Connecting Audio Interface, Mixer and Laptop for recording?

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Codeseven

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I have a Presonus Firepod, Yamaha MG166CXUSB mixer and MacBook Pro. I'll be recording drums using a DAW on my laptop.

Question: So am I right to think the connections will be,

1) Drum Mics -> Firepod Mic/Line Inputs ('flat unmixed' signal)

2) Firepod Firewire -> Laptop Firewire (to record flat unmixed signal into DAW for mixing later)

3) Firepod Line Outs -> Mixer Line Inputs ( to monitor a live 'mixed' signal using IEM's, while recording unmixed into the DAW)



I also have a Presonus HP4 Headphone Amp that I was going to connect to my mixer to plug the IEM's into. It has L/R Inputs on the back.

It looks as though there are several places on the mixer that I could plug the HP4 into.

1) Phones- single headphone port. I assume using a TRS stereo to duel TS mono
cable.

2) Monitor Out L/R +4dBu

3) Stereo Out L/R +4dBu

Question: Should there be a preference on which of these connections to use?


Thanks
 
You dont need the mixer.

TRS monitor out to TRS HP4 in.
HP4 TRS out to TRS or XLR into monitors

Most DAWS (or logic anyway) the faders do not effect the record level.
so you can adjust mix going back out to interface without effecting record levels while tracking. Pre amps on firepod are the only thing that effects record level (-18 average with -12 peaks)
 
He doesn't need the mixer, but wants to use it for mixing the channels for monitoring purposes. The hookup described sounds correct.
 
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mjbphotos said:
He doesn't need the monitor, but wants to use it for mixing the channels for monitoring purposes. The hookup described sounds correct.
Click to expand...

Thats correct MJB.

Thats good info about being able to bypass the mixer if needed and only use the DAW to hear a mixed signal but record a non-mixed signal at the same time. I did not know that was possible. Being new to recording I was just going to use Garageband '11 since it's on my MBP or Audacity since it's free, maybe even Reaper. But those may not not have that capability.
 
What do you guys think about where to connect the HP4 yo the mixer?
 
Well, so far there is no sound coming from the Line Outputs on the Firepod. I can plug a mic into the Mic/Line Inputs on the Firepod and get sound via it's Headphone jack and I can plug a mic into the Line Inputs on the Mixer and get sound via the Phone jack but there is no sound at all when that same mic is plugged into the Mic/Line Input on the Firepod and it's corresponding Line Output in connected to the Mixers Line Input. Everything is switched on, turned up and selected as far as I can tell. There's not even a hiss from the Mixer, just nothing at all.

Any ideas?

Edit: Just thinking this over. I wonder if the signal path on the Firepod is NOT Mic/Line Input->Line Output but instead is Mic/Line Input->Firewire->DAW->Firewire->Line Output. In other words as an Audio Interface it's meant to be used as an 'interface' between the incoming signal, DAW and outgoing signal. Does that sound right? So I need to run the tracks thru a DAW to 'assign' them to those Line Outs so they become functinal and able to send a signal to my mixers Line Inputs. No wonder they sound absolutely dead. .
 
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Codeseven said:
So I need to run the tracks thru a DAW to 'assign' them to those Line Outs so they become functinal and able to send a signal to my mixers Line Inputs. No wonder they sound absolutely dead. .
Click to expand...

you may very well need to set up the firepod as the playback device in you OS
 
The user manual is always a good place to start! http://www.presonus.com/media/manuals/FireStudioProjectManual v2-web.pdf

According to it, the 8 outputs you are looking at are NOT the channel outputs:

General Purpose Line Outputs (TRS Balanced). These are general-purpose line-level outputs. Line
outputs 1 and 2 are typically your computer’s audio playback. All eight Line outputs can be accessed by
your computer and can be used for separate mixes, additional speakers, external effects processors, etc.
 
mjbphotos said:
The user manual is always a good place to start! http://www.presonus.com/media/manuals/FireStudioProjectManual v2-web.pdf

According to it, the 8 outputs you are looking at are NOT the channel outputs:

General Purpose Line Outputs (TRS Balanced). These are general-purpose line-level outputs. Line
outputs 1 and 2 are typically your computer’s audio playback. All eight Line outputs can be accessed by
your computer and can be used for separate mixes, additional speakers, external effects processors, etc.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I got it all working using Reaper, I'll try the included Cubase LE later today.

One question that stands out right away is, having a Laptop, Audio Interface, Mixer and Headphone Amp all in the same signal chain, all of wich have their own Volume controls, where do I start when it comes to setting the levels on each device so that by the time the sound hits my IEM's it's being recorded and monitored at proper levels?

Also, I've noticed some Latency. I haven't changed any numbers yet. What are some suggestions for lowering Latency? I should check for new OSX drivers too I suppose.
 
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Bump :)

Codeseven said:
I also have a used Presonus HP4 Headphone Amp that I cannot find a manual for online. I was going to connect it to my Mixer to plug my IEM's into. The HP4 has L/R Inputs and L/R Outputs (Monitor/Thru) on the back.

It looks as though there are several places on the Mixer that I could plug the HP4 into.

1) Phones- single headphone port. I assume using a TRS stereo from the Mixer to duel TS mono
cable into the HP4 Inputs.

2) Monitor Out L/R +4dBu

3) Stereo Out L/R +4dBu

Question: Should there be a preference on which of these connections to use?


Thanks
Click to expand...
 
Option 2 or 3 - the HP4 will be looking for a line level signal, not a slightly amplified headphone out signal.

Pu all your volume controls between devices at 'no volume', then slowly turn them up to unity (0 dB). Adjust using your mic input gain controls and then faders, or your DAW controls.
 
mjbphotos said:
Option 2 or 3 - the HP4 will be looking for a line level signal, not a slightly amplified headphone out signal.

Pu all your volume controls between devices at 'no volume', then slowly turn them up to unity (0 dB). Adjust using your mic input gain controls and then faders, or your DAW controls.
Click to expand...

Thanks Mike
 
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