if i can use the individual channels inserts
The channel inserts are perfect for this, though you’ll have to have many sends and returns into the computer on your audio interface. It’s a good way to combine the old (cool) and the new (convenient)..
@@DanBakerMusic Sorry I missed your reply I only have the mixer now Please suggest what kind of gear/software that i should be looking for just to get started
Hey, first of all thanks for those explanation. I got one question. My setup studio is nearly the same : 1 analogue 16 voices mixer, his 8 first individual output goes into 8 input for my scarlett. (the analogue mixer is a mackie vlz1604 and got 4 bus). So now i'm wondering how get the external aux effect on the individual output. I only record the dry sound in my daw. Thank u
You’d need at least four outputs from the audio interface, so two outs would be the stereo mix to your desk, and the other two outputs would be effects only. You can then use the computer to deal with the effects, using the aux sends on the desk as outputs to the computer for effects. I’ve made a video about it here: ruclips.net/video/NKF87Zb-gAs/видео.html
Great video as usual Dan ! I have always used analog mixing desk as far I remember. Starting with a little Yamaha 6 channel mixer, then Phonic 12 up to Mackie 1642 VLZ3 and now a gorgeous Mackie Onyx 24.4. I can't really work with the flexibility of an analog console. Cheers from Canada mate !
Awesome !! this just answered a big question for me.I am in the middle of completing my home studio, with my Vintage Soundcraft series 600 analoge soundboard as the centerpiece., Now i understand the best way to go with interface and computer. Rather than recording it all into a laptop..(which is how i thought i was going.) This seems much more flexible. SO it all runs out of the buss , much like the days of the old 2" tape. what audio interface is that ? what kind of computer are you running the interface into, and software is the computer running for all of this ? Awesome ! thanx man
Another informative video Dan. I am trying to connect my condenser mic to a Zoom Mrs 1608;hard disc recorder into an alesis compresssor and then via an audio interface into an iPad running GarageBand. Any advice regarding settings for recording vocals? Thanks Ken
Hi Ken, With regard to vocal settings for compression, a lot of it has to do with how loud the input signal will be through your signal chain. I tend to use a ratio of 5:1 and attack time of 50ms. Release depends on the material and threshold will depend on input level. As a rule I try not to compress more than around 10db at most...
Hi Dan, I have been using a Scarlett 18i8 into Cubase 10.5 Pro for some time and recently acquired a Soundcraft Signature 12 (not MTK) to use in conjunction with the above rig as I am "old school" having played in bands in the 60s and love the warmth of analogue. My singer believes I have no real use for this set up as Cubase provides all I should need when it comes to post recording with the aid of analogue emulation plug-ins. I am interest in your take on this.
I think it’s more in how the overall result is obtained. Analogue desks also allow musical EQ without the fine control and bells and whistles that computer DAW affords. I’m a firm believer in thinking in analogue terms when using DAW
An unbalanced cable? Wouldn t a shieled TRS cable be better? Another thing is, going into a preamp? Ideally it should go into an Insert, no? Just asking ;)
HI Dan , thank you for the video and the diagram, i have a soundcraft spirit M8 which does not have bus channels, im planning to buy a motu 828mk2 to connect it to my macbook onto Logic pro 9 to record up to 8 channels at once ( probably more like 2 or 3 channels at a time as my studio is very small) and im wondering wether i can do it with my mixer. My plan is to also mix it all using the analogue desk and not the Logic one. Do i need bus channels to send the signal to achieve this ? Can i just connect each channel using the direct out into the input of the Motu ? Or Do i need to get another desK with bus channels?
Hi Claude, if your desk has direct outs then there’s no need for busses to feed signals into the computer. You would however need to repatch everything for playback as you have only 8 input channels on the desk. An interim solution would be to use the logic mixer to come back on a stereo channel aux return while you do all your recording, before patching everything for mix down. Another solution is to make a panel with switches that determine whether the inputs of the channels are mic or from the computer. Note that you can’t use the mic and line inputs at the same time on the Soundcraft. You wouldn’t want this anyway as you’ll get feedback via the DAW.
@@DanBakerMusic i Will try that for sure, thank you Dan. I actually have 4 more stereo channels available on the mixer, could I somehow send the 8 channels back into those 4 stereo channels?
I got a Tascam Model 12 that I was trying to use as a DAW controller but I have never been about to get it to work. It's sad to think I will have to buy another interface so as to interface with the Model 12. I have been to numerous tutorials and read the manual (which is close to useless). Maybe I need to call Tascam!
I used a Behringer 6-input mixer into my 2i2 for a few years until one side of the mixer gave out, at which point I bought an interface with 4 inputs. The mixer was only for the purpose of micing my drumkit with more than 2 mics. I experimented with using it's built in channel compressors and EQs instead of Waves plugins a couple of times, but it's vaunted "British eq" was too bland. The compressors were good, but I'd forget that bc the big shiny GUIs of the vst compressors I have were fun to look at. The mixer wasn't for "adding analog sound", only for making it possible to use multiple mics if needed, lol. But hmm. What you're doing here is really interesting to me. It seems (or my Texas hillbilly brain failed to catch it LOL) that which mixer you're using for your purposes isn't mentioned? But I must suppose it's something on the higher end. Would the used Mackie (circa late 90s) "recording" mixer that's been rotting in the local music store be "good enough"; it's got I think 16 mic inputs and is more than plenty of mixer for any purpose I would ever have, and it can be had for quite cheap, 350 USD. It's in good shape, not caked in dust, no tarantulas living in it, etc. Or would I need to get something fancier do you think. Lol, thx. Good post.
