Summing in the Interface

[Tony Scharf]

On Mon, Sep 22, 2008 at 4:00 AM, Niall Munnelly <aleph at aleph-null.net> wrote:
> On Sun, Sep 21, 2008 at 08:39:00PM -0500, Tony Scharf wrote:
>>
>>
>> This has never been a problem, because every DAW out there allows for
>> bouncing audio tracks internally.  Some do it in real time while
>> others will 'calculate' the mix at faster speed (depends on if you
>> have external MIDI tracks or not).  In any case, bouncing is an
>> internal matter to the DAW and the interface doesn't matter.
>
> The interface matters if you want it to perform the summing
> duties, instead of a DAW.  I haven't investigated claims
> that summing out of the box via an external summing mixer
> {Speck X-Sum, Dangerous 2-Buss, Phoenix Niceriser and
> others} or some audio interfaces is superior to mixing in
> the box too deeply.  I did hear a difference between, say,
> Samplitude and Live 5/6, but I was basically guessing in a
> Cubase 3/Samplitude shootout.
>

And I would bet you would have an even harder time with Live 7 and
Cubase 4.  To my ears, I cant hear a difference.

Also, only have 24 or so inputs into their summing engines at mix down
would be pretty limiting.  That gives you only 12 stereo sources, so
your going to probably have to sum in the software anyway to get the
track count down by grouping and bussing similar sounds.

Another serious downside to mixing in the card is that (with most
cards and DAWS) there is no direct connection for automation.  Unless
your going to just have a static mix, then I dont see how you would be
able to use any automation. Most of the control software I have seen
allows for a control surface to be used, but there is not a provision
for automation, simply because its assumed thats going to be done in
the DAW.

> Obviously, you need controlled listening circumstances and
> it's not /that/ important to me - I have more important
> studio problems between keyboard and chair - but I'd like to
> indulge my curiosity, and want to understand the behavior
> I've described in my first email.
>

All fair, but its kinda like asking 'will I save more gas if I drive
all day backwards'.  even if there were some small benefit to it, the
hassles involved are probably not going to be worth the trouble..

Tony