Alesis Multimix Mixers USB Series???

  • Thread starter Thread starter brett304
  • Start date Start date
B

brett304

New member
Really interested in getting a mixer hopefully with at least ten imputs and I saw the USB series... Interesting concept, but I'm worried that the technology is too new to get a good deal on it, and I'm a bit worried about the "100 internal effects" thing... Sound like a waste of resources to me, but maybe I'm wrong... The only thing I find online is the same commercial review cut and pasted across the web... The biggest reason I'm considering this unit is because (in my opinion) it seems that Alesis doesn't try to make every product in the world, but that they make a few things the right way. I respect their products (so far as I've seen) and this unit seems comparable to any other mixer about the same price range with the added benefits (maybe) of direct computer connectivity... Not that its too incredibly important to my decision, (although it could be) I was wondering if you can send multiple imputs into the computer to record as seperate tracks in a software program...If this is true, it would make this a very useful piece of gear for a home studio... I would absolutely love it if this were the case and would probably proceed to order one of these as it would give me the opportunity to record my drums live and edit them seperately... ANY insight or knowledge that would be appropriate would be much appreciated!!!
 
brett304 said:
Really interested in getting a mixer hopefully with at least ten imputs and I saw the USB series... Interesting concept, but I'm worried that the technology is too new to get a good deal on it, and I'm a bit worried about the "100 internal effects" thing... Sound like a waste of resources to me, but maybe I'm wrong... The only thing I find online is the same commercial review cut and pasted across the web... The biggest reason I'm considering this unit is because (in my opinion) it seems that Alesis doesn't try to make every product in the world, but that they make a few things the right way. I respect their products (so far as I've seen) and this unit seems comparable to any other mixer about the same price range with the added benefits (maybe) of direct computer connectivity... Not that its too incredibly important to my decision, (although it could be) I was wondering if you can send multiple imputs into the computer to record as seperate tracks in a software program...If this is true, it would make this a very useful piece of gear for a home studio... I would absolutely love it if this were the case and would probably proceed to order one of these as it would give me the opportunity to record my drums live and edit them seperately... ANY insight or knowledge that would be appropriate would be much appreciated!!!
Click to expand...

No the Multimix series won't do multiple inputs to multiple tracks on the computer seperately. It's a stereo signal via the USB connection into a single track within your recording software.

The 99 effects is a bit of an overkill for this application, too. Using it as a live mixer you'd probably only use one or two of the settings.

Other than the track limitation, it's an OK peice of kit for the price.

BB
 
It might be worth noting however that alesis is coming out with a firewire mixer that DOES separate the signals separately. It should be coming out in April, and the most expensive (16 tracks) is marking for $500.

Looking forward to it.

Ender
 
lemonymous said:
It might be worth noting however that alesis is coming out with a firewire mixer that DOES separate the signals separately. It should be coming out in April, and the most expensive (16 tracks) is marking for $500.

Looking forward to it.

Ender
Click to expand...

The stuff I have read on the firewire units seemed unclear as to how many channels it does. It just says multichannel. I would like to know more about the firewire mixers. Do you remember where you read up on them?
 
Alesis has a coming soon or upcoming products section. I believe also if you google it you might find something.

I also spoke with my local music store owner and he actually suggested this for what I wanted to do (you know, multitrack recording at all at once into multitracks in a software program) and he suggested this.

I also have some where around here some messages from support at Alesis that talk about it and they confirmed that this is what it does. Let me track one of those down.

Alright I just looked around in my outlook and couldn't find it so i must have deleted it. Basically all I can tell you is that Alesis has specifically told me that this product does in fact multitrack into recording programs such as Cool Edit Pro.

I wish I could find that email to show you though.

Ender
 
Alesis Firewire Multimix 16

I just sent an email to sales at this website.
http://www.midweststereo.com/catalog/alesis-mixer
Apparently they have this for preorder but as everyone says, they only have limited info on these mixers and A PDF Manual seems to be unavailable. However, I am in Richmond, VA. and I have spoke to one Alesis dealer nearby who was very helpful and gave his sales rep a call and asked about the multichannel record functionality into applications and he said it is capable of doing it so we will see. Alesis should have made these years ago. Maybe now I can put my new HP Media Center PC to good use. :cool:
 
But still the question is how many tracks I/O will it do? 2? 4? 8? For some reason they aren't giving this information.
 
it will do individual tracks using cubase....they have a 8 channel 12 channel and 16 channel version, im not sure if thats what you wanted but thats my two cents
 
I have a Multimix 16USB for sale

I have the Multimix 16USB for sale. Only had it for 2 months, awesome condition. I just need something bigger.

Asking for $310.

Let me know if you're interested.
 
Hi, I am new to this recording business, but this thread and the forthcoming Alesis Firewire mixer sound like exactly what i'm looking for (to live record my drums to seperate tracks on my PC as mentioned previously).
Can anybody recommend any alternative ways of achieving this? Are there any other mixers that can perform this function through firewire?

Thanks very much.. and great forum - I seem to have learnt a fair bit already :D
 
Details at ZZounds.com

I noticed this at the www.zzounds.com/a--2676837 website today.

"integrated FireWire port to transfer audio directly between the mixer and your computer, and 24-bit stereo simultaneous input/output over a FireWire 1394 connection."

Please note the 24-bit stereo simultaneous I/Os. It appears to be just stereo from what it says. I would believe that this would be true, based on the pricing of other multi-channel firewire devices. But you never know until Alesis can definitely state it's capabilities.

cyrral
 
I just checked the Alesis site and they have yet to make the owners manual avalible for download. So it looks like it's still a big mystery.
 
