Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Recording signal through Mackie 1202 vlz pro
Hello there,
I wanted to ask if anyone would have any opinion about this... I'm recording in the following setup: - mainly vocals & acoustic guitar w/ AKG 414 and electric guitar, mic'ed w/ SM57 -, through Mackie 1202 vlz Pro (with RNC in in the channel inserts) to - Layla 20, using Cubase SX I connect the Mackie through main Out L & R to Layla. However I remember someone commenting on RAP that when recording through Mackie, I should bypass the Mackie eq, and use the channel inserts to send the signal from Mackie to Layla. The idea of it being that the eq of Mackie isn't of too good a quality. I *could* eq my tracks in SX (where I have the SX eq & numerous plugins) after recording. Do you guys have any opinions whether I should try to bypass the Mackie eq or not? In a way it would make sense, since I would want the signal to be recorded as "colourless" as possible, capturing only the "colour" that the mic and mic placement provides. In that case I would just send the signal from channel inserts to the RNC and from there on to Layla. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Kalle (from Finland) |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Recording signal through Mackie 1202 vlz pro
Whatever sounds good to you, really ...
Play with the mic placement to minimize the need of eq for a start. -CS |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Recording signal through Mackie 1202 vlz pro
"Luckyman" wrote in
: I connect the Mackie through main Out L & R to Layla. However I remember someone commenting on RAP that when recording through Mackie, I should bypass the Mackie eq, and use the channel inserts to send the signal from Mackie to Layla. The idea of it being that the eq of Mackie isn't of too good a quality. Come out of the RNC directly into your Layla. The EQ on the Mackie (a) is not spectacular and (b) hasn't got a fraction of the flexibility of your software EQ's. Another reason to use the insert is to avoid the Mackie's summing buss. It's not ugly, but won't add anything to your recording. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Recording signal through Mackie 1202 vlz pro
Thanks for the answers guys, I'll think I use the inserts to connect to
Layla then. Kalle "Carey Carlan" wrote in message . 206... "Luckyman" wrote in : I connect the Mackie through main Out L & R to Layla. However I remember someone commenting on RAP that when recording through Mackie, I should bypass the Mackie eq, and use the channel inserts to send the signal from Mackie to Layla. The idea of it being that the eq of Mackie isn't of too good a quality. Come out of the RNC directly into your Layla. The EQ on the Mackie (a) is not spectacular and (b) hasn't got a fraction of the flexibility of your software EQ's. Another reason to use the insert is to avoid the Mackie's summing buss. It's not ugly, but won't add anything to your recording. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Recording signal through Mackie 1202 vlz pro
"Luckyman" wrote in message news Thanks for the answers guys, I'll think I use the inserts to connect to Layla then. Doing this right for minimal hum and noise takes a special cable. Obtain a TRS-TRS cable that you can disassemble and re-wire. Take the end you are going to plug into the Mackie insert jack, and unsolder all the connections. (1) Trim and insulate the shield. (2) Solder the negative signal wire to the shield connection on the TRS connector. (3) Solder the positive signal wire to the tip and ring connections on the TRS connector. Ensure that the chassis of the Layla and the Mackie console have some kind of common ground, which usually happens by "electrical osmosis". The Lyala20 chassis is grounded by the 3-wire power plug. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Recording signal through Mackie 1202 vlz pro
"PhilW" wrote in message news:R8S1b.9464$Qy4.3064@fed1read05... I think you'd get better quality sound by replacing the Mackie with a good mic preamp, because you're not really mixing a lot of input, just using the Mackie preamps (ignoring using its eq). Many people think highly of the Really Nice Preamp from FMR, and it has inserts for the RNC. Many people think highly of the VLZ-Pro preamps too. I'd be more worried about room or mic nise .... geoff |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Recording signal through Mackie 1202 vlz pro
Luckyman wrote:
