USB Mixers

[fromtheville]

I just ordered an Asesis digital Mixer with a USB output. Can I still use audicity to record? If so, how do I switch audacity to USB as the input?

[Steve Jeffries]

Hi,
I'm assuming you're using a PC. If not then sorry if this isn't of any help.
You should still be able to use audacity I'd have thought.

One thing you could try would be to double click on the small speaker icon at the bottom right of your screen. The mixer that comes up is the play back one. Go to "options" select "properties" and select "recording". You'll see a number of options you can tick to dispay a fader on the record mixer. Select all of them and click "Ok". The record mixer should now be shown. send some audio through you're USB mixer and select the different inputs one by one until you find the one that give you a signal into audacity.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Steve

[Soccer Shout]

While on the topic, here's a cautionary note:

I have a Yamaha MW-10 (I think...), which has a USB in/out.

Unfortunately, the USB in does not go through any regular channel slot. It just gets added to the master mix. You can't pan it and you can't equalize it. You also can't use the 'aux out' for anything input via the USB.

Likewise, the USB out is simply the master mix - no option to 'aux out' via the USB.

The assumption is that you'll want to use the USB out for recording only. I want to send a 'mix minus' to Skype.

I remedied this with a UCA-202 from Behringer - a little bobby dazzler of a $30 piece of kit.

[BrianGentry]

I hate to be that guy that keeps saying the same thing, but the post above illustrates exactly why I think USB mixers are essentially useless.

The output from the mixer is just the main output.
The input from the computer *to* the mixer has zero flexibility: No panning, no EQ, and NO LEVEL CONTROL.

A USB interface (or sound card if you prefer that terminology) is FAR more flexible and not very expensive. The $50 Soundblaster 24 USB is more than adequate and very clean.

Brian.

[ferg]

I hate to be that guy that keeps saying the same thing, but the post above illustrates exactly why I think USB mixers are essentially useless.


This is why I like Behringer's approach. They're very inexpensive Xenyx line of mixers includes a USB audio interface, starting at the 1204 (~$140), but the interface is a simple interface that is not built into the mixer. It simple contains stereo RCA ins and outs, so, you can hook it up to any of your mixer's outputs, thus achieving whatever mix you choose. That USB interface sells separately for about $30, and can be used with any mixer. It is only 16/48, but for podcasting, do you really need more?