PA System and PC Recording. How can I make this work?

[Coldkilla]

My Dad just bought a new $2000 mixer for his sound company the other day and just gave us his old mixer. The mixer was all we needed to finally get a complete PA system. I also just purchased an X-Fi Pro Elite Soundcard that came with another component for plugging things into it.

X-Fi: http://www.creative.com/produc...08&product=14064&nav=1

Ramsa WR-S4416 Mixer Specs: http://www.warehousesound.com/ramwrs4m.htm

I don't know what exactly I would do to take all of the recorded channels and send it to my computer so I could edit each channel's volume after it's recorded.

I realize that there is an editing program that comes with this soundcard, however I will not be able to edit anything unless I can get some sound being sent from the mixer to the PC.

I'd appreciate any help yall could offer. Thanks!

 

[Chapbass]

you definitely are not going to be able to edit ALL of the channels on the mixer when its in your computer.

even going digitally over a spdif connection, youll just get 2 channel digital audio and be able to mix/master the final two tracks. You would have to do all of your individual instrument mixing when you're actually recording the tracks... which is far from ideal.



Now, depending on how many tracks you need to record at once, that would determine what type of solution in your computer you would need to record everything in.


I will tell you that I'm actually selling a Digidesign Pro tools digi001 setup, which runs off of Pro Tools software and has 8 inputs that you could use. In a typical band setup, you could do 4 drum mics, bass, two guitars, and scratch vocals. Then go back and record other instruments after the fact and add them in via software.


If youre interested, pop me a PM, we'll work something out. Looking to get rid of it pretty cheap too .

 

[potato28]

The X-FI is a nice card, but the limitations of the audio file and the card itself won't let you master all of the channels. The most would be 24 channels, but thats a vinyl, SACD or DVD-A.

 

[Coldkilla]

Alright, say I all I need is 8 channels. I have this card, and this system. What exactly do I need? What will that plug into? I just want to have a fair idea on how it will be connected once I have all the components and how much $$$ will need to be spent ontop of what I've already spent.

Basically a run-down would be nice. Example:
The board has a L and R output. Your channels will all go from the mics, to the mixing board, out from the R and L output, that connection will plug into this thing, and that will plug into that.

I'd sure appreciate it. Thanks!
edit: I do not know much about formats...IE: SACD, DVD-A, spdif connection...
edit2: I was looking at the back of the mixer, the only "outs" was the "REC OUT" and there was a R and an L. The type of connection appears to be the same as a red and white connection used by stereo systems. The only difference is that this board has no color coding.

 

[biggestmuff]

That card doesn't have enough ins and outs to mix 8 channels "outside the box". Most decent soundcards include a good software mixer. Having a real control surface is more fun, but it's more trouble than it's worth; you're just adding another device in between your source and the ADCs.

EDIT: if your father is in the audio field, why can't he assist? That's be some good father/son time. :thumbsup:

 

[biggestmuff]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
My Dad just bought a new $2000 mixer for his sound company the other day and just gave us his old mixer. The mixer was all we needed to finally get a complete PA system. I also just purchased an X-Fi Pro Elite Soundcard that came with another component for plugging things into it.

X-Fi: http://www.creative.com/produc...08&product=14064&nav=1

Ramsa WR-S4416 Mixer Specs: http://www.warehousesound.com/ramwrs4m.htm

I don't know what exactly I would do to take all of the recorded channels and send it to my computer so I could edit each channel's volume after it's recorded.

I realize that there is an editing program that comes with this soundcard, however I will not be able to edit anything unless I can get some sound being sent from the mixer to the PC.

I'd appreciate any help yall could offer. Thanks!

I'm just rereading your post trying to help out a little more. It seems like your slightly confused about what this mixer does. It doesn't record anything. Audio passes through the board and allows the soundboard operator to adjust the volume and equalization of each input.

This board is mainly used for live sound; equalizing and mixing live audio, then sending it to a amplification system. By adding a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) into the setup, it is possible for you to record the output of the soundboard. You can do this by capturing the final stereo mix or by capturing each channel if there are outputs available. I can't find a manual right now nor can I see the back of the mixer, so I can't tell you for sure.

Advice about the soundcard; ditch the Creative card and buy a decent mid-level, pro-sumer card like an MAudio. It you'd only be recording the stereo mix out of the soundboard, then the MAudio 2496 would be perfect otherwise you'd be looking at something like the 1010.

I would use this board to mix live sound and to simultaneously record a stereo copy of the performance.

I wouldn't use this for multi-track recording; too much of a hassle. You're just adding an additional piece of equipment into the signal chain. Any good soundcard will be bundled with a software mixer.

If you need an inexpensive multi-track recording program check out Audacity as well as REAPER.