Soundcraft Mixer
The Soundcraft Mixer
The new mixer in the synth room is the Soundcraft Signature 12 multi-track, which includes 12 inputs, 8 preamps, a multitrack USB recording interface, effects, limiters, and more. This is a very powerful tool for mixing and recording that is easy to use.
Using USB Recording
The USB output of the mixer should be connected to the studio iMac. Users may connect directly to their laptops for recording, but please return the connection to the iMac.
Input channels 1-12 will show up in your DAW as inputs 1-12. These are pre-fader sends. Record level is determined by the "Gain" knob at the top of each channel strip. The USB send is unaffected by the EQ or level fader.
USB Input channels 13-14 are the Master Out, post fader.
EFFECTS: A Lexicon effects processor is available, Here's how to record that to a separate channel:
Use the Blue effects send knob on each channel to send signal to the FX, and the FX return fader to heat the signal (assign to grp 1-2).
The on-board FX are not directly routed to a USB channel, so you have to record it through the master out send on usb channels 13/14. Press the MST button on the FX return track.
To record the FX track separately, make sure to disable the MST assignment button on other inputs. For multi-track recording, we set up this room with four monitors connected to Group 1-2 out and the master out.
You can also listen to outputs from your DAW using the USB return (use the USB RTN button on the top of each channel strip). Send output from your DAW to a channel on the mixer, and press USB RTN, then the computer output replaces the normal audio input for that channel (just after the USB output tap: post-gain, pre-EQ)
Important note: the analog input to these channels will always be sent via the corresponding USB channel (even if the USB RTN is being used on that channel)
So, you can even use USB SEND → DAW → USB RTN path to insert DAW plugin’s into the mixer channel path.
Overview and Monitoring
Speakers are feed from the group outputs 1-2 and the master output. These are assigned on each channel by pressing the 1-2 or MST button by the fader. Make sure the group 1-2 faders are up, along with the channel and master fader.
Channels 1-6 are mono input with ¼” and XLR inputs
Channels 7-12 are stereo pairs (11 & 12 is RCA input)
Each channel has a pre-amp with a gain knob (except 11&12 which has a trim knob, no pre-amp), EQ, level, and routing controls, USB route, Channels 1&2 have a limiter, and channels 5 & 6 have a Hi-Z input option (more on what all of this means below)
The FX Return channel takes it’s input from the output of the internal Lexicon FX processor. It is a stereo input channel with aux sends but without input level control or EQ
Aux (Auxiliary) Master output channels (green knobs on right side) control the output level of the auxiliary bus and global pre-fad
e/post-fader switching. AFL switching allows aux master solos
The Group Output Master channels control routing and output level for the Group busses, which in our case is being used for monitoring.
The group channel can be summed to mono and/or routed to the Master Stereo Output
Send an input to group 1+2 or MST to hear it on the speakers!
Routing, FX, and Mixing
The signal flow essentially goes from top to bottom on each channel:
Pre-amp (gain) → USB send/return (more on this in next section) → high-pass filter → limiter (only ch. 1 & 2) → EQ → mute → pre-fader aux send → fader → post-fader aux send → pan → output routing to Master L/R or Group 1+2
The Aux outputs are output busses made up of the summed Aux contributions from input channels, with levels controlled by the Aux controls on the individual channels. This is just like a return track in Ableton or a Bus in Logic. You can toggle whether an Aux bus is pre or post fader next to the Aux level control on the right side of the mixer.
The blue knob that says Aux3/FX sends input to the FX bus and the Aux3.
The Aux 3 bus and the FX are independent, but share the same Send level. The source for the FX bus send is always post-fader so that a source’s contribution to an effect is proportional to its contribution to the mix. The Aux 3 source can be switched Pre or post (as per normal Aux send)
The FX bus processes the signal with effects such as reverb, delay, chorus, lofi, tape, etc. You can adjust the parameters right on the mixer
The level of the FX is controlled by the FX return channel
You can send any track to the group 1-2 or master output, which is what you hear in the speakers, by toggling the buttons next to the level fader.