Alesis MultiMix 16

[Pearl SMX]

Hey everyone.

So, im a total n00b when it comes to home recording. My basement was just refinished, and I really want to make a little home studio, just to record my band and maybe record other peoples bands for some cash. Im a drummer, so when im not recording my band, i'll be recording myself drumming.

Now to the gear. My recording computer would be my Apple iBook G4 12''. Then, I was looking at the Alesis MultiMix 16 Channel Mixer. People on my drum forum recomended it to me.

So, my questions are, is that good? Is there something of same or better quality for a better price? And, if thats good, what else do I need besides MIDI controller, and moniters and cables and the basics. Any other gear?

Thanks for any help, its greatly appriciated.

-Nick

 

[pandamonk]

Yeh I'm sure it's good. There also rack mountable interfaces such as the Presonus Firepod for $500. The preamps are meant to be great for the money. You could instead get a Behringer ADA8000 with an ADAT interface, for $390. The preamps wont be as good, but should still be extremely workable. Or you could get 8 preamps such as the Nady PRA-8, and an 8 input interface such as the AudioTrak MAYA 1010, for $325. I have no idea if it'd be good, but should definitely be extremely workable like the behringer.

 

[pandamonk]

And with any of my suggestions you could get the Behringer BCF 2000 for $180. It is an 8 channel control surface, so gives you hand-on control of what is happening on the screen. It has 8 motorised faders and endless rotary controllers. It plus my last suggestion will cost you almost the same as an alesis multimix 16 firewire, but will offer you flying faders and control of what's on the screen.

 

[pandamonk]

Wait the alesis is $600. Ok $100 cheaper than the alesis, and you'll have all that, lol.

 

[Pearl SMX]

Hmm, wow Pandamonk, you sure know your stuff. I've been trying for days to find some info like this, and no one has given me anything, but then right away I get it all from one person! Well, those all sound pretty good. I just dunno which would be right for me. Im 14, so it would be good to have the easiest to use possible, but I know a lot about computers, so im sure after some time I could get it. Which of those do you think I should get? I like the idea of the Alesis becasue its like an all in one type of thing, know what I mean? But I definitly want to spend the least amount possible, because a 14 year old cant get a job. Thanks for the help!

-Nick

 

[pandamonk]

I don't really know my stuf that well, still kinda noobish. I ain't even got any recording equipment yet. Well I've got stuff i could use for recording but i wouldn't call it recording equipment, lol. I know what you mean yes, but It'll actualyl be easier for you, i think, having one of the setups i suggested, because you don't need to worry about the EQ, aux and pan pots, solo and mute buttons, and whatever else it has. The only advantage i can see in use the multimix is that you can use if in a live situation with an amps and speakers. But even my suggestions could be used for that, if you took your PC along with you. With the firepod suggestion, the firepod is the only thing you need to worry about. With the behringer, the behri ada8000 is all you'll see, as the ADAT interface is a PCI card. And with the other, you wont really see the MAYA 1010 too often. The good thing about the MAYA is that it has 8 analogue outputs, so you can mix in up to 7.1 surround, use it for outboard FX, etc. With the MAYA you could get any 8 preamps. I just suggested the ones i did 'cause they were the cheapest i could find. 1 advantage about buying them separately, is that if you want to upgrade, you can upgrade one thing at a time instead of the whole thing. You may like the MAYA and only want to upgrade the preamps or whatever. Anyway you have many choices even though you are young with not much money. The money you save on equipment can go to treating your room. Search in the building forum for bass traps and broadband absorbers, and read all that ethan winer says. He is GOD of the building forum. Read www.ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html if you can(have the time).

 

[Pearl SMX]

Thanks! I'll read on about all of the products you suggested. Yeah, I really dont know what to do about treating my room. Is it REALLY that necessary? Do I need to cover it everywhere in the room, or just at my desk?

 

[pandamonk]

Thanks! I'll read on about all of the products you suggested. Yeah, I really dont know what to do about treating my room. Is it REALLY that necessary? Do I need to cover it everywhere in the room, or just at my desk?

Read and find out. It is necessary if you want a great sounding result, but if it's just for you, friends and family to listen to then not really. You want you mixing position to be in the centre of one wall of your room, and on the opposite wall(the wall behind you)you want to totally deaden with material covered rigid fiberglass, in the corners of the room you will want to construct bass traps, and at the first reflection point from your speakers, ie. the walls to each side and the ceiling above your mixing position, you want to construct broadband absorbers. This treatment will allow you to accurately hear what is going on in your mix. Most rooms are bad mixing environments, and these absorbers will allow you to turn a bad mixing room into an adequate one. Where will you be mixing and what are the sizes of the rooms. Wait a minture, didn't i talk to you before? I would check you past posts, but i really gotta go to bed, it just after midnight and i have college in the morning.

 

[pandamonk]

Ohh, by the way, if you have a large room, instead of treating the whole thing you could build a structure like the one attached round your desk. Read in building forum about building broadband absorbers and just use that technique in building this. And behind your mixing position just build a wall of broadband absorbers, wide enough so that from your mixing position you cannot see the corners of the room(this is something i just thought of, so have no idea if it'd work). It would absorb a lot more of the problematic bass frequencies than just covering the back wall.