Microphones, audio interfaces and mixers

[Dave2002]

I recently bought Logic Pro X to make recording easier. I also have a number of other recording and mixing tools.

In the past, I saw that people bought hardware audio interfaces to power and accept inputs from microphones, and hardware mixing desks to combine inputs and apply effects before sending the resulting signals to a recording device, having been mixed down.

Now that software can do so much, is there really any need for new external hardware at all? Maybe a few extra ounces of quality can be squeezed out with better microphones, better interfaces etc., but overall is it really sensible, unless of course one is expecting to produce the next best seller and make a killling. In my case that is highly unlikely.

My microphone is a Zoom h2n, which is adequate for the time being.

[MrGongGong]

Now that software can do so much, is there really any need for new external hardware at all? .

The short answer

YES

the long answer

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[Dave2002]

The short answer

YES

the long answer

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I suspected you'd write something like that.

Re external hardware - manual or automated? Probably depends on venue and other factors, and the scale of the project etc.

[MrGongGong]

I suspected you'd write something like that.

Re external hardware - manual or automated? Probably depends on venue and other factors, and the scale of the project etc.

Not sure what you mean by "manual / automated"

BUT don't in any circumstances (and even though lots of folks say otherwise) rely on wifi controlled mixing

[MrGongGong]

One of these (and avoid the "B" ones or if you are flush get a RME / MOTU)

https://focusrite.com/en/usb-interfaces

will make a MASSIVE difference ... in imperial units? 1,000 tons or more

[Dave2002]

Not sure what you mean by "manual / automated"

BUT don't in any circumstances (and even though lots of folks say otherwise) rely on wifi controlled mixing

I just suspected that some mixing/effects desks, could be operated by some form of robotic control, which could be programmed. Not likely to be consumer kit, but maybe for very large halls. I have been to shows where clearly a human operator has been manipulating kit - though what these people actually do during shows I've never been quite sure. Maybe they just press buttons for pre-programmed effects, or maybe they really are doing slight, but hopefully useful, adjustments.

Interesting your comments re the Scarlett kit. I'm not quite sure why you are saying that, but I will nevertheless update my wish list to include some. I thought you were going to suggest something really esoteric and expensive - such as a 100 channel surround mixer for a stadium.

Thanks for the suggestions - much appreciated.

[MrGongGong]

Maybe they just press buttons for pre-programmed effects, or maybe they really are doing slight, but hopefully useful, adjustments.

Like this ?

I'm not quite sure why you are saying that

What ?

The Focusrite gear is very good value and quality.... the RME etc are much more expensive and better
other manufacturers are available who make things that look remarkably similar... some co-incidence ?

[Dave2002]

Like this ?

I guess you are referring to the 88 (probably) channel hardware with tone generators and amplifier/mixer.

Real-time performance by human operators with digital controls.

[MrGongGong]

I guess you are referring to the 88 (probably) channel hardware with tone generators and amplifier/mixer.

Real-time performance by human operators with digital controls.

It might be a 91 (or even more?) interface there

[Bryn]

It might be a 91 (or even more?) interface there

100 in Imperial measurent, or, indeed, Stuart and Sons down under.

[Dave2002]

Seems there have even been 108 channel models - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_%26_Sons

[Dave2002]

Re the Scarlett audio interfaces, I doubt that these would solve the biggest weakness in my "system" right now, which is that I can't really play some pieces well enough for it to make a difference which kit I use to record it. However, I am hopeful of improving in a fairly short time, so maybe there is point over a longer period. I think it's going to be a while before I can reasonably attempt complex multi-tracking, though I might manage simple - or even some somewhat less simple duets with myself fairly soon.

I notice that some Scarlett kit comes with software - versions of Protools and Ableton Live. Maybe those packages do make the hardware a lot more attractive as a proposition. I wonder if this is a good starting point - https://focusrite.com/en/usb-audio-i...tt-solo-studio. Would it be too limiting, so something more complex would be a better starting point?

[MrGongGong]

Re the Scarlett audio interfaces, I doubt that these would solve the biggest weakness in my "system" right now, which is that I can't really play some pieces well enough for it to make a difference which kit I use to record it. However, I am hopeful of improving in a fairly short time, so maybe there is point over a longer period. I think it's going to be a while before I can reasonably attempt complex multi-tracking, though I might manage simple - or even some somewhat less simple duets with myself fairly soon.

I notice that some Scarlett kit comes with software - versions of Protools and Ableton Live. Maybe those packages do make the hardware a lot more attractive as a proposition. I wonder if this is a good starting point - https://focusrite.com/en/usb-audio-i...tt-solo-studio. Would it be too limiting, so something more complex would be a better starting point?

For most of my travelling gigs (HA HA HA .... which have now all been postponed / cancelled) I use the 4i4 but that's mainly because i'm doing live processing on a couple of inputs and often need 4 channel outputs... i've been moving some things to 8 channels so was going to look at a new one in the next few months but sadly that's all on hold now (along with the trip to EMS in Stockholm to make a load of 8 channel versions of things for performance etc).

From what you seem to be doing the basic version would be fine.

[Dave2002]

For most of my travelling gigs (HA HA HA .... which have now all been postponed / cancelled) I use the 4i4 but that's mainly because i'm doing live processing on a couple of inputs and often need 4 channel outputs... i've been moving some things to 8 channels so was going to look at a new one in the next few months but sadly that's all on hold now (along with the trip to EMS in Stockholm to make a load of 8 channel versions of things for performance etc).

From what you seem to be doing the basic version would be fine.

What other kit do you use with the 4i4? Microphones - models? Other effects processors?

I'm guessing you use a slightly larger laptop than mine, though not necessarily a more powerful one. I can see that if I could re-arrange my living space I'd actually rather use a large desktop machie because of the screen size (possibly with one or two extra moitors) - but for mobile/portable operation that isn't possible.

Not sure that I'm sorry about your cancellations. Well - yes I'm sorry about the missed opportunitites, but on the other hand I think we all need to try to keep safe - and I hope we all make it. Loss of opportunity is one thing, but loss of life - or "simply" getting very ill for a while even if then recovering - is another ball game.

Thanks for the information - much appreciated.

[MrGongGong]

What other kit do you use with the 4i4? Microphones - models? Other effects processors?

I'm guessing you use a slightly larger laptop than mine, though not necessarily a more powerful one. I can see that if I could re-arrange my living space I'd actually rather use a large desktop machie because of the screen size (possibly with one or two extra moitors) - but for mobile/portable operation that isn't possible.

Not sure that I'm sorry about your cancellations. Well - yes I'm sorry about the missed opportunitites, but on the other hand I think we all need to try to keep safe - and I hope we all make it. Loss of opportunity is one thing, but loss of life - or "simply" getting very ill for a while even if then recovering - is another ball game.

Thanks for the information - much appreciated.

I used different things depending on what i'm doing

Microphones ... sometimes a C1000 for instruments or borrow AKG 414's or basic SM58/57 etc
Processing usually using audiomulch but sometimes ableton

15 inch macbook pro (with 2 screens at home) fairly old so not massively fast anymore but for live things keep a CPU load indicator on the screen

The problem with loss of "opportunity" is that it's often loss of "income".
But being well and safe is vital