Alesis Multimix8 and PC req'ments

[ReagaNoah]

I am a newbie to home recording. Very interested in purchasing the Multimix8. I am looking for info regarding pc requirements, specifically:
1. Firewire connection (through standard PCI firewire)?
2. Soundcard requirements (if any). I want to output to monitor speakers (not typical pc speakers). So is this monitor output from the soundcard or from the mixer?
3. Hard drive requirements: What are people using for hard drive in terms of speed, access time, etc?

oh yea, I guess I will start out with the Cubase LE bundled edition, I shouldn't need more than 4 sim. inputs for now.

Thank you for any help you can give.

[tarzan52s]

I bought the Multimix8 FW in March. It is connected my my "modified" Dell 4700
Pentium 4 2.99 Ghz 2 G of ram running XP. The appears to be more than enough to power the multimix. I believe it is recomended to use the Multimix as your only sound card. I'm sure a hard drive needs to be as fast as possible. I didn't check, but I would think these specs would be on the Alesis web page.
By the way be sure to download the latest drivers and read the manual. I on occasion still "lose" the multimix and have to reinstall the drivers.

Good luck!

[ReagaNoah]

Thank you for the advice. So the only connection you have is the firewire?
And do you use the mixer for monitor outs?
thanks again.

[IdentitySeven]

Originally Posted by ReagaNoah

Thank you for the advice. So the only connection you have is the firewire?
And do you use the mixer for monitor outs?
thanks again.

Yes....Your Mixer is your sound card for recording and playback

The firewire cable connects from you rmixer to your computer, your computer needs a firewire card, most PC's already have built in firewire ports.

I build my computer for recording so I used a MOther Board that was recommended by others.

[IdentitySeven]

From the Alesis Site:
"Windows:
Windows XP Service Pack 1 or higher
(Windows Installer 3.1 component from .NET required)
1 gig Pentium processor or higher
256 Megs RAM (512 or higher preferred)
4,200 RPM hard drive for basic recording
(5,400 or higher preferred for multi-track recording and playback)"

I think this are the specs for a laptop since most laptops are equiped with slower Hard Drives.[4200 rpms/5400 rpm's]

The recomended Hard Drive for recording is a 7200 RPM Hard Drive.

[ReagaNoah]

Thank you, that clears up all the confusion.
Great Site!!

[drummerboy_04AP]

Is the a big difference between the USB version and the FireWire version?

[safeashouses]

i dont own one of these (yet) but i think the usb ones can only stream a stereo signal to or from your computer, but the firewire ones stream all the tracks and sends and everything.