The Mackie stuff from the 90s is U.S. manufacture, and extremely good, better really than the Soundcraft Spirit Studio that I used here. Mackie went downhill when manufacturing went out to the Far East...
My client has L-12. It is a rather simple machine. If You want raw mixing power, without flashy lights (it has plenty of them) and You are experiencednwith a field recorders, You'll love that. I'm using it with two laws and one condenser as a backup. It's also captires sound from pc usb and a phone with intro music.
@@DanBakerMusic No worries Dan. I'm very much temped by having a mixer, combined to DAW, and be able to record a drum live. Your setting is so good, and I love it. You once made a video on how to set up connections when using a DAW and a mixer. Was really interesting to see.
Hey Dan, are you using TS or TRS jack plugs? I just bought a Soundcraft Studio 24 from the same time period as your 16. I found your channel the other day after searching the Spirit console. I literally said after I watched your analog video, hmmm, I wish he did a video on how he is connecting everything together. today in my YT feed it appeared. Keep going on this subject there seems to be a lot of interest. My console is a beast and the owner before me had a custom power supply adapted to the board I heard there were a lot of issues with the original power supplies, the new power supply weighs over 60 pounds and is unstoppable. Do you think you could do a video on how you route outboard effects through the aux sends and remix them going back into the box?
Hi there-you can use either TRS or TS. The desk has balanced inputs and buss outputs, so TRS would be the ultimate thing to use over TS. Yes: the original PSU can be an issue, but mine seems ok at the moment at least! I’ve done videos on outboard gear too, so perhaps that would help.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Love those old Soundcraft boards. Super intuitive layout.
Totally. I’ve just got to service the power supply though-it’s started crackling a little...
@@DanBakerMusic exactly. and its why i jumped at getting this vintage Series 600 soundcraft. Cant beat that old British sound, and like you said, super intuitive to navigate.
I'm a big fan of the Spirit M series, like the M8 or M12. It has a very low noise floor and has S/PDIF out, which can be useful. There are some Soundcraft desks that are notorious for their noise, be aware of that in case you're going to buy one.
@@basroos_snafuI love my M8!
Which model soundcraft is it, @DanBakerMusic? I'm trying to find it online.
I wish every video and podcast was presented like this.
I have an old Mackir1202 in the box. Might try this. Your old gear videos really get my blood moving. I feel like unpacking my old analog gear and seeing what it can do with iPad.
Bless you for doing this for us new folks! I am getting into making dub versions of my bands reggae and rocksteady tunes. I have wanted to do this for so long and I’m finally just biting the bullet and getting the equipment. But I am a lost child in the woods as far as tech knowledge goes. So this is incredibly helpful.
Wonderful!!!!! I have the same soundcraft desk in my homestudio, and I love it and would not give it away. It works so well so many years now!
Oh wow! I'm glad I randomly stumbled on these videos!
Kinda regret not speaking to you back when you were teaching in college.
I will now spend my night binging on these videos :P
Dan, nicely done tutorial. One hardly ever sees this kind of setup described -- these concepts are not easy to describe nor easily understood. Bang-up job!
Thank you very much!
Agree
Just starting out recording. Plan on watching all of your tutorials now. Thank You! Seriously!!!
Thank you so much, you answered all the questions I came to YT to find answers to! I have just acquired a great Yamaha mixer for less than half price, but it lacks the PC connectivity of its sibling model. I couldn't justify paying full price just for that function and some digital effects. Especially when audio interfaces are less than $100.
Your explanations are as clear as your well paced delivery. The diagram is incredibly useful to me as someone lesrning the ropes of audio mixing, visualising it is very helpful. I feel confident now in buying the equipment I need to interface my analogue mixer to my PC. Thank you!
Compra el uca222 de Behringer
Fabulous tutorial Dan, best yet in explaining the A/D-D/A process. Answered virtually all my questions THANK YOU! (I'm an old picker/recorder so I'll always have one or two more questions!)
Thanks for watching and do ask more questions!
Great video. And I really appreciate the signal map at the end.
Hi Mr. Baker, I'm getting into recording and mixing and mastering, and planning on getting the Soundcraft LX7ii series of analog mixing console,( either the 24 channel or 32 not sure yet. But this video told exactly how to connect my gear up, I'm wanting to use the mixer for actual mixing like yours is setup, Thank You so much for this video. You got a new subscriber as well love your channel.
I just found your video - Thanks so much - I have a Soundcraft Live 8 - 32 channel in my recording studio. Folks ask me why and I say it's because I like it. I go direct out to several multi channel interfaces that are daisy chained through ADAT allowing for 24 channel multi-track if necessary. I love analog, but appreciate what digital has to offer. I am working on the "best" way of creating monitor mixes for musicians, both for recording AND overdubbing. cheers
This is very helpful.
I have a Mackie Onyx mixer I want to incorporate into a yet to be purchased interface in order to use the Onyx pres.
This vid helps quite a bit.
Hey friend. Can you help me? I have a console (soundcraft ghost) and an apollo uad. My sampler is a sp1200 and i want to sample from vinil and sample from computer (voices, audios) all to Ableton. How can i link everything, especially sampling from the computer from the sp1200
I use other smaller samplers mpc live ii, sp404, to feed my older gear , sp1200, emax , etc… then run other gear into those samplers in the front of the sample line , then track all outputs 1-8 to a tascam model 16 or i. Your case your mixer into the interface to the computer
What an excellent and clear summary. I've a Soundcraft Spirit 24 currently gathering dust (power supply is noisy and seems hard to find a replacement/repairer around here in Liverpool), but have been looking to reuse it as I've given up on digital desks... I miss the simplicity and musicality of analog desks (and they're so cheap now if you can find one that's actually fully functional 😄). I imagine this would work well with some cheap ADAT interface like a Behringer U-PHORIA UMC1820 to get into the DAW with an ADAT audio interface? (I'm lusting after a BabyFace...). Subscribed for further insights - your descriptions are really clear.
