Well the good news is the mixer has inserts - so you can plug all the sources into the mixer's six channels for the pa, and you can then make up cables to go to a multitrack interface with line inputs. You will need, however, to make the cables you need - as what you are doing is 'sniffing' what goes through the mixer channel. You wire a 3 circuit ¼" connector linking the tip and the ring, and then you link that to the tip of the remote plug that will go into the interface. Ground (sleeve) is commoner to both connectors. This will let the mixer work normally for the PA requirement, but your interface gets the individual channels.

Lophophora, post: 460548, member: 49998 wrote: This Saturday my band is playing live for a concert. There is 1 drummer (electronic kit), 1 bass, 1 electric guitar, 1 keyboard and 2 vocalists. I'd like to record a multitrack performance but I'm unsure how to properly do that.

We will be using a small 12-channel mixer (this one: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MXP144FX--samson-mixpad-mxp144fx-mixer-with-usb-and-effects) for the PA mix. The mixer has a USB interface but my understanding is that it only sends the stereo mix to the computer, and I'd rather record a multitrack so I can adjust the mix afterwards. I also have 2 audio interfaces (Roland Octa-Capture and Focusrite Clarett 8Pre).

As it stands, I believe that the only way to do what I want is to connect each band member to an audio interface first, then route each track individually to the mixer. Is that the right way to go? Isn't there a more convenient way to do that?

Amazingly, that mixer has no high-impedance inputs, so you are probably already using DI boxes for guitar inputs. The mixer also has only four insert sockets (helpfully called INSETR connectors in the manual), located on the first four mixer channels. Assuming you will be using these channels for the two vocal microphones and the two guitars (via mics on the cabinets or via DI boxes), you can take the amplified signals out of the mixer's insert jacks to the interface.

You will either have to get four Hosa DOC106 adaptors for these, or, as Paul suggests, modify some TRS cables. The modification is best done by buying TRS cables and changing the connections inside one end of each cable so that the two cable conductors both go to the tip connection and the ring connection is taken to the sleeve. If the plugs are moulded on the end of the cable and are not modifiable, simply get four TS plugs, cut the TRS connectors off one end of each cable and wire the TS plugs on in their place, but with both signal wires taken to the tip contact. It's important that the modified end is plugged into the interface and not the mixer's insert jack.

The outputs from the drum machine and the keyboard (both line-level stereo signals) should be split using Y-pieces before going into the mixer inputs, and the signals taken as four separate mono signals to the interface. Simply use four TRS Y-splitters plus additional standard TRS cables to daisy-chain these four channels into the interface. The Y-splitter can be plugged into either the interface or the mixer, and the TRS cable taken to the other - it makes little difference. It also doesn't matter whether the outputs from the instruments are balanced or unbalanced; using balanced Y-splits in this way proofs you against having to deal with balanced output devices in the future.

I would use the Focusrite interface for recording the 8 channels. Practice using it all first!

Thanks guys, turns out I haven't been able to find the time (and enough cables!) to record the multitrack so I just recorded the stereo out from the mixer. It's not as bad as I thought, actually.

But thanks for your input, I might need that next time.