Combined mixer/audio interface...Discuss

[Deltaphoenix]

So, I am interested in simplifying the recording process and having stuff that is used a lot. I have a decent sized music jam room/studio at my house that was a detached garage. I have a PA in there, I really like my mixer, A & H ZED 24. It has tons of inserts, enough Sends & Returns/ Aux..etc. I honestly don't use all of the channels, especially since I don't have an 8 out drum machine anymore ( ). I also have a patch bay and an 8 channel firewire audio interface that I have hardly fucked with because I just haven't taken a day to figure out all of the routing. So I end up using my 2 channel Audio interface or the one for my iPad. Pretty much a waste of a lot of stuff for subpar results sometimes.

So, I started looking at these combined mixer/audio interfaces, the ones that actually send multiple tracks at once, not the ones that send a stereo mix off of the mixer (my mixer has that) and these seems like a way to get some bang for buck. As I got to looking at these, it seems like there was a generation of these a couple of years ago and now another one or two is being released. For firewire, the Mackie Onyx ones look okay, the A & H ZED R16 looks SWEET but out of my current price range. There are also some USB 2.0 ones as well, the Soundcraft Signature 12 MTK (released soon) is CHEAP and has a ton of features but also is missing a few things. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Sig12MT

No inserts. I get that the point of this is integration with a computer so VSTs can be used on virtual inserts..okay. It looks like only XLR outs, which I would send to my PA but what about Monitors? I am sure I am missing something here because It looks like this can be used for analog summing/mastering which is more than I usually do BUT if it set-up for hardware, i would do it.

I am on the preorder for this guy and am now wondering how much of a compromise this unit is. The reality is, that I won't be using this for shows, so I can probably live with some less external routing but I wonder if this is going to be a little useless in 4 years. I would be okay with that if I used this for learning more about recording and was able to make it more hands on.

So, IDK, I am wondering if I should get a used Mackie since I could afford it or if I should go with this? Other news, I am probably getting a fairly hot-rodded iMac 27 inch for the studio space.

[echoraven]

How many inputs do you need?
I have the Akai Eie Pro which has 4 inputs as well as 2 sets of stereo outs and inserts for all inputs and the headphone out has separate volume control from the monitors.
90% of the time I'm using it as either a headphone mixer, or to my M Audio BX5 monitors where I mixed whatever guitar blend I'm using (it's usually a mess) and the stereo outs of the Beat Buddy Drum pedal.

http://www.amazon.com/Akai-Professional ... ai+eie+pro

[Deltaphoenix]

That's interesting, never seen that Akai before.

When tracking with he modular, I would say, ideally, that I could get upwards to 8 tracks at a time.

This would allow me to use the mixer to fade in/out different parts, build tracks up. That is what has me interested in the combined interface/mixer combo. I like to use a mixer like an instrument or controller.

I think the one thing about the Soundcraft one I linked in the original post is that it would change how I would dub-mix on the fly. It does have built-in Lexicon effects OR I would use computer VSTs. Not Sure how I feel about not having a ton of sends/returns so I could make feedback channels or Reverb or Delay channels in the mixer.