Suggestions please?

[liv_rong]

I currently have a alesis multimix 16 firewire. I am selling it because i get too many audio drop outs and I can not get the thing running the way Id like. Im selling it and upgrading to the MOTU 8pre 16x12 Firewire interface.

Here is my dilema, I still want to be able to plug things in when i want to, and have other various equipment hooked up, but I do not wanty to tie up channels on the interface. I want to have my outboard pres always hooked up to the MOTU and get a mixer with direct outs that I can use to plug other things in and use for other routing options.

I have found two options thus far:
-Soundcraft M12 20 channel mixer
-Behringer Xenyx 2442FX

The soundcraft seems like the best. I am weary of behringer products and I would not want to degrade the signal by going through the behringer. But I do have some Samson products that are OK, even though everyone says they suck as well.

I would only be using the mixer into the motu to record when I want to plug something in on the fly, and the MOTU inputs are on the back, making it a huge hassle to plug and unplug stuff. I would use the mixer, for example, to plug in a keyboard, drum machines, turntables or other various things.

Do you guys have any input on what I should look at for mixers with direct outs? I really dont want to spend more than $700 and the soundcraft looks a bit overkill. And I know $700 budget is very limiting.

Sorry for the long words to read.

Thanks much for any input or other opinions in which you may have!

Joe

[therage!]

Why not get it all on one package?

I just got one of these N12 mixers
http://www.yamahasynth.com/products/n8n12/index.html

and it's awesome!

Comes with Cubase but I got it working with Sonar and Reaper. The pre's in this unit are outstanding, IMO it's a steal at $1500. But depending on your I/O needs you could go with the N8.


Edit, let me add one other thing. This mixer is built like a tank. The faders are smooth and none of the knobs are flimsy like the POS Alesis mixer I have.

[Somnium7]

I had nothing but problems with the Behringer Xenyx 2442FX. Two units both defective. Got rid of it.

[dickiefunk]

Have you seen the new presonus Firestudio Project?

http://www.presonus.com/firestudio_project.html

I would personally go for this over the MOTU 8pre. This new version has better audio converters. You could get 2 of these and it would be a neat solution to your problem.

Of the mixers you mentioned the Soundcraft would be much better than the Behringer. I had a Behringer UB2442fx pro and repleced it with a Soundcraft M8. The audio was definately better!

[liv_rong]

thanks for the input thus far.

i like the look of the presonus, but it has the DICEII chip in it, and so does the alesis mixer i have which has caused me problems. im affraid of going that route again

[Somnium7]

a few months back I couldn't find any new mixers worth a damn in my price range. I wound up buying a big ole dinosaur from the 70s and fixing it up.

If I was in your shoes and wanted something new I would save another $200 and try one of these:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MixWizard312/

It's a nice multipurpose design and it has direct outs on each channel. IMO this is a good deal from a respectable brand.

This is completely unrelated but it's soooo coool looking:
http://www.allen-heath.com/US/Displa...t.asp?pview=38

[genesisariana]

I just got a Presonus FirePod for $300. Its 8 pre's and firewire capable. The pre's are'nt that bad, I use it for tracking drums mostly. I havn't had any problems with the diceII droping out. I will post if things change

[dickiefunk]

I had an Alesis USB interface which I was getting some dropouts with. I spoke to the shop I bought it from and they said they've had a few problems with Alesis gear doing this.

[liv_rong]

Originally Posted by dickiefunk

I had an Alesis USB interface which I was getting some dropouts with. I spoke to the shop I bought it from and they said they've had a few problems with Alesis gear doing this.

you know its fucked up i have the smaller usb model, and thats what ive been working mostly with.

im more keen on the MOTU just because of the name and I know that they are a quality company. dont get me wrong, i have looked deeply into the presonus stuff for a couple months now. the direct outs are the only thing that i really like about it though, but i can live without that. that is why i want a seperate mixer to have that option, plus my main signals that I use much more often would be going through the ouboard pre's, so the pres on the MOTU wouldnt be a problem.

i have heard the pre's on the MOTU are not as good as the presonus, but shit, how is this possible? does anyone have any samples comparing the two?? probably not, and I do not trust the samples on company websites.

I guess i am mainly looking for a good mixer now, thats why im willing to spend more on a mixer than an interface, because i am more likely to upgrade the interface in the future before the mixer.

Im really drooling over a lot of the soundcraft stuff