Using multi-channel DAW and its Effects with an Analogue Mixer
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- čas přidán 13. 09. 2020
- (Also an addendum video on the actual connections:)
Using Analog Mixers with DAW • Using Analog Mixers wi...
Lets face it - it’s so convenient to have everything on the computer - recording, mixing, mastering, effects, etc., but what about if you really like mixing on faders on an older analogue desk? What about using aux sends for effects?
Well you can do all of this if you have a multi-channel audio interface. The one I’m using here is the Focusrite Saffire Liquid 56, which has 8 inputs and 10 outputs.
I’ve wired it up in the following way for mixing:
Audio Interface Inputs -
Inputs 2,4,5,6 are connected to the auxiliary outputs 1,2,3,4 of the mixing desk for using Logic’s effects. These effects are set up on Logic as:
Mixer Aux 1 - Interface Input 2 - Logic Reverb
Mixer Aux 2 - Interface Input 4 - Logic Delay
Mixer Aux 3 - Interface Input 6 - Logic Phaser
Mixer Aux 4 - Interface Input 5 - Logic Auto-Filter
7 and 8 are connected to logic for final mix down from busses 7 and 8 of the mixing desk.
Audio Interface Outputs -
These handle the signals coming from Logic into the mixing desk channels:
1 Kick
2 Snare
3 OH L
4 OH R
5 Bass
6 Rhythm Guitar
7 Line Guitar
8 SOLO GUITAR
9
These are the stereo buss that the effects come back to the desk on.
10
Of course if you want more tracks, then you’d need a bigger audio interface, but most multi-channel interfaces allow an additional 8 outputs on an ADAT connector, to which something like the Behringer ADA 8000 could be connected.
Have fun and create!
Subscribe to my channel, and find me on Facebook at “Dan Baker - Musician”.
#usinglogicwithanaloguedesk
#mixingonfaders
#danbakermusician - Hudba
You're a legend, you just saved me thousands of dollars on outboard FX. 💯😁👍🏾
Agreed 😁This is unbelievably great and cheaper option 😁Now time to invest on bigger mixing desk !
Dan Baker saved us
Right on. I use a hybrid studio as well. There really is something to be said about using outboard gear. IMHO it adds some color, 3D depth, and stereo width. I've never seen anyone that tried it this way go back.
Dan, you have a nice laid back approach to passing on your process knowledge. Love your multi track musicianship.
I love this workflow. A best of both worlds situation.
You have a great way of explaining things. Best I’ve heard, thank you.
Blending artistry, analog, and digital- great job and a fantastic explanation. Would love to see more “olden days” workflow videos like this one. I’m attempting the same setup with Logic, a mixer, and a room full of instruments. A good amount of work to set up, but to me it is the perfect blend of ITB and OTB.
Hi Dan,
Very impressive indeed 🤝🎶 Thank you very much for putting this together.
Yoh🙉I've been trying to understand the analog mixing, connections and so on for some time, but now I'm sorted it makes sense on what studios use and how they do it😎🔥THANK YOU DAN💯🤝🏽💖
Good tutorial. I love every bit of your explanation. Though complex but I'm ready to learn
Thanks for sharing! Have been planning on doing something similar with my setup, making it more hybrid to take advantage of the "best of both worlds". Googled "Using a DAW & plugins as an external effects processor for analog mixer" and came across your video. Your creative ideas are wonderful "food for thought"! :)
Thank you sir for such a clear tutorial on this topic well I was looking for this stuff for a long time onwards at least I got it from you in the way which i want to
Thanks mate, very insightful.
You explain this very well bro
You just answerd all my questions thank you
this is great! I asked you about this on another one of your videos I will have to re watch all your videos on this subject
You have a big passion !!!
Thank you! You've helped me a lot.
Many thanks for the great advice
Cool video, got my wheels turning about doing something similar with my little Behringer 8-track mixer and an iPad 😃. Great guitar playing in that piece, btw
Great vid 👍🏻
Interesting - thanks for posting
Wicked. Thank you @Dan Baker
super explain.. thank you
Nice video. Well done....
This is cool.
