Keyboards: Direct to DP-24SD, or Routed through Mixer?

[Old No7]

Hi all:

I started mixing my keys long before I got my Tascam DP-24SD, so I simply routed the output of the analog mixer to the Tascam (as shown in the image). I had a friend visit recently, and he suggested that I route the keys directly into the inputs of the Tascam and skip using a mixer entirely.

If I'm not mistaken, that would work OK as long as I assign and arm each track, but a downside is it will consume all 8 inputs (as I've just added a 4th keyboard). And another is that I'd have to disconnect a board to use a mic or mics for our vocals.

Any thoughts on this?

Old No7

ps:
Note my the use of the Mackie "Big Knob" -- it works great allowing me to select the output as either powered speakers for playing, or to monitors for mixing/mastering. -mjk- had advised me how to run a "noise" or Stereo Imaging Test and it passed with flying colors. I'd posted about it back in 2022.

 

[-mjk-]

The truth is, @Old No7 there is no right or wrong way in this case. There are reasons why one would want to use a mixer/patchbay or go directly into the recorder. Since you have a lot of inputs, it makes a lot of sense to use the external mixer. Nothing is stopping you from putting all your inputs on the mixer and recording one stereo pair of tracks, one pass at a time. Your diagram details a professional audio routing scheme to take advantage of everything you have. The only other way that might make sense is putting all inputs on a patchbay and you could even normalize all your standard inputs with the capability of making exceptions by way of the patchbay.