groovizm's forum posts 3

I know what mixers you mean. A mixer that is also a multichannel audio interface and a multitrackrecorder would keep all options open and is less messy ( less cables I mean ) than a separate interface.

But you also rightly pointed out I am contradicting myself with the dawless recording into a daw thing…

I’ll play around with that a bit more to see if it is really what I want.

If I go on the hunt for a mixer I’ll keep your comments in mind. They’re much appreciated!

Wow, thanks jimmarchi1 for your input.
To answer your question:

I've been making synthesizer music ( Global Communication, FSOL, The Bionaut, not half as good, but you get the point...) ) as a hobby since the nineties. I sold all hardware at some point because in the box (logic, ableton) seemed a very sensible and cheap solution, giving me maximum options.

But somehow I just did not have any fun making music this way, so I bought a elektron digitakt last year, just to see what 'dawless' was all about and I must say I'm having a lot of fun with it. But: I also want to use the digitakt to control some other stuff, like a bass station, 01w, nordlead, JV1080... and now suddenly I need a mixer...because I could just plug everything into a multi channel audio interface, but I hate having to turn on the PC just for playing my hardware. Also, I enjoy the control a desk gives me. ( I used to do sound for a small venue. )

But just recording the main mix is a bit too limiting; I would like to be able to record the synthesizers to different tracks simultaneously, so I can fix some mistakes, like balancing, eq, may be add some effects. That's why I was thinking I need direct outs. I want them to be post fader, so I can get balance and eq (almost?) right while recording in the daw.

Hope this all makes sense?

I'm confused: looking at different small (16 channel) mixers I find that many have there direct outs before the EQ. But some like the Soundcraft 16FX have the Direct outs post EQ and even switchable pre/post fader.

Would I be correct in stating that in a live situation it would be preferable to have the direct outs pre-eq and the in the studio you'd rather have the post-eq or even post fader?

Anyone using a mixer with post EQ direct outs for recording synth jams?

Any tips what to look out for?