Thank you very much for this straightforward dive. Have a Mackie 24/8/2 console that I've planned to use with a DAW. Sir.
Was lucky enough to get a 30 year old soundtracs spa3200 console for free on Craigslist! Been watching your videos for ideas since!
Amazing! They’re great. Servicing wise, just run some compressed air through it occasionally and it’ll prevent scratchy pots and faders...
Yes thanks for saying that adjusting you eq it’s musical because I used to have a topaz board and I had a cheap condenser mic (Samsung with the annoying bright blue light on the front) and the mixer just give it a nice creamy sounds as of having being straight to a interface, the interface is just there to capture your expression and off course once it’s in the daw then that’s another party but I really missed recording and you have earn my subscription and I’m so motivated to get another board that would give me that experience in the first place
I just bought a Mackie 24.8 and this was extremely helpful!!!!
Excellent tutorial Dan. As an Elder Lemon I have a mixture of old and new gear so I have the equipment to do exactly as you explain but now I have a much better understanding of how to Acco,plish it.I am a home hobbyist who sings in folk clubs and plays guitar. By the way, your rendition of Maxine by Donald Fagan was incredible.
Kind regards.Alan
If you wanted to save on xlr cable costs and not have a ton of XLR cables or a really costly and chonky snake running from A to B, you can also get cat5e or cat6 ethernet cable (pref individually sheilded as well as fully sheilded), and use the 4 twisted pairs as a sort of combination snake by just buying some xlr connectors and wiring them up into a small section of breakout using each unshethed twisted pair from the main cable along with it's respective sheilding, and some heat shrink to neatly finish off each xlr jack. Each cable is then basically a 4x balenced xlr snake in a single thin wire form factor. You can do it with multiple cat cables to and from sub-d25 connectors too (with ground pins), or even make your own ethernet sockets, with a box that breaks out into xlr or sub-d or w/e if you're that way inclined, and then you can just use straight ethernet cable!
Not ideal for live reinforcement, but for perminant installation in project studios where no one will be going anywhere near the wiring with their feet, it's really nice, neat and cheap in comparison with around the same performance in a smaller form factor. You only loose a tad of robustness, but if you choose the right heat shrink, it should be pretty rock solid.If you use rj45 connectors then it's really durable (but it's also a real pain wiring up them rj45 plugs, the sockets suck too but aren't as bad, however the plugs really suck!), but why wire them when buying premade cat5e/6 ethernet cable is pretty cheap these days!
Some places even have just the connectors for switching to M or F sub-d from ethernet rj45 and basically act as a conversion socket you just plug into your already present sub-d sockets at either end and then plug in your ethernet cable into them (which is probably the easiest way to set this up, but resrticts you to buying db25 capable gear and quite a lot of their convertors). It's much more versitile if you just wire the connections inside a box yourself, it's really not too hard as you can buy the fully assembled rj45 cat5e/6 network cables and all you need to know is the ethernet socket pinout really (and sub -d if not xlr breakout) as it's all just direct wiring with no other componants other than the sockets and the wires (unless you wanted to add features which are not just direct connections). You can repupose old XLR patch bays for this as a really cheap way to build the housing as they already have all the break out connectors and the wiring built in, you'd just need to remove some xlr, and replace with RJ45 and rewire them (the only thing you would need is somethnig to fill in the blank space around the RJ45 sockets, which is easy and could even be a just a few small bits of wood with some holes in if you wanted)! Even a broken old active patch bay with grounding and other powered functions could be even cheaper, you can just gut all the other electronics and use them for something else, or sell them, or just give them to someone who might use them if not you, as the grounds will be straight pass through from the RJ45 to the break out connectors, rather than needing to be grounded at the (no longer) active patch bay. ;)
Thank you so much for this video! I am actually considering picking up an older mixing console to have the musical knob turning goodness that I’ve grown up with. This was encouraging to me that what I am wanting to do is a viable useful way to go
Thank you!
Friend of mine has this soundboard, sadly I only have a mackie pro 12 O.G. I also have a behringer FCA 1616. I can't seem to figure out how to add the ASIO device to pipe all the audio from my soundboard to the DAW? I have "stereo return" and "tape out" but the easiest solution appears to just use my main stereo out from sound board that goes to my studio speakers to instead one of the input channels on my Audio interface, and then plug my speaker to the audio interface output. I know this would work, however it would involve having the audio interface powered all the time, and I just want to keep the speakers plugged in to the mixer all the time for playing the keyboards, and spinning vinyl. So how to I get the audio out from the mixer to my audio interface to record on a DAW without sacrificing the main mixer out to speaker and still record the mixer audio to a audiointerface/DAW ?
Thanks
This is a great mixer with a very good preamp
I still have my 56 too!
I love it!
Great video! Thanks for sharing!
So if I use an analog mixer with 8 or 10 mics for drums, can I send the kick on group 1 out and snare on group 2 out and the rest of the kit on 3 and 4 to an interface that has at least 4 line inputs built into the interface without having to go through their pre-amps, or will I have to go through pre-amps again and will the DAW show the kick and snare on seperate channels as well as the rest of the kit L & R on 2 additional channels? And this is accomplished via USB? Is there an interface with 8 or 10 1/4" TS line inputs and maybe 2 XLR with mic pre's that can get my analog signals into my digital DAW.
