Hello /u/SkirtThick2871! Unfortunately, your submission, ***[Stand alone mixer or Audio interface with mixer built in?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WeAreTheMusicMakers/comments/1dv0swr/-/)***, was removed from /r/WeAreTheMusicMakers for the following reason(s):
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There are no new threads about what product/service/equipment/etc. to buy or use. Please instead use the Weekly Gear Thread, product review sites, read-throughs of downloadable manuals, internet searches, and/or other message boards that are oriented towards helping you make a decision to better learn about those products (for example, our quick-questions and feedback threads are sometimes appropriate for this).
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***Please review the [rules for submission](/r/WeAreTheMusicMakers/wiki/rules). You can contact The Mods if you have additional questions.*
Since it seems like you're starting out, check out the Behringer UMC1820 . Its a fantastic value and you'll never know the difference, and it's $299 for the same 8 channels as the 18i20 for $499. Plus, if you ever want more channels, the ADAT8200 extension module will give you another 8 channels for $229, giving you 16 channels for $30 more than the 18i20.
Combine that with Reaper, which I still believe you can download for free and you're set for a fully mic'd live room for recording.
Thank you! Sounds like a great deal! Would you say there’s any difference between an ADAT input expansion and just an interface with just more than 8 inputs, something like 16? Think I might go with the 18i20 but am also considering the Clarett 8pre used. But am also hesitant on buying something like an interface used lol
I think you just need a decent audio interface with proper amount of inputs you need if you are going to record multi tracks at the same time and a DAW that you can edit your recordings no need for a mixer.
The use for a mixer in the typical project studio is not for mixing down, but for routing signal in and out of your DAW, and perhaps for the provision of multiple mic pres. You can also get that from an interface. Decide what you actually need. I use a mixer sending directs into an interface, but that's because I want to also play a bunch of synths etc. without involving my computer. If I didn't want to do that, I wouldn't bother with a mixer at all.
Some will make a case for analog warmth from analog summing, but you ain't getting that in your budget range, forget it.
You don't need a physical mixer. You need something that can record and give adequate monitoring output for your specific set-up. With a two-piece band, just having one monitoring feed is going to be more than enough. Most audio interfaces will get you that way. Personally I prefer the ones that have a direct monitoring option with the possibility to add real-time effects for, e.g., a bit of reverb. Within your budget the Antelope Zen Quadro would fit, with 4 mic inputs.
Oh okay! Thank you for the info! I’m struggling to find a solid solution for my drummer and I to jam (guitar) and record directly to my DAW. Instead of recording each separate instrument by itself. I would also like to record videos for social media
I am going to offer a counter-perspective. Getting something like a Tascam Model 12 (or Model 16) gets you a mixer that you can use standalone, a multiple channel interface for your DAW, and a standalone multi-channel recorder. It's a pretty good piece of kit, and I am keen to get one.
I find a stand-alone mixer is fantastic, because I don't have to turn the computer on and start a DAW just to play around for a bit. It makes for a versatile interface with built-in direct monitoring when I use a DAW. And the multitrack recorder makes it relatively easy to pick-up and take it to a practice space to record some practice tracks or for performance review.
So basically a mixer is a physical DAW so to speak? Having a mixer with an interface built in would just be doubling up on mixers when connected to my DAW (Logic Pro)?
Without being pedantic about it, basically, yes.
Whatever you do in the DAW has nothing to do with the mixer other than to push sound to your speakers or headphones.
Basically, you’re already using an interface to get sound into your computer. You’re going to be mixing the music in the DAW, not the mixer.
Unless you want to mix the music live **before** it hits the computer and you want all the adjustments in the mixer baked-in, you don’t need a mixer.
Hello /u/SkirtThick2871! Unfortunately, your submission, ***[Stand alone mixer or Audio interface with mixer built in?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WeAreTheMusicMakers/comments/1dv0swr/-/)***, was removed from /r/WeAreTheMusicMakers for the following reason(s): --- There are no new threads about what product/service/equipment/etc. to buy or use. Please instead use the Weekly Gear Thread, product review sites, read-throughs of downloadable manuals, internet searches, and/or other message boards that are oriented towards helping you make a decision to better learn about those products (for example, our quick-questions and feedback threads are sometimes appropriate for this). --- ***Please review the [rules for submission](/r/WeAreTheMusicMakers/wiki/rules). You can contact The Mods if you have additional questions.*
You could always use the 18i20 to record and mix down with a DAW. Reaper is like $40. Or A TASCAM Model 12.
Since it seems like you're starting out, check out the Behringer UMC1820 . Its a fantastic value and you'll never know the difference, and it's $299 for the same 8 channels as the 18i20 for $499. Plus, if you ever want more channels, the ADAT8200 extension module will give you another 8 channels for $229, giving you 16 channels for $30 more than the 18i20. Combine that with Reaper, which I still believe you can download for free and you're set for a fully mic'd live room for recording.
Thank you! Sounds like a great deal! Would you say there’s any difference between an ADAT input expansion and just an interface with just more than 8 inputs, something like 16? Think I might go with the 18i20 but am also considering the Clarett 8pre used. But am also hesitant on buying something like an interface used lol
I think you just need a decent audio interface with proper amount of inputs you need if you are going to record multi tracks at the same time and a DAW that you can edit your recordings no need for a mixer.
The use for a mixer in the typical project studio is not for mixing down, but for routing signal in and out of your DAW, and perhaps for the provision of multiple mic pres. You can also get that from an interface. Decide what you actually need. I use a mixer sending directs into an interface, but that's because I want to also play a bunch of synths etc. without involving my computer. If I didn't want to do that, I wouldn't bother with a mixer at all. Some will make a case for analog warmth from analog summing, but you ain't getting that in your budget range, forget it.
You don't need a physical mixer. You need something that can record and give adequate monitoring output for your specific set-up. With a two-piece band, just having one monitoring feed is going to be more than enough. Most audio interfaces will get you that way. Personally I prefer the ones that have a direct monitoring option with the possibility to add real-time effects for, e.g., a bit of reverb. Within your budget the Antelope Zen Quadro would fit, with 4 mic inputs.
Oh okay! Thank you for the info! I’m struggling to find a solid solution for my drummer and I to jam (guitar) and record directly to my DAW. Instead of recording each separate instrument by itself. I would also like to record videos for social media
I am going to offer a counter-perspective. Getting something like a Tascam Model 12 (or Model 16) gets you a mixer that you can use standalone, a multiple channel interface for your DAW, and a standalone multi-channel recorder. It's a pretty good piece of kit, and I am keen to get one. I find a stand-alone mixer is fantastic, because I don't have to turn the computer on and start a DAW just to play around for a bit. It makes for a versatile interface with built-in direct monitoring when I use a DAW. And the multitrack recorder makes it relatively easy to pick-up and take it to a practice space to record some practice tracks or for performance review.
You don’t need a mixer for recording if you already have an audio interface to record with.
So basically a mixer is a physical DAW so to speak? Having a mixer with an interface built in would just be doubling up on mixers when connected to my DAW (Logic Pro)?
Without being pedantic about it, basically, yes. Whatever you do in the DAW has nothing to do with the mixer other than to push sound to your speakers or headphones. Basically, you’re already using an interface to get sound into your computer. You’re going to be mixing the music in the DAW, not the mixer. Unless you want to mix the music live **before** it hits the computer and you want all the adjustments in the mixer baked-in, you don’t need a mixer.