Stupid analog summing question.

[bitman]

Forgive in advance... mortal here.

I've seen analog summing boxes for DAW summing with pan pots.
I've seen 'em with left/right/center switches.
I think I've seen 'em with neither!

Here's my query:
I know that DAW tracks in the box can be mono or stereo, but if I
route say track #1 to a sound card output, say track 1 of 8, That track
comes out of the sound card's optical cable as a mono signal... I think.

I would have to use pan pots in my summing box to set the instument's pan position in the mix.

What on earth are the LRC switches for? Seems to me they would only
set that track to hard right, hard left, or dead center?

See link:
http://www.rollmusic.com/systems/folcrom.shtml


How also would you ever be able to use the DAWs pan controls with
a summing box? see link:

http://aes.harmony-central.com/117AES/Content/SPL/PR/MixDream.html

Thanks in advance

Ron

 

[bitman]

I think I'm getting it.

 

[bitman]

Yup.

That'll eat channels..

Think I'll do pan pots. :wink:

 

[asm]

no such thing as a stupid question........


:green: :green:

 

[smallbutfine]

Very interesting question indeed.
Generally it is like Crusty2 already said in short.
From a practical aspect i would want to cut the tracks in a daw for editing speed and then get them out as single tracks for mixing in an analog box. Panning included. With the mentioned summing boxes you *have to* route them out as readily panned stereo signals (2 channels L/R) or centre signals. Thats pretty good for maintaining the total recall of the mix as the panning stays digital and lowers the costs of the analog hardware as well as no hi quality panner pots / rotary switches are needed (maybe a typical design idea of the manufacturers - lowers costs and needs more channels - spell:double of tracks - :grin: ).
BTW the mentioned boxes even without LRC-switches are mono. You have to buy two (matched? :wink: ) of them for a stereo mixdown.

 

[bitman]

total recall of the mix

Oh yeeeaaa.... duh.

Lets see now....

1 Frontier Dakota card + 1 Frontier Montana card = 32 tracks
/2 = 16 stereo outputs. hmmmm maybe I could submix a little.

Darn! I really don't feel that good about anything less than 24.

Well, thanks for the help good people.

Bye4now

Ron