[musictlk] more mixer thoughts

[Kevin Reeves]

Peter. So that I can better help you, can you give me a rundown on how the 
mixer will be used? Are you planning on using it to run into a computer and 
record on the computer itself, or, are you indeed looking for an all in 1 
hard disk recording system? There are 4 main sanarios that folks use for 
recording.

1. Microphones connected to an analog mixer, and the mixer connected to the 
computer via the line in on the sound card. The computer does all the 
recording with such programs as Sound Forge, Audasity, Sonar, etc.

2. Microphones connected to a digital mixer/sound card. In the past few 
years, several sound card companies have made devices that iliminate the use 
of a mixer. Some of these devices look like a mixer with faders and knobs, 
while others are just a box with inputs and the levels are controled by the 
computer using programs like Sound Forge or Sonar. Again, the audio will be 
recorded via recording software, but this illiminates some excess hooking up 
of cables to an internal soundcard on the computer. Also, the quality of 
these devices are very professional, and can give you great results.

3. All in 1 hard disk recording system. This is what you were discussing. 
The problem I have with these devices is that you now have an extra step  in 
that you record all the data, then you have to transfer it to a computer. 
Some of these hard disk recorders have usb ports and allow you to access 
them just like another hard drive, while others require you to export the 
audio to a non-proprietary format that your computer can read before you 
transfer. Also, accessibility becomes the big  deal here, as you are having 
to deal with there u i, and have to determine whether it is workable for 
you.

4. Portable recording systems connected to a mixer or small condenser mics.
Many blind folks have found this to be an incredibly workable solution 
because these devices, such as the eteral r 09, are easy on, easy off 
recording systems. They're about the size of a deck of cards, and record to 
open formats such as mp3. These devices can be accessed via usb and show up 
as an external drive, where you just grabb the file and move it over. Again, 
it's that extra step, but the portability is amazing. Just thought I'd throw 
those ideas out there to give you a big picture view of the many ways we go 
about the recording process. Hope that helps.