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Line In/monitor In/2 Mics With Ux2 Setup


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Hi guys,

I am going to record for the 1st time a drum set with my UX2 and I wanted to see if I was going to run into any trouble with this particular setup.


I was going to record with a 4-mic setup (3 condensor mics requring phantom power) on the drums. 

 

The band has a mixing board with 2 channels for phantom.

 

Can I route 1 phantom condensor mic through Mic 1 on the UX2 (Phantom power on), another codensor mic for the Mic 2 of the UX2, the mixing board (with last phantom power mics and a SM57 for the snare) through line in (L and R), and to top it off, a Headphone amp for the guitar player through the Monitor In on the UX2 (The guitar player wants to play at the same time as the drummer so the drummer can feel like it's a live setting)?

 

On my DAW (Logic Pro) I will have 2 mono tracks ready for recording from the UX2. 

 

I'm assuming that the Mic1 of the UX2 can go to 1 track (Panned all the way in the mixing view to the left), the Mic2 can go to track 2, (Panned all the way to the right), and the line left and right can be equal to recording tracks.

 

So, I can have a overhead (Left) going through Mic1 of the UX2, overhead (right) going through Mic2 of the UX2, and the kick drum and snare from the mixer going into the Left and Right of the line inputs (Hopefully creating a down the center sound on both recorded tracks).

 

Then, that headphone monitor in is not to be recorded at all, but we'll be able to hear it on the headphones.

 

I hope this makes sense as it's hurting my brain trying to figure this one out.  Just trying to avoid buying a Saffire Pro 40 with 8 inputs.

 

Thanks guys for your input!

Dave Back

Doughnut Blonde

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It seems too complex of a setup; why not just run everything into the mixer 1st, then into the UX2?  It would make for a much cleaner signal, easier setup, easier mixing and monitoring, and you could use Logic's mastering tools to make a good recording at unity gain.  If you really want more inputs, you could get a UX8 and the problem is then solved, rather than getting a Saffire Pro 40.  Then, you could use the money you save on a headphone distribution amplifier, and have everyone play at the same time with more isolated signals.

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I think you'll be fine for the mics (3 condenser and the snare).  However I'm not sure about the UX2's stereo monitor input. I believe this compares to the cd/mp3 input on other Line 6 devices. On those devices (I don't have a UX2) the cd/mp3 input is not converted to digital - it is passed directly to the analog outputs. If that is the case with the UX2 your monitor input will not be available for recording over the (digital) usb connection.

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Thanks for the replies.

 

QsBlues, I would agree, why not send everything through the mixer, but the bands mixer only has 2 inputes for Phantom Power mics, and I wanted 3 inputs, so I was going to take up 2 of the Phantom Power on the mixer and 1 from the Ux2.

 

Also, since the Ux8 is discontinued and hard to find, I would rather go with a new product.  Never really understood why the Ux8 got discontinued but that's a business decision from Line 6.  Getting a headphone distribution system would be awesome and we'll see if that's in the old budget book.

 

Silverhead, if I'm reading your reading your reply correctly, I believe it's going to work out since the Headphone Amp system that the guitar player wants to play while tracking drums is only for the drummer to hear and not record, it sounds like this will work.

 

I'll get it a try and see what happens.  


Thanks again for your help and quick responses.  It's always good to know that people are patrolling the forums for the oddball questions.

DB of DB

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+1 to Silverhead, the Monitor In can not be sent to your DAW.

 

With the UX1 and UX2, you cannot mix Line Inputs with Mic or Instrument.

 

So if you try to select a Line Input, the Mic and Instrument inputs become unavailable.

 

However, you could run the mixing board to the Instrument, just watch the levels, and it will probably be easier to tame the levels with the PAD input.

 

IMHO this is a decent 4-channel USB interface for the price.

 

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Lambda/

 

My bro-in-law used this for his band for years before upgrading to an 8-Channel.

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To sum this all up, what you want to do is possible, but you need to use the Stereo Monitor In; not the Line Inputs.  The Stereo Monitor In cannot be recorded.

 

The Line Inputs are valid recording sources, but can not be used simultaneously with the Mic or Instrument Inputs.

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Thanks guys.  Without the ability of using the mic input while still using the line inputs is a bummer, I'll just use the mixer and only 2 phantom channels with 2 dynamic mics going through the line in's on the UX2.

 

Appreciate the help!


DB of DB

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Dynamic mics need preamps, using the Line Ins on the UX2 will not give you clean sound for recording.

I'd recommend springing for a new audio interface with at least 6 mic preamps if you plan on recording drums on a regular basis.  Mixing drum mics down to a stereo (left-right) signal is a chancy way to get drums recorded, unless you have a great room and know exactly how to pan/eq/set up everything going in.

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