We love youuuuuu 😍😍😍😍🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Muy bueno me encanta este canal 😁🙋🙋
Thanks for this tutorial. I need to know how you wired it
For about some time onwards I was trying to do the very same at my home studio for which I was just manly looking forward to buy a multy out put audio interface and I wish to take the scarlett 18i20 which think suitable for the very same perpus any way thank u for this detailed tutorial session
I have a Tascam 1641 and a Ramsa WR-s4416 and use Reaper normally. This is the best of both worlds, but I'm new to analog and a little fuzzy on which wires would go where between the board and my interface. I would like to use this technique with stem mastering on my larger productions.
just come across your channel, im amazed, you have answered all my logic questions in the space of 10 mins. I would like to use this process to make dubs of songs, roots reggae style and using an analogue mixer with Logic is the way I am trying to do so. The interface you are using, I think it's output is FireWire, how do you connect the Saffire Liquid to your Logic? Many thanks and I will be checking out more of your videos
Thanks for the thorough explanation! Learned a lot! Is that an ADAT machine in your rack? How do you use that in your setup?
Ur a legend
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing. Quick question : do you have any phase problems with the aux sends since it had to go from the console to the computer through the fx and back to the console?
Dan is that a Soundcraft _"Spirit"_ mixing desk you have there. If it is, I'd really appreciate a breakdown video on how to set it up and use it properly.
Thanks Dan . I have a questions you also own Allen & health mixer but why do not use that like main mixer instead current mixer.
Please make a video how you wire your analog mixer to audio interface and logic pro. Thank you
Really appreciate you doing this explanation. I only asked you a few days ago and here you are with the visual instructions.. Many thanks... I would like to send you a gift via PayPal or some equivalent your happy with.
Thank you and glad you found this video helpful! My PayPal is www.paypal.me/danbakermusic. It’s my pleasure to make this video for you...
@@DanBakerMusic the joy and pleasure shines through, eminates from you. I shall send something when I can. Looking like October is most likely.. As soon to be a uni student again... But I will not forget.
Chears
hi great videos i have put together a hybrid setup and cant work out how to use the daw effects anychance of a cable diagram for the daw effects to the analog desk thanks Andy
Okey! Amazing.. Dan How do you think about your Focusrite converters. Some people says that if you want the get best out of your analog gear you need a class A Converters.. What do you think about the converters you have... I'm going to buy liq Saffire 56.some people broke me saying that.Confused.. Is it any difference that listen comparing ITB & Summing to this analog board you have and converters????
Please sir do a video on how to hook up focusrite mixer with you analog mixer thank you sir
This is actually my dream workflow - wish I would understand the routing :(
What mixer should I get ?? Do I need direct outs and aux sends ?
You’ll just need aux sends, so each aux send feeds one audio interface input. The computer then deals with the effects and outputs them to the main mix...
been looking for content on other people messing with this type of workflow. making a simailr hybrid bedroom studio currently
Nice. It’s all in the cabling though. If you can, manufacture your own cables using good jacks and XLRs. It’ll last for years with careful and individually cut-to-length cables...
Hey legend...u are a genius
But pls how did u connect ur analog mixer with the audio interface and then route them to ur DAW?
Great info here, so you route back the main output of the Analog mixer into your audio interface or each and every channels and aux ?
exactly what i want to know, only have a single L and R output on my interface, do i need to upgrade to use my 32 channel mixer? does it need 32 outputs?
@@rycole5195 what interface have u got?
@@808ross8 M-Audio MTrack 2x2. Definitely upgrading soon haha so wondering what i need to get
Depends on your interface and board, I have a 22 channel Mackie with inserts picking a pre processed signal so I would have to use Sub groups and aux buss. So I would have to process only 6 channels at once with that board so let's use an MR18 as an interface, I would have to put 4 channels on the sub groups and 2 to auxiliary busses. Take those outs into an interface and bring it back to the computer as a multitrack and maybe bring back the LR mix since my interface has 16 inputs.
Hi Dan Great video, would you still need the same setup for an audio interface if you were using allen heath zed 16?
