To Use A Mixer Or Not?

[bc05]

Hey guys

Is a MIXER definitely necessary to make Pro Recordings?

I ask because i actually do my 'MIXING' within the DAW and use the 'MIXER' only for it's headphone monitoring facility - but in doing so probably adding noise and compromising my sound.

If I record Vocals directly into the soundcard i get latency issues that really are inexcusable when recording a singer.

I am considering upping the ante with an RME SOUNDCARD SETUP and would welcome any advice. Will it provide zero latency monitoring and headphone capabilities in addition to its supposedly STELLAR conversion?

Any advice, particularly from those with an RME driven studio, would be welcome!

[Sickle]

This thread needs to be moved to 'Hardware'. You'll probably get a quicker answer once that's done. RME's an industry leader, AFAIK.

Good luck,
D

[kilroy]

Is a MIXER definitely necessary to make Pro Recordings?

I suppose that would depend on who you talk to. Personally, I would never say that you absolutely need a desk, or alot of other hardware, to make good recordings. That being said I do my tracking through a heavily modified 32 channel SoundCraft Ghost to iZ Technology Radar24 recorders, and patch in various tube or solid state preamps, EQs and compressors as I see fit. I transfer the Radar tracks out to a workstation for editing and mixing. I have a fairly significant Creamware Scope platform for summing audio, but I will often route tracks back out to the desk for some good old hands on mixing, or to conveniently access outboard processing, so in this respect mixing is a hybrid analog/digital affair. Computers are very good at handling automation chores, so if something calls for really dramatic changes in the midst of a song I set those moves up for the computer to look after.

This is just one man's preference, though. It works well for me, I'm comfortable and efficient with it, there's lots of creative options available, and I'm extremely pleased with the sound.

[C00kie]

RME isn't the only manufacturer that offers zero-latency monitoring. Each and EVERY card that complies to the Asio 2 standards will do that.

Also RME has stellar AD/DA converters indeed, but you need VERY sensitive ears to notice the difference with one of only a fraction of RME's price.

A mixer is a handy tool, even in a digital studio. But a lot of soundcards these days offer mic preamps and headphone outs.