OK, so you want to record completely Out of The Box? I don't know what type of 24 channel mixing desk you have, but in this example I will assume it is something similar to the Yamaha MG24/14.

You want your 24 channel desk (referred to as desk from now on) to be the heart of the studio and you want the R8 to be your multitrack recorder. All of your instruments and outboard gear are hooked up to the desk, monitors are also connected to the desk. The R8 acts as the computer interface. input- and outputchannels on the desk are used as indication in this example: you can patch the inputs and outputs to your needs and wants.

DESK:
input channel 1: Vocal
input channel 2: Guitar
input channel 3: Keyboard L
input channel 4: Keyboard R
input channel 5: Output R8 L
input channel 6: Output R8 R
input channel 7: Output VL2 L
input channel 8: Output VL2 R
Plus whatever other input devices you may want to connect.

Outputs desk:
Main out L+R --> Monitors (or power amp --> monitors)
Aux out 1 --> Line in VL2
Aux out 2 --> aux in VL2
Aux out 3 --> input 1 R8
Aux out 4 --> input 2 R8
Plus other output paths you may want to create for outboard gear


How does it work?
In this set-up you can choose to record everything in one take or record every track one by one without having to mess around with your cables and conections.
Here's how you go about making a multitrack recording. I assume you let BiaB lay down the backingtracks, so let's start with those. It is not clear to me if the R8 can record directly from the USB-input, but let's assume it can not.


* You can adjust your monitor volume and sources using the faders on the desk*

1: Play the BiaB file. The output from the R8 comes in the desk on channel 5 and 6. Make sure you set the aux levels 3 and 4 (they lead to the input of the R8) for resp. channel 5 and 6 so that your signal comes in at around 0dB on the R8. Set aux 3 and 4 to PFL (pre fader listening). Select the channels on the R8 you want to record the BiaB tracks to and start the recording. (ch 5 --> aux 3 --> R8 input 1 and ch 6 --> aux 4 --> R8 input 2.)

2: Make sure you reset the aux levels so that no signal is sent to any aux outputs after this recording.

3: Let's record some guitar. On the R8 select the channels containing the BiaB tracks to play back and select a channel to record your guitar to (R8 input 1)

4: Set Aux 3 (leads to R8 input 1) on the desk so that your signal comes in at 0dB on the R8. Make sure that aux 3 is set to PFL.

5: Start playback and recording. You can adjust your monitor levels using the faders; this will not interfere with your recording.

6: Make sure you reset the aux levels so that no signal is sent to any aux outputs after this recording.

7: Time for vocals. Select the channnels on the R8 you want the vocals to record to. Select the BiaB tracks and/or the guitartrack to playback.

8: Your microphone comes into the desk on channel 1. Set aux 1 for this channel so that you get a good signal into the VL2. Make sure that aux 1 is set to PFL

9: The R8 comes in the desk on channels 5 and 6. Set aux 2 for these channels so that you get a good signal into the aux in on the VL2. Make sure aux 2 is set to PFL

10: The VL2 comes into the desk on ch. 7 and 8. Set aux 3 on ch 7 and aux 4 on channel 8 so that you get a good signal into the R8. Start playback/recording.

When all parts are recorded you can use the R8 to mixdown to a stereo wav-file.

Keep in mind that every signal from aux 3 and 4 lead to the input of the R8; that is what you record. If you want to record everything at once, you make your recording mix using the aux 3 and aux 4 levels on each channel.

Should you encounter a feedback loop when recording vocals, make sure you mute the monitor-output for the vocal and VL2 channels on the R8: your monitor mix is made on the desk.


I hope this helps. If not; don't hesitate to ask.

Mike
www.mikewever.nl