It’s pretty much the same with any analogue desk...
A good mixer is a good mixer forever, no updated OS required. It will work with whatever DAW you have, up or out-dated. I see all these flashy new offerings of hardware; DAW controllers, DJ spinny things, beatmaster 5000's, etc. and all I see is landfill. The second the software for that stuff is no longer supported it becomes junk.
Wonderful work my question is I am using Reaper and I have a 12 channel mixer “ how do I get my DAW to talk to my 12 channel mixer please thank you
the only thing i’m confused about is, do I patch the interface outputs into the ‘INSERT’ or the ‘LINE’ in on the mixer? I guess it just depends if I want to bypass the Mic Pre in the mixer?
Plug them into the 'LINE' inputs, they will already bypass the micpre because the output signal from your interface is already on 'Linelevel' so it doesn't need to be further amplified.
Also if you use the LINE input you have the freedom to plug outboard effects (eg. compressors) directly into the channel via the Insert. Otherwise use what suits you and of course experiment :)
thanks qlot for your explaination. how to tweak de mixer to the audio interface I mean the cabls ect..
Lots and lots of jack to jack plugs!
Quick question. Did you run straight into your Audio interface for recording or are you running into the mixer first then into your daw? I have an old Tascam m2600 analog mixer and am unser weather of not to, 1, run all the insturments straigh into my Audio Interface ( I have 16 channels) and then use the outputs (16) of my audio interface into the Mixer for mixing.
Hey there, thanks so much for these videos! Let me ask something, if you route individual outputs, you could had another 16 tracks on logic and record a live mix from the desk to individual channels right?
Absolutely. You’d just need an interface with 16 inputs and you’re good to go...
@@DanBakerMusic With the effects, and for example in your case with 4 x effects in your DAW and 4 x aux i/o from the desk, would you need an additional 4 i/o on the interfaces for those to plug into the desk?.... if all that makes sense. So in other words and based on 16 tracks, would I need a 20 channel interface to run from the computer and back into the desk and 4 of those 20 channels are only for the 4 effects? The other 16 channels are just for the individual tracks.
My question is when you’re tracking and say, you’re using input 2 in daw for snare and later or you want to use input 2 for the aux fx in, you would just need to change the routing in the DAW between recording and mixing? I noticed that his set up had some of the same inputs for the tracks used for the inputs of the aux returns in logic.
When you're tracking.you're using the console preamps and not audio interface inputs. So, it's the same thing as the video. Each channel goes to the master track and then, into the DAW.
One question. This mixer is now setup to handle the audio sources from the daw, but did it also work as the input for recording (tracking?) the sources from the beginning? In that case, do you repatch things or are some inputs for the instruments and some for the daw individual outputs? You need double the inputs for a certain numbers of instruments, sort of?
I was thinking the same… maybe the mixer has a secondary input like “tape in” and adjust the selection on each desk channel…
what if sir I have the focus right solo and an analog roland CRM-120 mixer. Can I do the same setup you have for send and return effects? Thanks sir
What does the back of the mixing console look like? My interface only has tslr outputs and i dont know if it will take phantom power recordings
The mixer has both XLR and Jack inputs, as does the audio interface, but both have only Jack outs.
@@DanBakerMusic ah I see, and when assigning specific effects (like the reverb and delay) onto each inputs knobs, how would you go about doing that? How would I know that Im assigning Delay or Reverb Onto a specific knob on the mixing board.
wait so how is the software reading the signal input from the mixer?its not midi right?like i dont get how its reading a signal to change the amount on the DAW?cause ive always wanted a hybrid setup but thought things like this were the limatations
All signals are analogue audio, so the mixing desk deals with all levels, and then the audio interface deals only with A-D and D-A conversion.
I have MGP 32X Yamaha mixer, how can I connect it to my Logic Pro? I do not have any interface, I need help please. What do I need to make it work? @Dan Baker
It won't work without an interface
Excuse my ignorance,
(I'm just trying to learn)
But , with a set-up similar to this , you could conceivably do Reggae Dub type stuff, yay?
No?