If I'm understanding this properly, it sounds like providing the outputs are available on the mixer, I can route at least 8 "outs" to the 8 "ins" on the interface, then use the mixer as a controller of sorts. Then if I want to get really slick, I can loop the feed back to the mixer from the 8 "outs" on the interface back to 8 "ins" on the mixer to mix the recorded tracks. Can someone tell me if that's correct? Before I start making purchases, I want to make certain I understand the possible routing.
love it , but whats the point, if the stereo out from the board goes straight to the speakers and not an anaolge prinnt sournce like cd or adat, mixing on the board would be pointless accept mixing the in put signal, so the formula would have to be set pre amp fader, record, mix on the board then print to cd or adat after each song???
Thanks Dan, your videos are so helpful!
I'm slowly moving away from a basic DAW/inteface set up to putting a home studio together that is VERY* similar to this. Do you do e-mail or other forms of consultation?
Would love to discuss ideas on optimizing this kind of hybrid set-up.
I guess my main questions would be; when would you choose DAW over the Fostex disk recorder? Does the Disk recorder interface with this set-up (via ADAT or jack plug?) How would you use outboard effects with this set-up, or are you using plug-ins? How often do you find yourself mixing from DAW to board on the 9-16 returns compared to mixing in the box? When you use the busses to go into the interface are they typically individual panned tracks, or stereo pairs of drum bus, guitar bus, Keys. etc? What changes to workflow might you consider when doing your solo projects vs. tracking a small group of players live?
(* Soundcraft Series1600 producer desk 24/8/2 with built-in bantam patchbay, Fostex D2424LV, Focusrite Scarlett18i20, Behringer ADA8200 ADAT interface, Mac Mini running Reaper)
Send me an email to danmanband@hotmail.co.uk and I’ll reply with a few things!
Nice video.
I want to use my 24 track Hard Disc recorder (Alesis 24HD-XR w/24 TRS jacks in and 24 TRS jacks out) as a way to get more inputs and outputs to do old school style mixing on an analog desk (with vintage rack gear).
The Alesis HD recorder has three sets of light pipe connectors for input and 3 sets out, via 6 optical cables.
Would you know of an interface that has at least 24 optical outs? (I don't care about 24 inputs so much, I mainly want 24 optical outputs from an interface to run into the line inputs of my 32 channel analog mixer.
Very nice video..Thanks in advance.
Phil
NYC Area
What couldn't I just connect my analog mixer's Main Out straight into my Apollo's In? And do the mixing bit on the analog board. Why exactly do you need that audio interface between your Apollo, and the mixer. I don't understand.
You can do that for sure. The extra audio interface was for more inputs into the computer, so I could have eight buss outputs of the mixing desk going into the computer as separate feeds.
Great video. Very interesting. I have an A&H GL2 which is a very nice mixer with 10 mono channels, two stereo channels, four groups (buss) and a L+R channel. Besides this there are 6 AUX (5 and 6 are colored differently and lay out in a different group section on the panel of the mixer). How many channels do I need to have on my Interface for it to work and is it fair to say that in your setup I can use 7 channels?
I have an old 80's Tascam M520 20 Ch Analog Studio Mixing desk plus the power supply, that a friend gave me for nothing, and I'm very interested in getting it integrated into my little home studio, I also have a Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 Firewire Audio Interface that has 8 line ins and outs as well as an optical out, but I really want to replace it with something that is more reliable and is compatible with Windows 11, I've had no end of trouble with the Saffire Pro 40.
Great vid Dan, thanks! I have almost the exact samee disk it seems, mine is a 16ch Live version. But my left master out seems to have died :( Do you know if iit's worth/cheap to repair? Would hate to have to buy a new miixer right now. Cheers mate.
I just received an Analog Yamaha Mixing Console 32/12 any suggestions to make it digital? Gr8t Video
Do you enjoy analog consoles patched into the computer more satisfying ,
or the big full digital consoles that sometimes offer direct recording into the unit.
I have an Alesis HD24 Digital recorder that receives audio from my DAW via 2 M-Audio 1010 LT audio cards which then goes out to my Mackie Onyx 24.4 sound board and then into a Denon DN-300R digital recorder (onto an SD card) and finally our through my KRK 8" NF monitors. This setup recently cost be a small fortune, especially all of the cabling, but I love the ability to record old school while still utilizing a DAW with it's numerous plugins and features! I would recommend this to anyone who is a bit old school like myself, who wants to work with an analogue system as well as a DAW on their PC! I wonder, however, if the M-Audio 1010's are really up to par with today's standard and if having this hooked up the way I do may introduce more noise than I want...
Something in my setup isn't working for me, although it should.. I have a Behringer UMC1820 interface connected to my Mac (usb cable), and I cabled its Main Outs to an old Mackie mixing desk, going into Ch22 and Ch23. The CTRL Room outs of the Mackie go to a woofer and a pair of monitors, and the Mackie's Main Outs go to 2 inputs on the audio interface (because I'd like to record the hardware synths). I also would like to use VST's along with the hardware synths cabled to the Mackie. For some reason, I'm getting no sound at all from the Mac even when I just want to play an audio file. There's a monitor knob on the front of the interface, turned all the way to the right (playback only). I have no idea what's wrong here :(
Should I hook the woofer and monitors up to the Main Outs of the audio interface?
