Originally Posted By: sslechta
I used to use a 16 channel mixer to route instrument/mic inputs in/out from the PC.

I dumped the mixer when I got the Focusrite 18i20 interface.

Since it has good preamps, it eliminated the need for a mixer and saved me $$$.

Now if I want to record remotely, I just take a laptop and the Focusrite and connect all the instruments to that.

The software mixer still allows me to tweak levels between instruments that I would do on a hardware mixer.


I would think you saved money because you already had invested in a home studio and had a computer. In that scenario, the compromised live mixer performance of the 18i20 makes sense.

Starting from scratch and including the cost of a laptop, for live gigs, a digital mixer would seem to be the better choice and would also double as a quality home studio DAW interface. You spend another $100 more than the 18i20 and purchase a Behringer X32 Core. It seems a much better solution for dual purpose field and studio use.

For field recording, unless the track count needed is more than 8, I believe the best setup is done with hardware rather than involving a computer. Hardware will be more reliable, require less setup time, fewer components to deal with and cheaper.

When I do field recording, I prefer the DP-24 because it looks like a mixer, functions like a mixer, everything is 'in the box' and no external components are necessary. The footprint is small so space is not an issue. I purchased a rolling metal mixer stand and that is all the space I need to occupy. No more room is needed than the space of a mic stand or music stand. A single power outlet, no power strip necessary. (I do use a power strip for filtering and spike protection.) Simply roll in, connect power, inputs and headphones and I'm recording. It can be done in less time than you can set up, fire up the computer and open the software program.

BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.