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Old 12-14-2014, 04:44 AM   #1
Kurt Max
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Default USB mixers with more than 2 record channels?

I'm looking to purchase a USB mixer-interface that gives more than 2 channels into REAPER? I may have a group of people playing together and I'd like to mix them individually in post. What options do I have? I currently use PC Windows 7 desktop 64 bit. Maybe I have to install firewire :-/
I am a newbie so I apologize if this has been covered. I can't find it on the forum.
TIA.
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Old 12-14-2014, 04:53 AM   #2
duffman
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Allen & Heath MixWiz4 with USB option installed.
About $1200.00 U.S.street.
Can record all 16 channels at once.
But it only returns a stereo pair/2 channels.
But you can route the return pair to Main L&R out,
Main alternate out A&B, and the mono channel.
If you make your own "direct out" patch cables you can
use the main out stereo inserts as well.

I did that and patched the main inserts back into ST1 stereo pair. This was I can also send the returning stereo signals out via the AUX channels.

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Old 12-14-2014, 07:04 AM   #3
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As you've discovered, most USB mixers send the stereo mix to the USB bus. Presonus sells some mixers that can record multi-channel.


For more choices (and lower cost) look for an audio interface instead of a mixer. If you need the mixer for monitoring or because you playing live, you can get mic splitters to run both at the same time and/or use some extra mics for recording-only.
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Old 12-14-2014, 08:54 AM   #4
ambiguation
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Any of the mixers with groups and/or an ALT 3/4 bus (I know Behringer make some) should work for this, but I think Doug's answer is probably going to get you what you need with less messing about and less cost. You can get interfaces that can record 4 (or more) tracks at a time for well under $500.

I can personally recommend Focusrite (great preamps) and Lexicon for such purposes.
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Old 12-16-2014, 02:21 AM   #5
Kurt Max
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Quote:
Originally Posted by duffman View Post
Allen & Heath MixWiz4 with USB option installed.
About $1200.00 U.S.street.
Can record all 16 channels at once.
But it only returns a stereo pair/2 channels.
I am dead against having only 2 channels to mix with in post. That is the whole issue here for me. But thanks.
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Old 12-16-2014, 03:05 AM   #6
Kurt Max
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ambiguation View Post
You can get interfaces that can record 4 (or more) tracks at a time for well under $500.

I can personally recommend Focusrite (great preamps) and Lexicon for such purposes.
Thanks everybody. Yes, I will either try to install firewire or get an interface like mentioned above. It's frustrating. Years ago I used to have fireware with a 16 channel Alesis Multimix and it was an interface and mixer in one with no problem.
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Old 12-16-2014, 04:31 AM   #7
g8torcliff
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Hmmm..I thought the USB 3.0 mixers would do more channels than two. Am I mistaken? Like, for example, the Alesis Multimix 8 USB. Doesn't that do 8 channels at once?

I don't really know. I have Multimix 8 Firewire which they no longer make. I thought when they dumped that and went with only the USB mixers they would work okay as they were USB 3.0 - USB 2.0 was the problem. If I'm wrong I'm glad I never went with the USB.




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Old 12-16-2014, 06:26 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DVDdoug View Post
As you've discovered, most USB mixers send the stereo mix to the USB bus. Presonus sells some mixers that can record multi-channel.


For more choices (and lower cost) look for an audio interface instead of a mixer. If you need the mixer for monitoring or because you playing live, you can get mic splitters to run both at the same time and/or use some extra mics for recording-only.
I use a cheap 16 channel interface, Tascam US-1641 comparable to the US-1800, to capture live bands. I have an ART 8 channel mic splitter that sends the transformer split to a regular mixer. I'm able to keep my buffer large since I don't have to worry with the effects of latency. It's good bang for the buck, especially if you already have some sort of mixer.
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Old 12-16-2014, 09:43 PM   #9
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This may interest you
http://www.smproaudio.com/index.php/...al-mixers/umix
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Old 12-16-2014, 10:04 PM   #10
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That is very very cool stuff!!
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