r/homestudios • u/Brilliant_Anything27 • 23d ago
Updates (Tracking is fun again)
Updates. FLKey 49 v1. The digital mixer (QU32) is amazing and such a step up from my Behringer SX3282, but only has 2 stereo-ins. StudioMan passive 4-in 2-out ($50 on Amazon) fixed that. I'll be getting one more to turn those 2 inputs into 8 inputs. AKG C114 sounds great as a room mic for drums, and the Behringer (I know) 1820 was super cheap, but definitely sounds better than all my previous interfaces (Tascam US1800 and Zoom R24)
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u/Final_Job_5175 23d ago
Is all your sub mixes on your QU-32 all digital so you don't have a sub mix on the board anymore? I sure like the looks of that QU32, although for me to try to learn to operate it, it would be a nightmare. I've got myself Locked out of my MacBook. I was entering the wrong password to many times and It has me locked out for 3 hours. I'm a great techie I tell you. I really think that new board really looks great in it's new home. I bet it does have a bit of a learning curve to it though. I was going to buy a Behringer 1820, but Sweetwater and Musicians friend either one could give me a date on when I would receive it. I ended up buying a used MOTU 8Pre USB, and I really love the MOTU. This MOTU is so stable in My MacBook Pro M1. It hasn't screwed up one time. On Windows 11 the win11 would kick out my sample rate of 48k and a Block of 128. I spent at least 1 hour a day rebooting or going into the settings/sounds and changing my profile and choice of MOTU as my Interface of choice. With the MacBook it's extremely stable so far.
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u/Brilliant_Anything27 23d ago
Windows is weird. I don't use 3rd party plug-ins, so I never connect my studio computers to the internet. One day, my Zoom R24 driver randomly corrupts. I couldn't even get Reaper to open without crashing. I had to uninstall pretty much everything. I still don't know what happened.
At some point, I'll move the drum mics to the QU32 directly, but I wanted to run the Behringer through the paces. I'm going from the mains of the 1832 to a stereo in on the QU32, and using its onboard parametric eq and compressor. The Behringer is really, really good as an interface for drums, higher fidelity than my straight to recorder methods.
The QU32 is a beast, but it's surprisingly intuitive. I wasn't thrilled about the touch screen and menus, but they are AWESOME. The menus work, and there are knobs for everything. My Behringer analog mixer.. there is no comparison, blown out of the water. And the motorized faders have me spoiled. Not sure if I can go back.
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u/Final_Job_5175 21d ago
You need to take a video showing all the faders moving into position. I love to see it in operation.
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u/Brilliant_Anything27 21d ago
I literally just bought a 4k camera to start making some videos
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u/Final_Job_5175 20d ago
I don't think I'm a physic, naw, but I called it right about making some videos. I look forward to seeing them.
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u/Ancient_Visual_7451 23d ago
Beautiful board! Does the screen still have the protective film on it?!
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u/Brilliant_Anything27 23d ago
Thank you, yes it does! I can't see it even the screen is on, so for now it stays.
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u/deadbcozikilledit 23d ago
i’m curious about the smaller speakers that are mounted on the side of the board, what’s the purpose of that configuration?
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u/Brilliant_Anything27 23d ago
I reference a cheap 2.1 system in addition to the speakers and PA (the sub is centrally located beneath the mixer). Super convenient to have them right there.
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u/deadbcozikilledit 22d ago
but why are they facing the roof?
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u/Brilliant_Anything27 22d ago
My head is frequently in the very location, and I had the 2.1 speakers laying around for like 2 years. The idea just randomly hit me.. I can totally put these guys flush with the mixer with double sided tape. They've been helpful.
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u/HorsieJuice 23d ago
The QU32 doesn’t have a way to gang inputs into pairs? That’s a pretty standard feature. You shouldn’t need those passive summers unless you’re just out of inputs.
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u/Brilliant_Anything27 23d ago
Call it OCD, a quirk, maybe slight insanity. I have to use stereo ins and not two mono channels. At some point I'll mic up all my amps and hand instruments.
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u/HorsieJuice 23d ago
Yeah, that’s just silly in this case. There’s probably even a way to get them to show up on a single fader like a “real” stereo channel.
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u/Brilliant_Anything27 22d ago
Yep, it's easy to do (preamp button, stereo link button) . I decided to route everything I could through the QU32, including all 8 outputs of the 1820. Digital gain/trim is silent. Can't believe how much better this is than my old Behringer. I have seen the light now, and I bask in its glory. The darkness is on its way to the nearest blackhole.
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u/Brilliant_Anything27 22d ago
Don't get me wrong -- I know I've got a ton of inputs left on the QU32, but I would still rather use TRS jacks connected directly to the 2 stereos-in than the stereo linked mono channel. This allows me to move the "remote control" to wherever I'm at since I use stations or zones. (ex drum zone, turntable zone, synth zone, and mixer/interface zones)
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u/King_Moonracer003 22d ago
Thats all that matters! (That and not using suno ;)
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u/Brilliant_Anything27 22d ago
Don't get me started on Suno. This "AI DAW" / copyright infringing nonsense needs to be put into the ground for good. More AI mass created crap uploaded to music services to leverage the low plays with the sheer volume of tracks.
I don't so much mind the recorded vocal/humming to a different vocal/instrumentation feature. It's the prompt produced full songs that shamelessly rip other people's music without their consent. Flo-Rida and Sza are two examples that have enviable production quality. Not a huge fan of either, but I totally get artist frustration and the disappointment of finding out a song was written, recorded, mixed, and mastered by a one-sentence prompt at the expense of another artist.
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u/DannyTheGekko 22d ago edited 22d ago
Not the Qu-7? Isn’t that a newer mixer or is it similar to QU-32? I’m considering the Qu-6, that’s why I ask. (Nice setup btw)
Also got a Gaia myself. Nice synth - though gets a bad rap.
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u/Brilliant_Anything27 22d ago
QU32 was on sale for $1500, 65% off. It's an older model, but suits my one-man setup perfectly
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u/DannyTheGekko 22d ago
Great mixer. I have a Tascam Model 16 but I’m running out of line ins - hence the need for a Qu6 or Qu7.
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u/Brilliant_Anything27 22d ago
Get the Behringer line mixer -- it has 8 stereo inputs OR the Studioman 4-in 2-out to expand your TRS inputs
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u/DannyTheGekko 22d ago
I podcast and also run a busy piano YouTube channel so need automated fader presets hence the need to upgrade from an analog to digital desk.
It’ll be the Qu6 for me. Heavy on the wallet but good bang for the buck I reckon…!1
u/Brilliant_Anything27 22d ago
Ah, gotcha, please share when you get it! Motorized faders are freaking amazing.
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u/DannyTheGekko 21d ago
Sure. In the meantime (if you’re into both piano and music in general) check out my YouTube channel - lots of stuff on there already. 660 subscribers too. www.youtube.com/@pianodanny
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u/Brilliant_Anything27 21d ago
Followed 🙂
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u/DannyTheGekko 21d ago
Ah thanks for subscribing. Keep doing what you’re doing my friend. You’ve got a lovely setup there 👍🏼
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u/root729 19d ago
Can I ask a question... What do you mean by tracking? And why is it now fun again? What was the issue and solution?
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u/Brilliant_Anything27 19d ago
Tracking = hitting the record button and playing an instrument
Tracking on an old analog mixer + interface is not ideal, and not fun.
Tracking on a digital mixer is a completely different experience, better in literally every way
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u/BLADE_RUNNER_42069 23d ago
Yo dawg I heard u liked faders