USB Mixer vs Audio interface
USB Mixer vs Audio interface Posted on: 06.12.2012 by Eleanora Flesner Hi guys, Ive reinstalled Windows-7 (64bit) on my PC and suddenly my internal Maya soundcard (PCI) doesn't work anymore. It's been giving problems even before the instal but I believe its properly busted now. I've taken it out and tried it in a different PC but I need to wiggle it in the slot before it gets power and then it just switches off randomly. Not sure if it could be repaired as Ive cleaned the contacts with no success.So now Im in the market for either an entry level external Audio Interface (Alesis i02 OR SIMILAR) or an entry level mixer with built-in sound card (Behringer XENYX Q502)....both USB powered. Both units have similar functions but I need to know what is the difference between a USB mixer and a USB Audio Interface. I basically want it to get better sound quality to my active Monitor speakers (Alesis M1 520) when running Cubase or Reason and to connect an electric guitar and mic to record into Cubase. The mic is more to record sounds (and tweak them) and not really to record vocals at all and I wouldn't ever need to record more than 1 input/instrument at a time. I would also be running Traktor via the Interface or Mixer, to the monitor speakers instead of using my controllers soundcard. So I have no idea which 1 to get. At this price range I believe sound quailty would be similar for the 2 units and not great, but hopefully better than my PC standered onboard sound. | |
| Eleanora Flesner 06.12.2012 | Hi guys, Ive reinstalled Windows-7 (64bit) on my PC and suddenly my internal Maya soundcard (PCI) doesn't work anymore. It's been giving problems even before the instal but I believe its properly busted now. I've taken it out and tried it in a different PC but I need to wiggle it in the slot before it gets power and then it just switches off randomly. Not sure if it could be repaired as Ive cleaned the contacts with no success. So now Im in the market for either an entry level external Audio Interface (Alesis i02 OR SIMILAR) or an entry level mixer with built-in sound card (Behringer XENYX Q502)....both USB powered. Both units have similar functions but I need to know what is the difference between a USB mixer and a USB Audio Interface. I basically want it to get better sound quality to my active Monitor speakers (Alesis M1 520) when running Cubase or Reason and to connect an electric guitar and mic to record into Cubase. The mic is more to record sounds (and tweak them) and not really to record vocals at all and I wouldn't ever need to record more than 1 input/instrument at a time. I would also be running Traktor via the Interface or Mixer, to the monitor speakers instead of using my controllers soundcard. So I have no idea which 1 to get. At this price range I believe sound quailty would be similar for the 2 units and not great, but hopefully better than my PC standered onboard sound. |
| Eleanora Flesner 06.12.2012 | Alternativley, if its possible to repair the MAYA44 PCI Audio Interface please point me in the direction I sould go to have this done. That Sound card has served me well, and I really like its crystal clear sound. Even on regualr hi-fi speakers there was a huge difference compared to the on-board sound and I just thought that maybe I should replace it with an identical card. I really don't have a problem with PCI cards like some people do. Just wish I could find what the rpoblem is. Do PCI cards usually just stop working after a while? I bought this 1 used and have been using it for about a year. The guy before me used it about a year or 2 so its around 3 years old max. http://www.esi-audio.com/products/maya44/ |
| Eleanora Flesner 06.12.2012 | Thanks for the reply. I have a Mixtrack pro for Traktor so wouldn't be using this mixer for that purpose. I basically just want to replace my MAYA44 soundcard that stopped working and thought that this mixer has the fuction of an audio interface (probably less sound quality) and it also has the function of connecting my Guitar and Mic. At the moment, Im recording my software synths in Cubase and Reason with a Midi keyboard, and because the Maya soundcard is busted, Im running my DAWs outputs, via the Mixtrack Pro soundcard which is connected to the active monitors. It sounds okayish but for some reason I don't like doing this, which is why I want to get either an Interface or mixer which could double as an interface aswell. If I do decide to save up for a more expensive Audio interface, would there be a difference in sound quality vs using the mixtrack soundcard or a cheaper interface/mixer? If so then Ill probably save up some cash but if the difference isn't that great then Ill just go for something cheaper. |
| Ralph Alderette 06.12.2012 | Honestly, I would say: save up for the best card you can get. mixers are good for production if you want hardware.. otherwise I say get an audio interface. Keep in mind, you Cannot use the mixer channels on a usb mixer like the xenyx to control the channels in Traktor. USB PA mixers only control live inputs (guitar/microphone) not digital channels (traktor). If one part of the USB mixer messes up, the whole thing is useless.. the more parts you get, the easier it'll be to troubleshoot also |
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