Hi Dan, great video, but i have a problem. I use Garageband and there are no outputs in the smart controls to assign a channel to a U-Phoria UMC1820. I want to use this way to mix my already recorded songs. There must be a way around it? Any help would be greatly appreciated...Thanks, Jay.
If it’s a desktop version of GB, I don’t think you can do this unfortunately..
@@DanBakerMusic Ok thanks for the reply...
Thank you Dan!
I am trying to hook up all my Dad’s old gear (Alesis Quadraverb, Alesis Adat type 2 8-track, Type c aural exciter, peavy cs-800 amplifier, and some other dsp stuff all circa late 80s) to a Alesis studio 32 mixer and then to my Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 interface and my pc
This breakdown is EXACTLY what I needed and that diagram is a lifesaver
Great Vid. I have a similar setup. Mackie 1606VLZ into a Focusrite and D90, or Otari reel. Love the sound quality.
Sounds great!
Nice tutorial. Please what's the name of the audio interface used in this tutorial??
your voice is soo good and clear
Thank you!
Hi Dan. You are a really good comunicator! May i ask you a question? Can we use the daw effects with the groups inserts in a mixdown process?. Im studying to make this kind of process in an digital-analog hybrid setup, but i dont know if latency its going to be a problem. I think it could be a fun way to use plugins as compressors, eq... as if it were hardware gear. I hope that you will understand my question, English its not my first language. Thanks Dan, i apreciate a lot your channel.
He already put out a video about it!
@@henriqueulbrichoficial I've seen a video where Dan explains how to use plugins with a mixer using the aux sends. That video is, in fact, the reason im doing this question. I want to use this same technique but with the subgroup inserts "ala michael brauer" 😁. Thanks for your atention Henrique.
Yes that is an interesting one and different to my other method. I would think latency could be the deciding factor. My desk has slightly dodgy send and return jacks on my board, but it does involve ripping apart my current setup. If you use aux sends as I did on my other video this will be fine for things like reverb and delay but more of a problem with compressors unless you muted the channel and just listened to the aux send...
@@DanBakerMusic it works well and its really fun to mix this way but there is some latency issues. Its like playing a midi keyboard with some latency.
Thx for the vid. I lost you where you said you route back to the mixer and out to your master fader to monitors? Wouldn’t you want to plug monitors in the interface? Why run back to the mixer? Would that create a circle of signals to the monitors? In other words your original input on the mixer would want to run out to the monitors while also running to the interface?
There are many ways of doing it and yes: the computer interface could feed the monitors directly. Because I don’t run a patchbay, I just run the monitors from the mixer and plug everything else into that...
So you will still need an audio interface with the mixer?
Just wondering, where is the diagram for the wiring? And also, if I have a sound craft series 1624, we don't have any patch cable direct out channels, and just 4 stereo channels sends. What would be a suggested way to get the 24 channel board hooked up?
please i need to know how to change from insert to direct output on mixer ?
Nice video can i ask a question ive got my mixer running with ableton all channels work no problem but when i come to pan a channel i can hear it in the speaker i want to be in but when i record and play back i can hear it through both speakers again what am i doing wrong thanks
Dan, this is a wierd one to describe but I'll give it a shot. I love real string sounds..Not crazy about sample based ones. I'd love to record a series of individual violin tracks then output them via cable to a small speaker (via bluetooth to a Mobile Phone)...So the idea is you now have these 4 or 5 violin tracks outputting indvidually in unison but to 5 speakers in a room. Then I want to mic that output so that I am effectively recording a naturally sounding 5 piece violin set up which now sounds alot like real strings! Thats the Theory anyhow..Any chance you could put together a video of this..I'd be amazed to see this 'Strings machine' work!!
Hi, I think most serious composers agree with you on not being keen on sample based STRINGS, but those with a limited budget go about this process differently. They compose, using their chosen DAW, with VST Strings and then hire a violinist (or quintet) to record to the track. They only hear through headphones. This then makes the Sample strings sound so much better. This also means you can use any musicians in the world. Look up Christian Henson whose company (Spitfire Audio) create great VSTs and tell you how they compose and record, including the likes of Hans Zimmer. The also produce vsts under LABS which are free. Look up Christian on RUclips.
Your idea I find objectionable for my ears. I don't think you need to record a mix of 4/5 strings through a speaker to make it sound authentic. Two strings often become a problem (intonation) but anything over two should be good. Maybe I don't understand your idea, but I would like to be proved wrong. We are all capable of learning. Hope this helps.
You said Apollo has much much better pre amps? Can u make a vid on that.
Hi, thanks for this great video, just what i was looking for. I have 2 questions:
-In the diagram at the end, you list 10 inputs to DAW. How do those 10 inputs fit through the 8 outputs back to rhe desk? Are some combined to one track, do you not use all 10 at once, or have i misinderstood something?
-Do you have feedback issues when recording a live mix of your project to the DAW? Can that only be done on tape?
Thanks, i hope i 'm making sense
The ten inputs to DAW are the eight from the desk and two direct mic inputs on the front of the interface..
Feedback wise, as long as you mute the computer channel while recording, you’ll get no feedback.
Hi, what make and model is the mounted microphone?.
Great video .
✌️ ☮️ ❤
Thanks! The mounted mic is an AKG C414 XLii
Just for info, the mic lying on the desk is an sE 3300
@DanBakerMusic thanks for the reply..
✌️
I had two of those spirit studios but had to sell as both had unfixable issues with channels dropping out, crackling, etc was so frustrating as they sound great.
The dropouts can almost always be attributed to the insert points on each channel-I soldered across the ones in my desk as I don’t use effects on the inserts. Mine is starting to crackle a little, but that is more likely than not to be the power supply. I’ll have to get that sorted out...
