Exactly how does a mixer come into play in beat production??

I read alot that people say you definitly need mixer....i think i have a good idea of what a mixer does as far as tweaking the sounds that go through it, but not exactly sure how it works in conjunction with your samples on the mpc. i see there are 8, 12, 24 channels...what does a channe do, and how do you kno how many you need???? any good suggestions for a mixer fora new kid on the block (hahaha i said New Kids on the Block)

DubbleD wrote:I read alot that people say you definitly need mixer....i think i have a good idea of what a mixer does as far as tweaking the sounds that go through it, but not exactly sure how it works in conjunction with your samples on the mpc. i see there are 8, 12, 24 channels...what does a channe do, and how do you kno how many you need???? any good suggestions for a mixer fora new kid on the block (hahaha i said New Kids on the Block)

yo mixer is the brains of the studio. It routes everything around and shit. a channel usally is one sound. stereo tracks = 2 channels. A mixer is where all the wires come in and then get sent out. Say if i got an mpc (8channels) a synth (2 stereo channels) turntables (2 stereo channels) A computer (2 stereo channels) thats 16 tracks, channels, right there. Also if u got a multi it sends it to it. Buses are used to send a couple of channels out grouped together. So all their levels are then controlled by 1 fader instead of ex. 3 kick snare hat on a drum kit. And say i want to send just my tables output just to the computer u can wire the buses output just to do that. Thats why its the brains. Also to send shit out to ex. a reverb and have it return. Thats what the send and returns do. 1 channel = 1 sound.

binger comes thru like always.....that helped alot to shed some light for me but im still unclear on some things...
you say everything gets wired into the mixer to get sent out...im assuming by out you mean some type of recorder? also when you say "mpc (8 channels)" are you suggesting i get the 8 outs? i have my mpc, midi controller (which will be running a roland module), a turntable and mixer for sampling, and the mpc. i also have a computer that will eventually work with the setup.....leaning towards pro tools. so how many channels do i need? seems like more the better jus in case? just curious....what mixer do you use? yo man, preciate the help

i got a beringer ub2442fx and i love it

DubbleD wrote:you say everything gets wired into the mixer to get sent out...im assuming by out you mean some type of recorder?

Yes. But of course you want to hear something too, so if you have monitors hooked up it will send the sounds out to the monitors.

yea cheech, i do have a pair of event monitors.......and do i need the 8 outs? im not sure i fully understand the purpose and advantages to the feature

the 8 outs are so you have more control of individual sounds. If you don't have the 8 outs, you can only come out of the mpc as a stereo track.
If you get pro tools, I recommend getting the 001 ( $600 on ebay), that has 8 inputs and 8 outputs. Then get the 8 outs on your mpc. Trust me
it's important you separate your sounds. I don't have the 8 outs either,
but thats the next thing I'm gettin. You can get a cheap 16 channel mixer
for $300.

will someone tell me then whats the point of the big studios that have gigantic mixers?

The big studios have those huge mixers to compensate for their extravagant prices that known artists pay for with their huge budgets. Nah just playing but they have those huge consoles to accomodate tons of gear, so everything can have it's own channel. Can you imagine recording a rock band where every instruement needs it's own track when you have a lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, two keyboards, and tons of mics for micing drums not to mention the vocalists? What would you do without all those channels...

for what ever gear that you may own, there is usally a daigram of how to hook up your gear with in the first 10 pages of your manual. prehaps it might make some things a little bit easier to understand.