tldr:
Goal: Get a USB mixer that works in linux (xbuntu 18.04) and can record multiple tracks at 1 time in audacity.
What are the search terms should I use?
What is a MIDAS?
What is a 18x18 bidirectional USB interface?
Do you have any suggestions for a mixer that would work?
Is it possible to record from a USB mixer & a Blue Yeti at the same time in audacity?
– [ Long version ] —
I’m not sure what I need to search/research. I own 2 roland vs-880 multi-track recorders. These devices allow you to record 4 tracks at 1 time, and 8 if you sync them together via midi cable.
I’m looking for a USB mixer I can plug into my computer and allow me to record at least 8 tracks at 1 time in audacity.
I found the X18 & X18 Air which states:
18 x 18 channel, bidirectional USB interface for direct recording on iPad etc.
If I understand that correctly that means I could record 18 mono tracks at 1 time but I don’t even know what 18x18 bidirectional that means - confirmation would be nice
The goal of this research is to figure out if I can:
record multiple tracks in audacity at 1 time - 8+ would be great, but I could live with 4 if the mixer was < $100~$150 USD -
Must work with linux xbuntu 18.04.2.
A bonus would be if I could record from my blue yeti at the same time.
I’m a Windows guy so I can’t help that much with the Linux stuff.
Most “small” interfaces & USB mixers are “Class Compliant” which means they work with the Microsoft-supplied (and usually with Apple-supplied) drivers. Since that hardware is standardized the generic Linux drivers should also work. I
I don’t know about that particular Behringer, but I don’t know of any audio interfaces that come with Linux-specific drivers (I assume there are some), but Linux users usually seem to figure this stuff out.
Audacity is not “great” at multi-tracking. I don’t see anybody on the Windows multi-track recording. It’s a little better at multi-track mixing. But, you need an answer from a Linux guy (or gal ).
The Behringer you’re looking also works as a multi-channel interface but most “USB mixers” only give you the stereo mix out of the USB port. Most multi-channel “interfaces” don’t mix in hardware. (With a multi-channel interface, mixing is done later in software.)
What is a MIDAS?
Not important - It’s just Behringer’s “brand” of analog preamp circuit.
hat is a 18x18 bidirectional USB interface?
You can send 18 tracks digitally to the computer for recording, or send 18 tracks out of the computer digitally for playback.
Is it possible to record from a USB mixer & a Blue Yeti at the same time in audacity?
I don’t know about Linux but more than one “device” is “tricky” with Windows. The Yeti pro has an XLR analog output.
Many sound mixers and other microphone interfaces promote the very high quality of their microphone preamplifiers. The show quality will never get any better than whatever the MicPre can do. The sound signal that falls out the bottom of an XLR microphone is super tiny and designers have to start worrying about atomic-level noise when they boost your voice volume to where it can be mixed with other microphones and sound sources.
It’s not that hard to get low distortion and good stability, but it’s mind-bleedingly difficult to get low noise.
MIDAS
Makers like to push the fact that their smaller “home” mixers use the same quiet, well-behaved electronics as their much larger studio sound consoles.
This is where home-style USB Microphones such as the Yeti and Snowball start to fall apart. Everything is together in one package. You can’t split the Microphone Preamp away from the actual microphone to get better performance. It’s all in one box.
Behringer takes this to extremes by promoting the XENYX preamplifier in their one-microphone interface.
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