I just don't have the money for a multi-input audio interface. I found a Mackie onyx 1220 12 channel mixer for $50 which I'm currently using as my "hub" so I don't have to plug in and out instruments every time and set their gain. Really speeds up my workflow and it also has DB25 outputs which I can then use to do individual out on the 12 channels if I happen to ever get a better audio interface.
subscribed! good stuff. was trying to figure out what consoles can be used with a DAW... still not sure which ones can but im learning
Obviously very late on this vid, but can I simply use a Liquid Safire as an expanded output (adat), sending DAW tracks directly to the board's inputs and skip the firewire connection? I just want to mix with the board, not use it to track. So would this work: Interface out (adat) -> Liquid Safire outs -> board ins -> -> Stereo out final mix back to DAW through Interface? Hope that question makes sense.
One has to set the sample rate on the Safire via software, but if you’re happy with 44.1kHz, you’ll be good to go with no problems. You can clock the Safire either via ADAT or via BNC word clock, but I can’t remember off hand what it defaults to if it’s the slave...
@@DanBakerMusic Thank you!
I’m having so much trouble trying to set this up, I have two 8x8 plus spdif working as a 16x16 though a desk and the spdif as my monitor out. It’s a real pain in my ass atm, using direct ins and outs on desk. Want to record through desk then send recording back through desk and back to interface 16x16 [my bus isn’t working properly on desk]. Have had a major issue Figur the ins and outs of the daw plus interface mixer, including hours trying to get a sound out, things not working properly, earth loops and latency issues trying to lay a new track on a daw sent prerecorded track. It’s doing my head in. Presonus fire studio/ universal Control/ Logic Pro x nightmare. I’ve spent a good month fucking with it already
hey i really could use some help. I’m using pro tools ultimate and a zedi10 hybrid mixer. Everything works fine i can hear myself through headphones while recording but after i record and go to play back my audio i can’t hear the playback through my headphones. i’m guessing it’s my I/o settings. any help would be greatly appreciated
Is it possible to multitrack from an analog mixer? Why those USB B ports they usually have?
Not usually. A USB usually allows a two track feed only.
Got a Amek Tac bullet console desk 1980 and UAD Apollo twin duo 2 as well but not another interface like your Focusrite Sapphire FireWire adat out option as what you have. Do I need another interface to make this work… I have a lot of synths that need to be connected. Can I just connect to my analog mixer console (Tac Bullet) thru to inputs on the Apollo twin and hook all keyboards and synths to the mixer?
You could use an analog desk to mix the keyboards together and then into line inputs of the UAD, but the Focusrite Safire does give you a little more flexibility, especially if you’re using multi mics on drums or similar. To be honest, the Behringer 8 way mic to ADAT are worth a look, especially if you just want to experiment..
@@DanBakerMusic I got a motu 828 mk3hybrid to slave to the UAD Apollo twin duo mk2 via the Amek tac bullet console …this gonna work!? lol thanks for the reply🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Dan I love your vedios and have question to ask? I hv a soundcraft series Five 48 mixer and two 8 channels presonus interfaces. Now i want to get 16 inputs to my DAW and 16 returns from DAW for optional analog mixing. Is it possible or give me some advice to go through pse. Your diagram shows me 8 inputs going through buss outs to the interface. The issue is busses.......😢😢😢
Hi there-your desk has direct outputs fro, each channel, so you could use 1-16 as your direct to DAW and 17-32 as your 16 returns….
is that microphone the se 2200 a large diaphram condenser? because i got that one for music recording but i wasnt sure if its outdated since its from 2006?
I’ve got the se 3300, but yes, these and the 2200 are large diaphragm condensers. They’re extremely good, and certainly not outdated!
@@DanBakerMusic thanks for the feedback and quick response. I think mine wasn’t working because of the xlr cable so I gotta switch that out.
Are the send and return channels used before going into the pc, or are they used when the audio comes back from the pc to the desk?
If you are wanting to use it for mixing after tracking you have to redo all of your routing right? If you want to record from the interface outputs into the mixer and then from the mixer back into separate daw tracks?
Routing does become an issue for sure, and then only practical solution is to buy a Bantam patch bay. Expensive but highly flexible!
Hello Dan. Thanks a lot for this super video. Do you think it's possible to do the same with a Creamware A16 Ultra instead of a focustire saffire? I'm a very very beginner. Maybe this is a stupid question... sorry :)
Not a stupid question at all: your Creamware A16 will do twice the number of channels as my Focusrite saffire. You just need shares in a jack plug manufacturer! All the best to you…Dan
@@DanBakerMusic Thanks Dan. I'm french and my english is not so good. What do you mean by "shares in a jack plug"?
I liked the video because I'm wondering how I'm gonna record the next session with an analog mixer and a multitrack audio interface plugged in the PC.
If I understand your setup correctly, the recorded track from the performer goes from the instrument to the mixer channel, the mixer bus, the audio interface to the DAW and then back to the audio interface and to the mixer and to the monitor for the performer to hear it. I did this and we experienced a lot of lag between the playing and the (not so direct) monitor.
Am I missing something?
I was also wondering about latency issues
will this analogue mixer work at all with garageband DAW on my Macbook pro computer with my midi keyboard with my midi UM one USB Midi Interface for the purpose of recording different piano and different software instrument Midi sounds ? or not ?
I’m not sure if you mean to run different piano sounds through the desk onto GarageBand?
Don’t it automatically come back from computer to hardware with same in cord or no ?
Is firewire still an option if it is no longer supported on my computer’s software? Am I still able to use the liquid Safire?
