FireWire box w/ no preamps

  • Thread starter Thread starter FranklinD
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FranklinD

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Basically, I think I've stumbled upon a mixer that has more than enough features than I'll need for now at a really great price. It is used and has a lot channels that I can grow into.

Before this happened I was planning on getting a PCI card or a FireWire AI and just other basic stuff like a mic, keyboard, preamps(if I got the PCI card) etc... just playing with that until I could afford a mixer and get serious. heh. Anyway...

I'm getting a good deal on a mixer and won't need an AI with preamps or any other special features like that.

All I need is something with 4 to 8 I/O and a MIDI I/O. I'm thinking I should go FW because I've been reading a lot about PCI going "out of date". If this is a real issue, I don't even want to have to think about that in my own setup.

In other words, I'm just looking for a FW box w/ ins and outs. This is going to be a solo studio for the most part and will folks over only occasionally to jam so I don't need to be able to record many tracks simultaneously.

Any suggestions about what's out there? And do I have the right idea about what I'm trying to do?

Thanks a bunch!
 
apl said:
Consider the RME Multiface, or if you can afford it, their ADI-8.
Click to expand...

Those are both great units, but he had said that he wanted to go Firewire. On that note, I own RME's Fireface 800 that is awesome. Also, you didn't tell us what kind of budget you're looking at. Firewire interfaces are anywhere from about $200-$1500. So give us some more info on that.
 
Sorry bout that...

If they make something with 4 ins and Midi I/O with no pres w/ phantom power or anything, that would probably be enough. Anything extra they threw into it, the better.

I'm willing to spend what I have to, but I don't want to go above $500.

I'm not sure if I want to rule out PCI. Is PCI really going out of date? I don't want to deal with compatibility issues too soon down the road.

That Multiface looks like it would do the trick...
But I don't mind using a sound card and running wires directly from my PC.. I'm just uncertain of PCI. If it'll be cheaper and it's staying around, it's no contest really. A PCI soundcard wins me over. Whatchu think?

Thanks a lot!
 
PCI Express is becoming the new standard, but most newer PCs will continue to have both.

On my end, the new G5 seem to have ONLY PCI Express. :(
 
cawhite12 said:
go here: https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=175594
Scroll down and check out altitude909's link. Apparently PCIe will be backwards compatible. Maybe?
Click to expand...

Nope. PCI Express is a serial bus. PCI is a parallel bus. From a software perspective (as Ars mentions) the change is basicaly transparent. From a hardware perspective, it's anything but.

From Apple's page on PCIe: "PCI Express slots are not compatible with PCI or PCI-X expansion cards."
 
Hmm... Ok then... Any FW AI that would fit my needs?
Maybe something like a Delta66 except FireWire? :)
 
Does this not exist at the price I'm willing to pay or something? If it does, I'm not finding it. heh.. Is there a reason for this? Thanks a bunch.
 
I would look into a presonus Firebox, or their new Inspire ($299 and $199 respectively) solid drivers and good sound.
 
FranklinD said:
Does this not exist at the price I'm willing to pay or something? If it does, I'm not finding it. heh.. Is there a reason for this? Thanks a bunch.
Click to expand...

I don't think there's enough market for boxes without pres.
 
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