Help electronic noob figure out how to connect his gear! :)
Yes, the answer to this post is probably a mixer, but I just want to make sure I'm not overlooking something here. :)
I'm mostly a guitar player, but I've got a lot of theory background. I'm relatively new to using hardware for making electronic music. I've got an MPC Sample, a Roland S-1, a Behringer Crave, and an Elektron Model:Cycles.
My objectives are 1) to route audio to speakers, headphones, or stereo out to record into (something) and 2) to be able to patch audio between devices, like sampling into the MPC Sample from one of the synths.
Ignoring the specifics of my gear, what's the right way to go about connecting gear such as samplers, synths, etc.? The obvious answer is a mixing board (preferential over a DJ mixer from what I've seen online), but is that the right approach or is there another way to do this?
I know I could use patch bays and multiple interfaces to mix and route signals and MIDI through my computer, but I'm trying to stay in the hardware realm.
Thanks for any advice offered! :)
Edit: I should have clarified that I know how to hook up individual devices to each other. I'm looking for a flexible way to have them all hooked up together to feed each other or a stereo out. I can't see another alternative to a mixer, but that's why I'm asking the more experienced people here.