I had a converter to run my Safire with the iMac which has thunderbolt (USB C) and it was fine with Catalina, but I’m not sure more recent OS supports it…
Hey. I have a problem. Everything sound right both on mixer headphones and on the computer/apollo. My problem is when I record in studio one or adacity, the left and right side are flipped in the recording and in the daw, so the sound comes out wrong in the daw 🤔 what can cause this. I see you also have the apollo. Mine is apollo twin solo and my mixer is Yamaha mg10xuf
Never mind. I run it on the apollo as an anolog signal and flipped the cables. From left to right, now for some reason it's working I think 😂🤔
When I play back my recordings on my Behringer 4 input interface it is fine until the end of the recording when I get a bad feedback through my sound system. I am using Reaper. I know it is because the mics are live. How can I stop this??
Hi Gordon, it sounds like you have “auto-input monitoring” on. This may be settable in Reaper, or with the software that came with the audio interface.
Could you have a cheap DAW such as audacity but a really good mixer with eq compressor and all otherer things etc, and make up for the DAW and be really good?
That’s a good point and yes I think you could do that. One could think of Audacity as the tape recorder..
@@DanBakerMusic what mixers would you recommend for that where it has effects compressor, eq, etc. And phantom power for microphones so strictly for "recording vocals"
Hi - I'm looking to purchase a cheap studio mixer for use in Garageband to record our band practices. I've used an Alesis Multimix, but I can only control 2 separate channels. I need to control at least 6 'instruments' separately. Can anyone tell me which mixer I should purchase? I don't care if it's older tech - this is for a really simple recordings. Cost is a major issue.
Rich-if you’re in the UK, and can collect this mixer, then it’s yours. I’m in Blandford, Dorset
nope - I'm in the US. Just looking for info.
please, I want to ask. if i have a personal monitor mixer behringer p16 and i have an analog mixer but i do not have a direct out . So what should I do ? i have only 2 aux
You could use the 2 aux sends for effects but really a multi channel analogue input interface is what you need..
@@DanBakerMusic why input interface ?
Hello Dan Thank You for this video. I'm hoping you can give me some advice. I want to run live sound with analogue mixer and be able to use some digital plug ins I'm using a Soundcraft 200 24x4 and wondering if i can use the individual channels inserts
The channel inserts are perfect for this, though you’ll have to have many sends and returns into the computer on your audio interface. It’s a good way to combine the old (cool) and the new (convenient)..
@@DanBakerMusic Sorry I missed your reply I only have the mixer now Please suggest what kind of gear/software that i should be looking for just to get started
Hey, first of all thanks for those explanation. I got one question.
My setup studio is nearly the same : 1 analogue 16 voices mixer, his 8 first individual output goes into 8 input for my scarlett. (the analogue mixer is a mackie vlz1604 and got 4 bus). So now i'm wondering how get the external aux effect on the individual output. I only record the dry sound in my daw. Thank u
You’d need at least four outputs from the audio interface, so two outs would be the stereo mix to your desk, and the other two outputs would be effects only. You can then use the computer to deal with the effects, using the aux sends on the desk as outputs to the computer for effects. I’ve made a video about it here:
ruclips.net/video/NKF87Zb-gAs/видео.html
Great video as usual Dan ! I have always used analog mixing desk as far I remember. Starting with a little Yamaha 6 channel mixer, then Phonic 12 up to Mackie 1642 VLZ3 and now a gorgeous Mackie Onyx 24.4. I can't really work with the flexibility of an analog console. Cheers from Canada mate !
The connectors between desk and focusrite are jacks are they trs or normal jacks
TRS as all outputs of the desk and inputs of the Focusrite are balanced..
it seems that u r using two audio interface ...can we use it on Windows ..
I’m pretty sure every audio interface works with Windows/Mac/Linux...
@@DanBakerMusic what i mean is using multiple interface
Could i add a pultect eqp with this set
Awesome !! this just answered a big question for me.I am in the middle of completing my home studio, with my Vintage Soundcraft series 600 analoge soundboard as the centerpiece., Now i understand the best way to go with interface and computer. Rather than recording it all into a laptop..(which is how i thought i was going.) This seems much more flexible. SO it all runs out of the buss , much like the days of the old 2" tape. what audio interface is that ? what kind of computer are you running the interface into, and software is the computer running for all of this ? Awesome ! thanx man
The interface is a Safire Pro 56 and the computer is an iMac (2019). Thanks for watching and for your warm comments!
@@DanBakerMusic thanx Dan, does the imac need additional software to run with the interface?
Another informative video Dan. I am trying to connect my condenser mic to a Zoom Mrs 1608;hard
disc recorder into an alesis compresssor and then via an audio interface into an iPad running GarageBand. Any advice regarding settings for recording vocals? Thanks Ken
Hi Ken,
With regard to vocal settings for compression, a lot of it has to do with how loud the input signal will be through your signal chain. I tend to use a ratio of 5:1 and attack time of 50ms. Release depends on the material and threshold will depend on input level. As a rule I try not to compress more than around 10db at most...
@@DanBakerMusic Thanks for the info Dan I appreciate that
Hi Dan, I have been using a Scarlett 18i8 into Cubase 10.5 Pro for some time and recently acquired a Soundcraft Signature 12 (not MTK) to use in conjunction with the above rig as I am "old school" having played in bands in the 60s and love the warmth of analogue. My singer believes I have no real use for this set up as Cubase provides all I should need when it comes to post recording with the aid of analogue emulation plug-ins. I am interest in your take on this.
