A question about Analog Mixer/Audio Interface devices

[Shirka]

I'm thinking about buying a mixing console, but have been wondering whether to buy an old analog mixer from a mate or one of these newer Analog Mixer/Audio Interface devices.

My main question is: If I use 6 channels in the DAW and I have it connected to the mixer via usb, would the 6 channels be on each of the channels on the mixer or just on the usb channel or whatever?

I have been reading this website but I think I am getting confused about how these things work. If anybody could tell me, I would be really grateful.

[AJGR]

first of all why do you want an analogue mixer?

the problem with the everything built in mixers is it's hard to upgrade and there are more things to go wrong with it.

[Shirka]

The reason for analog is because of the character and warmth that is created by the EQs and the circuitory. To say that more things will go wrong with analog is nonsense. Also, i am not looking to upgrade once i have the right console for me. I am quite happy to have an old console that will give me the character i am looking for.

In response to my original question, i have found a console that does correspond the channels from the daw to the console. The Allen and Heath Zed R16 does this but i was wondering if there are any cheaper consoles that do this?

[Sharmaji]

more things WILL go wrong w/ analog circuitry tho--- a cable will go bad, the patchbay will go bad, a power supply will go bad... none of this is a reason not to use analog gear, but it definitley DOES happen and WILL happen.

FWIW the zed series is not something i'd use for warmth or color-- it's a decent, clear-sounding tool at an affordable price. does nicer things to the high-end than a comparable mackie. If you want character, the cheapest i can think of is a trident s100, which i used for a while, or for more channels, a soundcraft ghost. Or those Toft audio boards, i've mixed a few project on them, the eq's are quite nice.

character in a board, you'll have to pay for. if you really want to imprint oddball sounds into your work, getting various discrete pieces-- a mic pre here, a compressor there, etc-- is a much cheaper way to go. if you really want to mix on an analog mixer tho, go for it-- don't let anyone on the interwebz tell you otherwise.