I connect the Mackie through main Out L & R to Layla. However I remember someone commenting on RAP that when recording through Mackie, I should bypass the Mackie eq, and use the channel inserts to send the signal from Mackie to Layla. The idea of it being that the eq of Mackie isn't of too good a quality. Yes, this also bypasses the routing stuff as well, which is also good. I *could* eq my tracks in SX (where I have the SX eq & numerous plugins) after recording. How much EQ do you use anyway? Do you guys have any opinions whether I should try to bypass the Mackie eq or not? In a way it would make sense, since I would want the signal to be recorded as "colourless" as possible, capturing only the "colour" that the mic and mic placement provides. In that case I would just send the signal from channel inserts to the RNC and from there on to Layla. Of course you should TRY it! It'll only take ten minutes to try, and either you'll like working that way or you won't. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Recording signal through Mackie 1202 vlz pro
Kalle,
You should record from the direct preamp output when possible. Not that the Mackie's mixer section is lousy, because it's not. But when using ANY gear it's best to go through the fewest possible circuits. I *could* eq my tracks in SX (where I have the SX eq & numerous plugins) after recording. It's always better to defer EQ and other processing if you can. If you EQ or compress and later don't like it, it's difficult to reverse. --Ethan |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Recording signal through Mackie 1202 vlz pro
Hi again,
I *could* eq my tracks in SX (where I have the SX eq & numerous plugins) after recording. How much EQ do you use anyway? Well I use eq very rarely in the situation when I record. I try to solve any eq problem with mic positioning and changing the signal at the source. However, I do eq quite a bit at the mixing stage. Of course you should TRY it! It'll only take ten minutes to try, and either you'll like working that way or you won't. --scott I know, the old saying "trust your ears". The problem is not so much the physical routing (wiring) but more of an issue of which way is better soundquality-wise. But since I have don't have decades of recording experience (yet), I now and then sadly notice at the mixdown stage that I have made bad decicions when recording the tracks. For example, I sometimes have problems with using the compressor the best effective way, or I fail to hear what is dynamic and what's not. But I'm learning, and I have fun doing it I was was looking for some hard, techical facts that I could base my decicion upon. Which I got, and I thank you for that. Gotta go now, my patchbay is crying out to re-arrange him. Regards, Kalle |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Recording signal through Mackie 1202 vlz pro
I'm recording in the following setup:
- mainly vocals & acoustic guitar w/ AKG 414 and electric guitar, mic'ed w/ SM57 -, through Mackie 1202 vlz Pro (with RNC in in the channel inserts) to - Layla 20, using Cubase SX I connect the Mackie through main Out L & R to Layla. However I remember someone commenting on RAP that when recording through Mackie, I should bypass the Mackie eq, and use the channel inserts to send the signal from Mackie to Layla. The idea of it being that the eq of Mackie isn't of too good a quality. I *could* eq my tracks in SX (where I have the SX eq & numerous plugins) after recording. For what you're doing I'd sell the Mackie and the RNC and get a decent dual preamp, like a Presonus MP20. |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Recording signal through Mackie 1202 vlz pro
"Sugarite" wrote in message
Doing this right for minimal hum and noise takes a special cable. Obtain a TRS-TRS cable that you can disassemble and re-wire. Take the end you are going to plug into the Mackie insert jack, and unsolder all the connections. (1) Trim and insulate the shield. (2) Solder the negative signal wire to the shield connection on the TRS connector. (3) Solder the positive signal wire to the tip and ring connections on the TRS connector. Why not just use standard 1/4" unbalanced patchcord and only insert into the Mackie insert half-way (1st 'notch')? (1) Stability of having jacks fully seated (2) Exploit benefits of balanced input It's the coupling of the ground and return connecitons you're trying to avoid right? No. Mackie inserts accomplish exactly that with half-insertion, and the RNC is unbalanced. Right. This was discussed in detail a few weeks ago in this post: http://www.google.com/groups?selm=Np...%40comcast.com |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Recording signal through Mackie 1202 vlz pro
Two things. One, a halfway insertion can easily be unstable or pulled out.
