8 track into pc : Do I need extra pres ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Aly
  • Start date Start date
Aly said:
Gosh Tanlith... no idea, sorry... I think I read somewhere that they look like SPDIF, but that's for digital, right ? But I think they look alike, I must have read this somewhere...

Cinch = small plugs, with a "shield" around the connectors.. I hope this explains it a bit... No idea how to describe it otherwise..
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I think you mean these:

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=15-1539

They're also available in 24k gold which has a much nicer conductivity and will last longer as gold doesn't oxidize.

But back to my thread...

Is there a fine solution in buying a "mixing" console that goes direct in the pc, and uses Firewire or USB (2.0 or so which is faster) ?
(Mixing console, I shall elaborate : a digital mixing board with faders, preamps, aux,... that converts analog signals to digital !!!)
The mixing console should have preamps on board then, I believe this exists, I saw it before.
Probably some of them have automation on the faders too.
This way I only get to carry my pc and the mixer around, and I get to record 8 tracks individually to the pc...
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And I believe this is what you want - I'm sure there's a smaller model available, but this gives you a place to start looking:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/fg=101/g=live/search/detail/base_pid/630168/

Read the specs - The mixer has USB capability AND it can be used as a normal mixer - very flexable. Also while you're there on that site, use the search and type in firewire...

Oh and what's with this guy, popoudamn ??? Is he Walters ????
Why the hell is he acting like that ???? I thought he was sincere in the beginning...
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Dunno - don't care... ;)

- Tanlith -
 
The Mackie ONYX has a FireWire interface option (read: costs extra).
 
MadAudio said:
The Mackie ONYX has a FireWire interface option (read: costs extra).
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I won't quote on that specific product, but I was turned off of Mackie a long time ago. Every mixer by them I've encountered to date has a tendency to be either "muddy" or "fuzzy"

Don't like their stuff at all.

- Tanlith -
 
tanlith said:
I won't quote on that specific product, but I was turned off of Mackie a long time ago. Every mixer by them I've encountered to date has a tendency to be either "muddy" or "fuzzy"

Don't like their stuff at all.

- Tanlith -
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I've heard many raves about the pres in the ONYX.
 
Wow Tanlith...
I got first blown away by that Mixing board you showed me.. only to find out in the specs that it mixes all signals to the pc on ONE stereo channel... Like the dude who writes the review says : "you cab't use it for multitracking on the pc, sending every out to an individual in"...

Damn shame though, looked great.

Common guys... There has to be a better way...Give me some of your pro knowledge !!! A good mixer to record each track to a pc single track, while playing all instruments at once. Is it possible at a price under $1000 ????
I don't want to be cheap, so a bit more money to spend on this one won't hurt... guess I can always sell a bass or guitar, I have to many anyway...

Hoping to hear from you soon..

And sorry to keeping this thread alive, it just seems like a huge investment and I want a decent unit !

Thanks a lot to everyone...
 
Under $1000, eh? I've never used it, but a lot of folks here have good things to say about the M-Audio Delta 1010.

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Delta1010-main.html

I use the Echo Layla 24/96. It's no longer in production, but the new version, the Layla 3G seems pretty good and also has 2 built in pre-amps.

http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/PCI/Layla3G/index.php

You're still gonna need a mixer with either one of the those. I'm using a Mackie 1604 (the old one) but again I hear a lot of praise here for the Yamaha MG series of mixers. Soundcraft would be even better (better pres, good eq).
 
OK, well here's MY current setup at home:

I got two of these:

http://www.pcaudiolabs.com/detail.asp?item_number=329

One of these:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/fg=101/g=live/search/detail/base_pid/339062/
(Although not this EXACT ONE - ordered one from Long & McQuade)

One of these (Same Model)

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/fg=101/g=live/search/detail/base_pid/182425/

This mixer:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/fg=101/g=live/search/detail/base_pid/631229/

And 12 various mics including 8 SM57's 3 sSM58's and a Neuman BCM 104

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/fg=101/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/270102/

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/fg=101/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/270101/

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/fg=101/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/271414/

And a butload of cables.

Not the best setup in the world, but I love the combined fexibility between the Cards and the patch bay. I can go direct in with all the drum mics and any Guitar/bass amp that's mic'd then use the mixer for vocals (usually later).

Though currently I'm struggling with the acoustics of this house (I moved recently and I hate this house's layout/acoustics. I was planning on using some of the acrage out back to build a studio on... I may have to speed things along on that project cause this house SUX!) I can't record a decent vocal track here to save my freakin life.

Not trying to hyjack the thread, just offering a complete soulution - though it'll cost you about 2K as opposed to 1K (Not including the neuman which will run you about another grand)

- Tanlith -
 
Those jacks you referred to are indeed RCA type connectors.

For a solution to recording 8 tracks to your computer I would have to second the Presonus Firepod. For $600 you get 8 pre-amps, firewire interface (faster than USB), and it's bundled with Cubase LE. It has an extra firewire port so you can add a second one for a total of 16 tracks you can record simultaniously.

I just recently got a Presonus Firebox to see if I like it, with the intention of adding a Firepod if I did end up liking it. I'm fairly new to recording software, so there are a lot of settings here and there to keep me guessing, but the pre-amps on it are great. I've recorded my amp with a Shure KSM27 into it, and there is no discernable noise (to me anyway :) ).
 
Thank you all !!!

The presonus seems the way to go then !

And with time adding a second one would be a nice extra feature...

Oldwood : how do you set your input gain levels when going into the pc ?
Is this done with bundled software ? And it wouldn't be a problem to use Cool Edit Pro 2.0 as an audio sequencer ?

Muchas gracias again !
 
I've never used Cool Edit Pro so I couldn't verify that, but there should be users on here that have and that use the Firepod. For settings I put the Firebox on 8 and use the software mixer to adjust the input levels.
 
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