Basically mate, your mixer is for 'sounds' to be mixed together. NOT MIDI. you'll plug things like JACK or PHONO inputs into your mixer (that come from soundcard outputs or keyboard outputs), mix them together, and then add effects from any outboard effects that are routed through the mixer (including compression).



Your MIDI controller keyboard will be routed through a MIDI card or USB into your computer. This will basically send signals to your computer telling it what notes to play. then these notes are either (A) converted to sounds via VST instruments and sent to your soundcard outputs or (B) used to send signals BACK to your keyboard telling it what notes to play and the resulting output is fed from the back of the keyboard to the mixing desk via jack outputs (providing your midi keyboard has internal sounds)



The reason's why I use a mixer are simple



(A) I have alot of MIDI keyboards/Sound Modules/Drum Machines that I want to merge into the mix via their JACK output and:



(B) I have an 8 output soundcard that sends sounds from VSTinstruments and AUDIO tracks (ie WAV files) and I want to merge then into the mix too..



(C) I have outboard effects and compressers - these can only be added through an external MIXER.



(D) Working this way makes your tracks sound less digital and much WARMER - the problem that I hear from people who just send me tracks computer based are that they sound flat. Having a set up like this adds analog warmth you simply can get from just a computer.



PS MY recommendation is a Mackie 1604 VLZ.... you won't regret it and it'll make you get more into music production.



Hey - can anyone add anything else to this?












Edited by: markeg3000 at: 10/22/02 10:37:42 pm