Creative Equipment Usage

[renegade44]

I have a Mackie Onyx 12 channel Board as my A/D. It has 4 baanced XLR channels. Everything else is a 1/4" mono or stereo. I have a Mackie 32*4 board for our live sound.

When it came time to record, I wanted to track 8 tracks at once. (That's the limit of my Cubase LE.) The 32*4 can be double bussed to get 8 outputs. But i wanted the Pre-Amp on the Onyx. I specifically wanted to use them for the snare and kick.

Here is the set up

Onyx Inputs
1 => Snare
2 => Kick
3 => Hi-Hat / Cymbals
4 => Cymbals
9 => Output from Subgroup 1 on 32*4 => Tom 1
10 => Output from Subgroup 2 on 32*4 => Tom 2
11 => Output from Subgroup 3 on 32*4 => Tom 3
12 => Output from Subgroup 4 on 32*4 => Tom 4


Bottom line, between the two boards and a little cabling, I am able to track 8 drum channels in a very easy configuration.

[brandondrury]

But i wanted the Pre-Amp on the Onyx. I specifically wanted to use them for the snare and kick.

Do they really sound that better? I have a hard enough time telling if I used my Neve or stock Presonus preamps just by listening.

Onyx Inputs
1 => Snare
2 => Kick
3 => Hi-Hat / Cymbals
4 => Cymbals
9 => Output from Subgroup 1 on 32*4 => Tom 1
10 => Output from Subgroup 2 on 32*4 => Tom 2
11 => Output from Subgroup 3 on 32*4 => Tom 3
12 => Output from Subgroup 4 on 32*4 => Tom 4

So you just used the pres from your Mackie 32*4 on toms, then. That'll work!

Brandon

[renegade44]

I can tell the difference on the Onyx. They are a "thicker" tone. When I look at the signal, I can see the difference in the wave form also.

I also kick the main (L/R) back to the 32*4 in channel 29/30 to pump the ausio back into the big PA for grins. The PA speakers are not as nice as the reference speakers for accuracy, but THEY ARE LOUD. And as Patton said, "Quantitiy has a quality all it's own." He was talking about tanks, but when doing an album it another cool reference point.

[brandondrury]

The PA speakers are not as nice as the reference speakers for accuracy, but THEY ARE LOUD.

I would't mind having a toy like this myself!

And as Patton said, "Quantitiy has a quality all it's own."

Patton was one bad ass dude. I'm not sure if I agree with his obsession with formality in regard to attire, but he sure was funny (great when making fun of the Germans....not so good when making fun of the Russians before the war was over). I just read about the story when the Germans amassed their final offensive (Battle Of The Bulge) and Eisenhower wanted Patton to hit the Germans south flank. Eisenhower asked, "How long until you can get there?". Patton said "I can get there in TWO days!". All the Generals in the room exploded in laughter. The didn't know that Patton had already moved his troops out a day and a half earlier regardless of his orders. Awesome!!

Yeah, I'm big on this WW2 crap. My grandpa served under Patton.

Brandon