And secondly, if you want to have absolute ground correct, it's best to use all of a jack, because it's just simply made to have a plug fully inserted. Connections, cables, etc., can all be bad enough as it is, but you just ask for trouble by using a half insert. Nothing like looking down and seeing one missing track because an insert shorted out. If one records from the insert points it makes sense to spend a little time and make cables that will work better. I love things that require minimum investment of time and materials and saves you tons of work later. -- Roger W. Norman SirMusic Studio Purchase your copy of the Fifth of RAP CD set at www.recaudiopro.net. See how far $20 really goes. "Sugarite" wrote in message ... Doing this right for minimal hum and noise takes a special cable. Obtain a TRS-TRS cable that you can disassemble and re-wire. Take the end you are going to plug into the Mackie insert jack, and unsolder all the connections. (1) Trim and insulate the shield. (2) Solder the negative signal wire to the shield connection on the TRS connector. (3) Solder the positive signal wire to the tip and ring connections on the TRS connector. Why not just use standard 1/4" unbalanced patchcord and only insert into the Mackie insert half-way (1st 'notch')? It's the coupling of the ground and return connecitons you're trying to avoid right? Mackie inserts accomplish exactly that with half-insertion, and the RNC is unbalanced. |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Recording signal through Mackie 1202 vlz pro
"Roger W. Norman" wrote in message
Two things. One, a halfway insertion can easily be unstable or pulled out. And secondly, if you want to have absolute ground correct, it's best to use all of a jack, because it's just simply made to have a plug fully inserted. Connections, cables, etc., can all be bad enough as it is, but you just ask for trouble by using a half insert. Nothing like looking down and seeing one missing track because an insert shorted out. I recorded a live performance at church this way once. When the preacher got up to speak I couldn't figure out where that distortion was coming from. Finally, I wiggled the insert cable and crystal clear. I just saved those instructions for later. |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Recording signal through Mackie 1202 vlz pro
Why? If you got it right in the tracking, unless you record a lot of two
Les Paul guitar bands, the eq should still be right when you do playback. What is the marked propensity to grab EQ all the time? I can understand taking all the lows out of a flute or all the highs out of a kick, but other than simply saving a little headroom, I don't find much use for EQ if I got the tracks right. Not that it happens all that often! g -- Roger W. Norman SirMusic Studio Purchase your copy of the Fifth of RAP CD set at www.recaudiopro.net. See how far $20 really goes. "Luckyman" wrote in message ... Hi again, I *could* eq my tracks in SX (where I have the SX eq & numerous plugins) after recording. How much EQ do you use anyway? Well I use eq very rarely in the situation when I record. I try to solve any eq problem with mic positioning and changing the signal at the source. However, I do eq quite a bit at the mixing stage. Of course you should TRY it! It'll only take ten minutes to try, and either you'll like working that way or you won't. --scott I know, the old saying "trust your ears". The problem is not so much the physical routing (wiring) but more of an issue of which way is better soundquality-wise. But since I have don't have decades of recording experience (yet), I now and then sadly notice at the mixdown stage that I have made bad decicions when recording the tracks. For example, I sometimes have problems with using the compressor the best effective way, or I fail to hear what is dynamic and what's not. But I'm learning, and I have fun doing it I was was looking for some hard, techical facts that I could base my decicion upon. Which I got, and I thank you for that. Gotta go now, my patchbay is crying out to re-arrange him. Regards, Kalle |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Recording signal through Mackie 1202 vlz pro
Two things. One, a halfway insertion can easily be unstable or pulled
out. If you're that cliumsy, how do you expect to do a reasonable solder joint on the custom cable then? And secondly, if you want to have absolute ground correct, No such animal exists... it's best to use all of a jack, because it's just simply made to have a plug fully inserted. Mackie's are simply made to accommodate half-insertion, that first connection pin is rather stiff for a reason, and the ground contact pressure is not significantly less than when fully inserted, rtfm. It's one of the few aspects that are done right on a Mackie. Connections, cables, etc., can all be bad enough as it is, but you just ask for trouble by using a half insert. Nothing like looking down and seeing one missing track because an insert shorted out. The guy in question is recording one track at a time, surely he will notice if it's popped out or not connecting well, and then consider pulling out the soldering gun. If one records from the insert points it makes sense to spend a little time and make cables that will work better. I love things that require minimum investment of time and materials and saves you tons of work later. Like buying a mixer specifically designed for half-insertion... |
Reply |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
rec.audio.car FAQ (Part 1/5) | Car Audio | |||
Understanding AUX Send on Mackie 1202 VLZ mixer | Pro Audio | |||
What is a Distressor ? | Pro Audio | |||
Mackie 1202 Question | Pro Audio | |||
Help! Time running out for teacher choosing recording equipment... | Pro Audio |