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Hello,
I want to record 4 different track at a same time. ( 4 mics but different distance ) I am using audiacity adn Cubase 5le. all 4 channels should be record in a separate 4 tracks.
How can I set it up? can I use my usual 4 ch Alesis usb mixer for that ?
Thank You

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Boswell Wed, 08/31/2011 - 07:55

If your mixer is the Alesis MultiMix 4 USB, then that one records only the stereo mix, so effectively it cannot record more than two channels at once. It has only two microphone inputs, anyway.

You would need a multi-channel interface or something similar for what you want to do. The Alesis iO4 is an example of a low-specification 4-channel interface.

Was this a question about the capabilities of your present setup, or were you thinking of getting something better anyway? If so, how much would you want to spend?

Boswell Wed, 08/31/2011 - 09:13

Alesis are a bit coy about the USB interfacing capability of the MultiMix 8 USB FX, but the best I can find is "16-bit, 44.1/48 kHz stereo USB output for easy recording and playback ". This, to me, indicates no more than stereo (2-channel) input and output.

The iO2 Express is definitely only a 2-channel device, but it is at least 24-bit.

I don't think the two devices can be used together to get 4 input channels on a PC, but on a Mac, the Aggregate I/O facility might well support this. However, there is no way to synchronize the sampling rates between the two interface units, so the resulting audio files would not be worth a lot.

Aneslin Bala Wed, 08/31/2011 - 09:25

Hello Boswell, Thank you for your reply.
Yes I cant use 2 interface together. and im using mono mics and mono recording. but planing to use 3 mono XLR Condencer mics. but I need it in a separate tracks at a same time.
is there any ways to do that in other ways? or should I need to buy any other gears ?
I would like to record vocal and guitar like that.
Thanks in advance

Boswell Wed, 08/31/2011 - 10:01

You need a computer interface that will record at least three separate tracks. What type you should get depends on whether you would want to go for absolute minimum cost, or whether you are prepared to pay a little bit more for some sort of quality.

At the low end of the scale is something like the Tascam US-600 USB Audio Interface. This has 4 mic inputs, but even this sort of box is around the £170 mark.