USB Mixer with Garageband

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Level 1

8 points

USB Mixer with Garageband

I'm thinking of getting a 10 channel USB Mixer and using it to record multiple tracks at once in Garageband. I'll probably have a few mics, guitar, bass, drums, etc. I read some other topics about this, and I wanted to make sure if I did this, that each channel would automatically record in a new separate track. I know this is a stupid question, but I want to make sure that it would do this before I went out and bought a USB mixer.

MacBook3,1, Mac OS X (10.6.4), Late 2007

Posted on Oct 28, 2010 5:35 PM

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Answer 1

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Oct 28, 2010 5:44 PM in response to moheh

NickF182 wrote:
I know this is a stupid question

actually, it's not, usb mixers may offer many inputs, but only stereo out, even over USB. you need to read the descriptions carefully

also, keep in mind that GarageBand has/is a mixer, so what you actually need is a multi-channel interface (whether it's called a mixer or not)

I'm thinking of getting a 10 channel USB Mixer

keep in mind GB's limits:

http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/GBFAQ.html#maxnumrecordabletracks

(Let the page FULLY load. The link to your answer is at the top of your screen)

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Answer 2

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Oct 28, 2010 5:58 PM in response to moheh

NickF182 wrote:
So what you're saying is I would need to use a multi-channel interface recording in stereo?

you're saying two different things.

you use a multi-channel interface to record on multiple tracks in GB. whether or not you record those tracks in stereo is irrelevant to the choice of interface, that's your decision at recording time.

an example of what you want is the first item shown here:

http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/InterfacesMIDI.html

it's the one i use

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Answer 3

moheh Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 28, 2010 6:15 PM in response to moheh

Okay, as I can see this is a single channel. I looked at a few, and found an 8-channel one. Would I be able to use this?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/727760-REG/AlesisMULTIMIX_8_USB_FX_MultiMix_8_USBFX.html

Oh and by the way, I'm the same user who posted this topic, but I logged in on the wrong account when I posted this.

Message was edited by: moheh

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Answer 4

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Oct 28, 2010 6:25 PM in response to moheh

i'm not sure, although it looks the same, the name is slightly different and it never mentions multi-channel recording, where as _this one_ does ("multi–channel audio recording straight to your computer").

if you want to buy from BH, you might want call them to double check, as i said, some USB interfaces don't output more than 2 channels

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Answer 5

moheh Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 28, 2010 6:33 PM in response to moheh

I see. I would think that the one I looked at would though. It says this in the features.

"The Alesis MultiMix 8 USB FX is an 8-channel audio recording and sound reinforcement mixer with an internal effects processor and USB 2.0 connection."

So wouldn't 8-channel audio recording be the same thing as multi-channel audio recording?

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Answer 6

moheh Author

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Oct 28, 2010 5:51 PM in response to HangTime

So what you're saying is I would need to use a multi-channel interface recording in stereo? And that's right, I forgot about the recording limit.

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Answer 7

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Oct 28, 2010 6:35 PM in response to moheh

moheh wrote:
an 8-channel audio recording

ok, that probably makes it safe, sounds like it should work fine

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Answer 8

moheh Author

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Oct 28, 2010 6:37 PM in response to HangTime

Okay, I'll look into this. Thank you very much for all your help!

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Answer 9

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Oct 28, 2010 6:39 PM in response to moheh

you're welcome, good luck

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Answer 10

isteveus

Level 5

4,340 points

Oct 28, 2010 6:54 PM in response to moheh

Stop! I believe the FX is 2 channel out the Multimix USB 2.0 is the the one you're looking for.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/486041-REG/AlesisMULTIMIX_8_USB_2_0_MultiMix_8_USB_20.html

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Answer 11

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Oct 28, 2010 6:56 PM in response to isteveus

aha! i was right B-)>

thanks isteveus!

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Answer 12

moheh Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 2, 2010 3:21 PM in response to isteveus

Thanks for that heads up. I see the one you're suggesting says "8-input" instead of "8-channel." I'm looking for an 8-input then?

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Answer 13

isteveus

Level 5

4,340 points

Nov 2, 2010 6:44 PM in response to moheh

If you check it out at the Alesis site http://www.alesis.com/multimix8usb20 you'll see it says, 10-direct outputs to your computer for recording and 2 return inputs for monitoring.

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