Thanks for another great vid , Dan
U definitely could
Hello there.. great videos.. Im trying to figure out how are you recording the instruments through the board into the pc? Are you just doing raw board to PC ?
The audio interface is an eight channel in and out model. I use the buss outputs of the desk into the interface, and the computer sends individual outputs back, which are connected via individual cables to the board
czcams.com/video/-lbdKdKb2js/video.html
An addendum video describing connections
Hey DAN..can you list down of you dont mind the gear needs to buy tho have same signal flowof your...deeply appreciate.
Soundcraft Spirit Studio, Focusrite Safire Pro 56, MacBook with Logic Pro.
Great video! wich mixer do you use?
I have a Soundcraft Spirit Studio, 16 channel.
@@DanBakerMusicdoes yamaha mg32/14fx will work on this sir Dan?
What about latency issues? I hear a phasing sound when try to run a track out of the daw to the analog mixer and back to the daw - and then try to blend it with the non compressed signal....if someone just could help with that issue
Regrettably, you’ll never get rid of that-if the worst you’re getting is phasing, actually your system is performing well. In order to combine signals, they’ll both need to be recorded. On playback, latency will be compensated for, and the phasing will no longer appear. You can, however, delay one of the tracks slightly with respect to the other if needed.
@@DanBakerMusic thank you. All the best
Dan I’m new to this recording world. I have a Scarlett interface 18i20 and a Yamaha 12 channel mixer. I’m having trouble getting stuff to work. Do you have any diagrams showing how set this up to work. I feel like a dummy to be asking but I liked the way have thing routed. Thanks.
I’m afraid I don’t have any diagrams, but do you want to use your mixer for playback or record or both?
@@DanBakerMusic I guess I would use it for playback. Im recording using Logic Pro.
@@DanBakerMusic I would like to do both if possible. I just purchased a Yamaha mg32x board and I have a focusrite 18i20 trying to figure out what the best way to do this so I don’t have unplug instruments every time I want to record to my Logic Pro
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO DO U HAVE ANY DIAGRAM WE CAN FOLLOW IF WE WANT TO SET IT UP THE SAME WAY?
Using Analog Mixers with DAW
czcams.com/video/-lbdKdKb2js/video.html
I’ve done this addendum video, with a diagram at the end...
Great vid... but its hard to understand this part -
Mixer Aux 1 - Interface Input 2 - Logic Reverb
Mixer Aux 2 - Interface Input 4 - Logic Delay
Mixer Aux 3 - Interface Input 6 - Logic Phaser
Mixer Aux 4 - Interface Input 5 - Logic Auto-Filter
Yes I can see that....
Basically it’s mixer aux 1 output, which runs into the audio interface, input 2, which then feeds the aux input on logic, to which a reverb is applied. The output of the reverb then feeds outputs 9 and 10 of the interface, which in turn come back to the desk on channels 9 and 10.
@@DanBakerMusic thank. u 👍🏼
I’ve watched your videos 50 times and still can’t get it to work. I’m on a Allen and Heath GL3300. I have aux 1 going out of console to input 9 and aux 10 out of console Into input 22 of my. I then have output of interface 3-4 going into channel 1-2 Into console. But I don’t get any signal
Hi, how do you connect the mixer to the interface thanks.
The mixer inputs and outputs are all jacks, and I have two looms, eight of each, running to the rear ins and outs of my interface.
Does your mixer have direct outputs?
Hi there-yes there are direct outputs on the Soundcraft spirit studio
Big dog 👍👌👌👌👌👌
How to set up this sir?
Can you please make a video showing how to route your mixer to the interface then to the computer please tans thank you.
czcams.com/video/-lbdKdKb2js/video.html
Why is everything panned hard right and left.... I dnt get it.
Hown is the latency ???
It’s acceptable..
omg this sound like there tape in it and there is not
lol
So whats the point of all this? You spend a fortune on caballing and converters just so you can run the signal through a shitty old live desk? Theres no compression or preamps to give any vibe, you're just adding noise and phasing issues. If you want to mess around with faders and knobs why not just get a controller like the SSL or that Softube thing, keep it all clean and in the box?