I think it’s more in how the overall result is obtained. Analogue desks also allow musical EQ without the fine control and bells and whistles that computer DAW affords. I’m a firm believer in thinking in analogue terms when using DAW
Fantastic as always
An unbalanced cable? Wouldn t a shieled TRS cable be better? Another thing is, going into a preamp? Ideally it should go into an Insert, no? Just asking ;)
Unbalanced cables are ok if short, and on my old desk, the inserts aren’t reliable enough!
What type & model mixing board are you using? Thank you.
It’s a Soundcraft Spirit Studio 16-8-2
HI Dan , thank you for the video and the diagram, i have a soundcraft spirit M8 which does not have bus channels, im planning to buy a motu 828mk2 to connect it to my macbook onto Logic pro 9 to record up to 8 channels at once ( probably more like 2 or 3 channels at a time as my studio is very small) and im wondering wether i can do it with my mixer. My plan is to also mix it all using the analogue desk and not the Logic one. Do i need bus channels to send the signal to achieve this ? Can i just connect each channel using the direct out into the input of the Motu ? Or Do i need to get another desK with bus channels?
Hi Claude, if your desk has direct outs then there’s no need for busses to feed signals into the computer. You would however need to repatch everything for playback as you have only 8 input channels on the desk. An interim solution would be to use the logic mixer to come back on a stereo channel aux return while you do all your recording, before patching everything for mix down. Another solution is to make a panel with switches that determine whether the inputs of the channels are mic or from the computer. Note that you can’t use the mic and line inputs at the same time on the Soundcraft. You wouldn’t want this anyway as you’ll get feedback via the DAW.
@@DanBakerMusic i Will try that for sure, thank you Dan. I actually have 4 more stereo channels available on the mixer, could I somehow send the 8 channels back into those 4 stereo channels?
Great video, I've got an zed 16fx, do I still need an audio interface or just plug in USB
You could use the USB, as the desk is analogue otherwise...
I’m trying to learn the connection routing with hardware
Neat gear dude, your coffee is getting cold .
How do you use the faders on the console to mix in logic?
I got a Tascam Model 12 that I was trying to use as a DAW controller but I have never been about to get it to work. It's sad to think I will have to buy another interface so as to interface with the Model 12. I have been to numerous tutorials and read the manual (which is close to useless). Maybe I need to call Tascam!
I used a Behringer 6-input mixer into my 2i2 for a few years until one side of the mixer gave out, at which point I bought an interface with 4 inputs. The mixer was only for the purpose of micing my drumkit with more than 2 mics. I experimented with using it's built in channel compressors and EQs instead of Waves plugins a couple of times, but it's vaunted "British eq" was too bland. The compressors were good, but I'd forget that bc the big shiny GUIs of the vst compressors I have were fun to look at. The mixer wasn't for "adding analog sound", only for making it possible to use multiple mics if needed, lol. But hmm. What you're doing here is really interesting to me. It seems (or my Texas hillbilly brain failed to catch it LOL) that which mixer you're using for your purposes isn't mentioned? But I must suppose it's something on the higher end. Would the used Mackie (circa late 90s) "recording" mixer that's been rotting in the local music store be "good enough"; it's got I think 16 mic inputs and is more than plenty of mixer for any purpose I would ever have, and it can be had for quite cheap, 350 USD. It's in good shape, not caked in dust, no tarantulas living in it, etc. Or would I need to get something fancier do you think. Lol, thx. Good post.
The Mackie stuff from the 90s is U.S. manufacture, and extremely good, better really than the Soundcraft Spirit Studio that I used here. Mackie went downhill when manufacturing went out to the Far East...
Thanks so much for this video!
Great video Dan. Can you please do a video on the Zoom L-12 or L-20 mixer and interface?
Hi Francis-I don’t have one of those but if I know someone who can lend me one I will sure do. From the spec, it looks very good!
My client has L-12. It is a rather simple machine. If You want raw mixing power, without flashy lights (it has plenty of them) and You are experiencednwith a field recorders, You'll love that. I'm using it with two laws and one condenser as a backup. It's also captires sound from pc usb and a phone with intro music.
@@DanBakerMusic No worries Dan. I'm very much temped by having a mixer, combined to DAW, and be able to record a drum live. Your setting is so good, and I love it. You once made a video on how to set up connections when using a DAW and a mixer. Was really interesting to see.
So can I use one of these with FL to replace the one on there and is it better to have a mixing desc over FL studio version
Well an analogue mixer does deal with summing in a more natural way than digital systems, but these are subtle differences for the most part...
Does it improve the sound quality?
Not really. It does round the edges off some digital recordings though...
Hey Dan, are you using TS or TRS jack plugs? I just bought a Soundcraft Studio 24 from the same time period as your 16. I found your channel the other day after searching the Spirit console. I literally said after I watched your analog video, hmmm, I wish he did a video on how he is connecting everything together. today in my YT feed it appeared. Keep going on this subject there seems to be a lot of interest. My console is a beast and the owner before me had a custom power supply adapted to the board I heard there were a lot of issues with the original power supplies, the new power supply weighs over 60 pounds and is unstoppable. Do you think you could do a video on how you route outboard effects through the aux sends and remix them going back into the box?
Hi there-you can use either TRS or TS. The desk has balanced inputs and buss outputs, so TRS would be the ultimate thing to use over TS. Yes: the original PSU can be an issue, but mine seems ok at the moment at least! I’ve done videos on outboard gear too, so perhaps that would help.
Here’s a video I made about my studio..
ruclips.net/video/vDt2KGgRuVs/видео.html
thanks for the video.