would this combo work?

[trek]

I would like to do some small recording such as guitar, vocals, keyboard, and possibly drums. So after doing some research, I looking at getting a Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Platinum Soundcard along with a Yamaha MG12/4 mixer.

They both have gotten good reviews from what I've read. Would anyone recommend this, and how would you go about plugging the mixer into the soundcard?

Thanks.

[itsplayed]

Not worth the money for recording(IMHO).Your much better off getting an EMU1212M and a Behringer ADA8000 for less money. This will give you more than just a two track recording and the result will be better....unless your into using it for gaming as well.

[Bops2000]

How much money we talkin ?

[itsplayed]

Well the mixer is around $375.00 and the Blaster is about $190.00 That comes to about $565.00 and will only get you a two channel mix.
For around $425.00 the EMU/Behringer combo will provide 12(8+4) seperate channels and also comes with bundled software for recording/mixing/editing/burning...it's a no contest, no-brainer kind o' thing, at least for recording. Gaming's a different story.

[itsplayed]

Look it over....
http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=505&subcategory=491&product=9872&nav=softwareBundle
http://www.behringer.com/ADA8000/index.cfm?lang=ENG

[trek]

the emu does look a lot more like what i'm looking for...thanks.

for the mixer, it's only $200 at:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/s=mixers/search/detail/base_pid/630049/
(and it's list is only $239)

that's about the price range i'm looking at, around 400 for both the soundcard
and the mixer/interface.

but it's the soundblaster soundcard, that would only allow for 2 channel, correct? the mixer has 12 inputs/6 preamped.

what would be the diff / pros / cons of getting an A/D D/A converter as
opposed to a mixer?

[trek]

wow, the emu comes with a great collection of software, that's a great deal.

[itsplayed]

That's a different mixer than the one your first link provided. I say, can the mixer, it's not necessary and will only introduce noise into the mix. Besides, that mixer only provides two mic pres, the rest of your ins, are line ins. For the money the combo I suggested can't be beat. At some point in time, you can invest in higher quality mic pres for the other two available ins on the 1212M. The soundblaster will not give you more than two channels of recording at once, so unless your just looking for a stereo mix with limited editing ability, forget about it. Besides the EMU is more of a "pro" recording card than the Blaster.

[Bops2000]

I used to use a berhringer 1832fx pro(200.00) with my terratec phase 88 which has 8 in and out converters, I use a mackie 1604 now(400.00 ebay).
The only reason I took the phase 88 was that it is a pretty solid no frills converter that i can stack up to 24 converters in one machine.
The 6 preamps in the berhringer ain't all that bad and pretty quiet too.
The board is limited in it's sub outs and EQ, but the extra effects and limited post eq are nice for a first board, at least for me.
Basically I had split the board into 6 chanells in and channels 7-14 for various monitor outs such as main, midi, and live/effects. If you are just tracking, or overdubbing you could go with a maudio delta card. I still have both board and card set up for lending out to friends.
The echo mia looks nice too. I would also take priority of my budget in the soundcard as opposed to mixer.

[Bops2000]

http://www.behringer.com/UB1832FX/index.cfm?lang=ENG

[sabianq]

bops uses the 1604 by mackie, this is a really great mixer, if you can get your hands on one, you wont be dissapointed.


as for your question,"what would be the diff / pros / cons of getting an A/D D/A converter as
opposed to a mixer?"

a mixer is just that, a mixer, it is a device that mixes multiple line/mic level signals into 1 or two channels. the more sophisicated the mixer the more choices you have of signal diversions and pathways. a good mixer will have busses that individual channels can be assigned to.
and most of the mixers out there also have pre-amps that amplify microphone level signals to a usable level. some mixers also have a way of providing phantom power to power condensor microphones too.
a versatile mixer will beable to utilize both balanced and unbalanced signals.

now a mixer generaly does not have the ability to convert analogue signals to digital signals and vice versa. that is what your sound card does.

there are two types of sound interface devices, one you place in your computer in a PCI slot that does the analogue to digital conversion (D/A) on the card like the sound blaster. and then there are boxes that do the conversion outside of the computer then send the converted digital signal to the computer via firewire, usb or other means like the Delta 1010 or echo cards>

IMHO the latter cards that preform the conversion outside the computer are of better quality than the cards that convert inside the computer.

some of these external interfaces (and some internal) already have multiple inputs and preamps elimating the need for a mixer altogether.

you should decide exactly what your looking to do with your setup and base your decision on that.
cheers:

[Bops2000]

If your a musician, I think you would be more comfortable with an analog board going into an a/d converter. That does'nt make it correct, perhaps not even cost effective, I like a board, as opposed to a mouse or midi controllorers to date ( I am so midi-phobic).
If you can adjust with strictly digital mixer stuff , thats cool, like a good woman, I like my hands on the knobs..
it all works , just how ya do it

[trek]

"then there are boxes that do the conversion outside of the computer then send the converted digital signal to the computer via firewire, usb or other means like the Delta 1010 or echo cards>"

is there any specific models you would recommend?

[vulcan_dc]

hey itsplayed.... you are right.... that is a very nice offer indeed...... Cheers....

[itsplayed]

hey itsplayed.... you are right.... that is a very nice offer indeed...... Cheers....

Yes, I thought so as well! And It's one of the reasons why I recommended the card...at $200US it's a bargain. I've built several systems around the EMU cards with great results and no complaints. This new promotional software bundle they have now, just makes the EMU that much more of a bargain...and their drivers keep maturing for the better!