So what is this firewire mixer? Is it like a mixer and an interface all rolled up into one nice neat package? Is this going to work on mac or just pc? I assume it's both, but a lot of people are talking about pc's. Does anyone have any info on which programs it would be compatible with (specifically Logic Pro 7)?
 
Firewire mixer vs. DAW controller

Be careful, analog mixers "with Firewire" or "wih USB" (standard or as a costly option) such as the Onyx and (I believe) the new Alesis are NOT DAW controllers. They are simply analog mixers with their own A/D converters for sending output to the DAW.

I'd also caution that it's not a *given* just how many channels may be supplied via the Firewire by any given mixer; think of the Firewire as just another output bus type. It's up to the manufacturer to decide just how many channels to provide; how many analog input channels or output busses it has has no more relation to what goes out the FW/USB than how many channels of ADAT, TDIF or S/PIDIF output it may or may not provide. They are all simply different ways of connecting different equipment, that's all, how many channels of each are provided are all independantly decided.

Also - at least with the Onyx - the Firewire back out of the computer to the mixer is stereo intended for control room monitoring; it is not for multichannel out from the DAW back into the mixer.

See the "Recording Entire Band" thread (https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=155196) from a couple of days ago for a little more on this.

As far as software compatability, that will probably be totally up to what software drivers they supply with it. My bet is it will be the standard package of ASIO, GSIF (sp?) and WDM, in which case it chould be compatable with just about anything.

G.
 
Last edited:
i received a promising e-mail from an Alesis hotshot:

Hello,
I completely understand where you are coming from, and agree.
You are going to be amazed and mystified by the firwire series mixers:

MultiMix FireWire 8FX - 10 tracks to computer - 2 tracks back to mixer
MultiMix FireWire 12FX - 14 tracks to computer - 2 tracks back to mixer
MultiMix FireWire 16FX - 18 tracks to computer - 2 tracks back to mixer

All separate, discrete and lovely as can be. No options available, or
required.
These new mixers will utilize the new Dice II chip which is simply amazing.


Best of luck to you in all of your musical endeavors,

Robert C. Ray
Supervisor - Alesis/Akai/Numark/Ion
Technical Support and Return Authorizations
200 Scenic View Dr.
Suite 201
Cumberland, RI 02864
rray@alesis.com

Phone 401-658-5760
Fax 401-658-3640

WWW.ALESIS.COM
WWW.AKAIPROAMERICA.COM
WWW.NUMARK.COM
WWW.ION-AUDIO.COM


>>>>>>this was my question.>>>>>


Hello...

i am looking for an audio interface.
I used to use a delta 1010, but the new computer mac G5 , won't work
with it. it is incompatible.
I came across your firewire mixers on the internet, and i have one
simple question:

Does multichannel-support on the 12 channel firewire mixer mean that i
can:

Use the channels 1 to 12 as seperate audioinputs like a normal analog
mixer, but in the end the mixer makes you mix it down to 2 inputs
(L-R),
for final recording into (e.g. the program i use) Logic?

OR:

Does it mean that i have 12 seperate inputs that also become 12
seperate inputs in Logic? (or 6 stereo tracks)
(Further down the line it is depending on MY processing-power wether or
not i have more or less SEPERATE inputs, i understand that.)

The difference is clear, seems to me.

See, i can't get any clear info over here in the Netherlands, and it
sounds a bit unbelievable to me.
It would be perfect for my setup, but it sounds like a $1000 +
solution to me.

Or... do i have to buy the mixer and (as usual) the 'optional firewire'
connection seperate for about the same price as the mixer.

Sorry for being a bit 'nasty', but hey... I hope you don't feel
offended. We all know the tricks in advertisements and i have had a few
big dissapointments with equipment that was promising in the gear porn
magazines,
but didn't deliver. (Scr*w M-Audio :-) for instance)

So... i don't care if it DOES mix it down to 2 channels in the end, or
that i have to buy a seperate firewire connector, but then i am not
gonna buy it.
My choice before i read about your firewire mixers was something like a
10 channel firewire I/O by Edirol for instance, this i KNOW will work.

I will gladly pay a bit (A BIT) more for what your firewire mixer seems
to be!

Kind regards, Cyclop, Netherlands

I use a MAC G5, 1,8 DUAL, 1,4 Gb RAM.
I run Logic Gold 6.3.
I wanna hook up: 4 synths and occasionally a guitar.
I don't have to necesarily record all tracks at once, but i don't want
to be plugging in and out and muting on and of all the time, if you
catch my drift.


>>>>>>So i guess this mixer will make them a killing sales!
To me it sounds ecxactly like waht i wanted for a couple of years, but didn't understand why it did not ecxist.
Who needs a mixer/interface with 12 channel in AND 12 channel out?
It is all mixed down in the computer!

Hope this helps. C
 
check the difference on the pricetag though

yeah, i read this too.
But the onyx is i think about $1100...

C
 
pardon my ignorance fellas, ive never used a mixer bf, and these alesis ones sound just like what i would need if i choose to go down this path..

why would we want 2 tracks back to the mixer? to mix down those two into the computer again and have like a final mix?

i really dont understand the dynamics of mixers.
 
I think the main idea for the two tracks back to the mixer is for routing those tracks to your monitors for listening to the stereo mix from the computer.

G.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top