Choosing a mixer and/or audio interface

[Azura]

Due to a flooding in my studio (I had water above my knees ), I lost many pieces of equipment. Now that the reconstruction of the walls and floors is almost completed, I am at the point where I must choose the new equipment.
Partial list of what I lost:
Computer
Soundcard: M-Audio Audiophile 2496
Mixer: Behringer MX1604A
Mic Preamp: M-Audio AudioBuddy
Di/Preamp: Behringer ADI21
Mixer: Boss BX-60
Compressor: Behringer Composer Pro MDX2200
Piano: Korg C25
Guitar amplifier

Some items that are intact:
Guitar fx processor: Boss GX-700
FX processor: Alesis Nanoverb
Synth: Roland JV-1080, Casio VZ-8M
Furman patchbay
Microphones, guitars
Active studio monitors


I must add that this is a personal amateur studio. I play guitar, bass, keyboard. I will eventually buy an electronic drum kit. My wife sings. It won’t be used to record bands.

The first decision I have to make is about the audio interface. I’ve read many reviews and I was thinking about the Steinberg UR22 or the Behringer UMC202HD or UMC204HD.

Then I consider the mixer. I really liked the MX1604A I had before, and I found that a good replacement would be the Behringer X1622USB or X1222USB.

Now (finally!) my question: If I go for the X1622USB mixer, would I still need an audio interface? I mean, I know that the mixer can act as an audio interface, but how does it compare against the dedicated audio interfaces I mentioned before? Are the drivers stable? Can I record at 24 bit? Latency?

To help you answer my questions, here is one thing I’d like to achieve: record my electric guitar, so that I can monitor (with zero latency) its sound processed by the Boss GX-700, while the unprocessed sound is recorded – I would use software amp simulators after that. All of this while being able to hear the other tracks in my DAW of course.

Same thing with microphone recording: unprocessed signal -> DAW, processed signal (Nanoverb or the mixer internal fx) -> headphones.

So, I’d appreciate very much some comments about this.

Thank you in advance and have a nice day.

Marc

[Mister Natural]

recently upgraded my interface with very similar questions and set-up as yours above. I went with one of these :
https://reverb.com/item/1211876-tascam- ... ro%20Audio
just plug my mixer into it's line inputs - mics into it's amazing pre - and Bob's your uncle

peace

[lolilol1975]

Oh man, that sucks. :/

The Steinberg may go to 192 KHz, but it's pretty useless, because the audio performance of the card isn't good enough for this resolution.

Here is the loopback perf of the UR22 (Mk I), UR44, UR28M as measured with RMAA:
http://prosound.ixbt.com/hardsoft/stein ... 2444.shtml (average THD+noise and bad stereo crosstalk, if they didn't make a mistake)
http://prosound.ixbt.com/interfaces/ste ... 2444.shtml (noticeably better than the UR22)
http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/img/avw/d ... 4.png.html

Roland Duo Capture EX, Quad Capture
http://prosound.ixbt.com/hardsoft/rolan ... 2444.shtml
http://prosound.ixbt.com/hardsoft/rolan ... 2444.shtml

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, 2i4 (note that this is not the same site):
http://html.midifan.com/review/2i2/[MME ... 202448.htm
http://borisgermanov.blogspot.fr/2014/0 ... eport.html

M-audio M-Track: http://prosound.ixbt.com/hardsoft/m-aud ... 2444.shtml

Presonus Audiobox iTwo
http://www.ucanplay.org.uk/presonus-itw ... yzer-test/

Unfortunately I couldn't find measurement for the Behringer, apart from one from an Amazon customer that seems incorrect as the THD+Noise was very poor.

Based on this and very good user feedback, excellent drivers and latency, I would go for a Roland card (even second hand). Or a Scarlett 2i4.

As for using an entry level analog mixer as an audio interface, I would say forget it. You can't expect to get the same quality at this kind of price.
I think it's possible to do what you want since I suppose you could plug the BOSS in the outputs of the card.

[Azura]

Thank you both for your answers. You convinced me that I should get an audio interface AND a mixer. BTW, do you think that the audio interface inside the Behringer mixer (X1622USB) is inferior to the UMC202HD?

Thanks a lot!
Marc

[lolilol1975]

I certainly can't say for sure as I've never used any of these products. I can only say that given the price of the mixer, it's unlikely it will be of the same quality as the interface, which is mostly digital while the mixer is mostly analog.

But if I were you, I'd have a look at the Behringer X Air XR12 digital mixer. I expect entry level digital mixers to have much better sound quality than analog ones, and be more reliable as well because it doesn't have cheap mechanical faders and knobs. Sadly it can't do multitrack recording on the PC, only on a USB key, i.e it can't replace an audio interface, and you need a tablet.

[Azura]

Hi lolilo, it really makes sense what you said about the price. And I will for sure investigate the digital mixers with all their pros and cons.
That will give me a lot to think about during the revovations. BTW, a little advice: do not make the same mistake I did; if your studio is in your basement, try not to keep your equipment on the floor!

Thanks and have a nice day,
Marc