Multiple synths -> DAW?

[Yoozer]

The mixer is useful if you don't want to buy an audio interface with as many inputs as you have synths. Synth parts simply remain in MIDI until you record them.

Whether it's driven by MIDI > into mixer > into monitor or audio track > mixer > into monitor does not matter that much.

Right?

ADAT is also nice, but of course, you have to buy more of those converters if you have more synths.

[Foxis]

Originally Posted by Yoozer

Whether it's driven by MIDI > into mixer > into monitor or audio track > mixer > into monitor does not matter that much.

Right?

ADAT is also nice, but of course, you have to buy more of those converters if you have more synths.

Well, the main difference between mixed externally / internally before recording is effects processing. If it all remains OTB until recording I won't be able to add ITB effects individually (obviously). Then I will have to rely more on external effects and will effectively move the entire mixing process OTB.
Right?

I guess a balance is to be preferred. An interface with enough inputs for the external gear of the typical track and a patch bay between the interface and the synths..?

How do you do it, if you don't mind me asking?

[Yoozer]

First I had a soundcard (Hoontech DSP-2000 C) with 8 mono inputs, but it was a pain to get working properly and it didn't have ADAT.

Then I got an E-mu 1212m and I used Yamaha 01V as a big ADAT converter. Worked pretty well.

Then I thought - I need more inputs, so I got a Mackie 24.4, but total recall and the motor faders and the built-in FX on the 01V were very nice, so I got rid of the 24.4 again. Great eye-candy, wouldn't mind having it instead of the MG I have now, even though the mixer's not exactly high-class (if you consider discretely built ones).

Then I got rid of the 01V, because Mackie released the Onyx 1620 which promised me 16 inputs and 2 outs, but that wasn't so great either; the drivers weren't updated for years, and I wanted to upgrade to Vista (and later Windows 7). A week or two after I sold it they finally showed up with updated drivers.

I got an RME Fireface 800, but that wouldn't play nicely with Windows 7 either - even though I chose the correct brand of motherboard with a TI chipset. Scrapped that. Great software though, and it was rock-solid in Windows XP.

Eventually I settled on a Yamaha MG166cx with USB, but the latency for that one was unbearable; it didn't come with dedicated ASIO drivers and ASIO4ALL was not of much use. It still works nicely as an analog mixer with pretty decent effects, which was also a motivation to buy the Onyx.

The E-mu 1212m (which was a constant factor for 6 years) was eventually retired (wouldn't work in Windows 7) in favor of a Roland Quad-Capture (2 analog in, 2 digital in, 2 analog out, 2 digital out) which I still have to integrate in the setup, but I think I'm just going to use the Yamaha as front-end mixer.

Out of all pieces I'd say the 1212m was the most reliable for me; never failed me.

The Quad Capture is really nice though, and once you've ironed out some stupid issues with DPCLatency, performance is satisfactory.

Nowadays I'm using far more software as back then while the hardware list has gone down (in favor of quality over quantity), so I don't mind fewer inputs; I'll drag out the hardware when necessary and record it just there and then.

[Pro5]

I use an MR816 Firewire interface - 8 inputs, 1 I use for guitar, 1 for mic, the rest for synths. I rarely have more then 2/3 synths in situ at once so that's enough for me, some synths are mono anyway and those that are not can often benefit from being input in mono for your mix, unless they are relying on fancy panning/effects that are vital to the sound.

Before that I used a cheaper 2 input interface and a Yamaha MG submixer but i much prefer the one multi input interface route. And the Yamaha/Steinberg MR816 sounds great btw!

[Foxis]

Thanks for your input!

After reading it and thinking some more I am definitely leaning towards a multi input interface like the Ensemble. It should handle all the inputs I need for a typical track and if I somehow end up with more synths than it can handle a patch bay will solve that problem nicely.

Again, thank you!

[the donal]

Personally, I prefer to have as many audio ins to the pc as possible and all my synths connected. The less faffing I need to do to get sounds in, the better. If you can't manage that, invest in a patch bay- it'll really help.

If you have all synths connected via audio and midi, you can set a track up nicely before tracking it into your DAW. If you are relying on multi-timbral synths, you may still need to do a fair bit of tracking to get the best mix possible, but at least you'll minimise plugging/unplugging things. That kind of activity frankly puts me off doing things. Not laziness- impatience.

[tehlord]

The Steinberg MR816X's are superb interfaces for the money. You can also add something like a Behringer ADA8000 which connects digitally to give you an extra 8 channels of input. It's one of Behringers better products. You'll then have 16 mono inputs which should be plenty to get you started.

One thing you can do is keep the midi channels in your DAW 'live' even after you've printed to audio, that way you can still go back and make tweaks if you really need to.

You should be able to record most, if not all of those 16 channels at once if you really wanted to, although in practise I can't see the need to do it that way.

[Mefistophelees]

I use a mixer with built in audio interface. Multichannel in is fairly common, multichannel (more than 2) out costs more.

I have a Mackie Onyx 1640i, it's a full analogue desk with 16 ins and outs over firewire. I can record a whole bunch of synths at once to Logic. When I go to mix down I can pipe it all back through the mixer for mixing and EQ.

I have a bunch of cables plugged in to the back of it running to different synths. I can change them around at the synth end if I need to but some are pretty much permanently in specific synths. I don't generally need to touch the mixer cables unless I'm plugging in an insert cable or Mic.