firewire interface question

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cake1122

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i have been told that in order to get all of my channels to record sepperatly into my computer i have to have a firwire interface. i want to get 8 seperate drum tracks into my computer what do i need to get to do that exactly?
thanks
 
There are a few ways to do this. A firewire interface like you are talking about may be one of the easiest routes.

Search around for the Presonus Firepod. There are some other options, but the Firepod is one of the more popular ones I've seen during my research. I just bought one, and so far I'm REALLY digging it. Super easy setup, pres sound better than my mackie mixer did, and it just plain works nice....I'm a drummer recording drums right now, as well.

Don't forget you'll also need to purchase some software to track into. The Firepod came with CUBASE, but you can purchase a different DAW such as Sonar or Nuendo if you feel the need. I'd start with the included CUBASE to get comfortable, and research all that at another time.

Hope that helps.
 
USB interfaces also allow multi-track recording. It's just a matter of how many physical inputs your hardware has, and how many tracks your software will allow to record simulatneously.

There are a lot of options out there. Most interfaces come with some type of software included.

If you want 8 seperate drum tracks, you need an interface with at least 8 inputs. You can either get something with 8 mic inputs and plug the the mics directly into the interface, or use a mixer with direct outs (or inserts) and plug that into the line inputs of the interface.

I hope I didn't get too technical at the end there.
 
RAK said:
USB interfaces also allow multi-track recording. It's just a matter of how many physical inputs your hardware has, and how many tracks your software will allow to record simulatneously.
Click to expand...

Repeat after me. "There are no 8-channel USB interfaces."

The eight channel USB interfaces are deliberately violating the USB spec. The USB 1.0 audio device class spec specifically disallows a USB 2.0 audio interface with a USB 1.0 descriptor, and the USB 2.0 descriptor format is not out yet. Therefore, USB 2.0 audio devices should not exist yet according to the spec.

In other words, a USB 2.0 audio device with eight channels falls under the category of "evil device that doesn't correctly comply with the USB 2.0 specs". Do not buy one.

When you see a USB 2.0 audio class on this page, it might start being worth asking vendors from then on whether they are class-compliant. For now, though, if it's audio and says USB 2.0... just say "no".

For 8 or more channels, there are only three legitimate choices: FireWire, PCI, and PCI Express. PCI Express audio interfaces are almost nonexistent, and parallel PCI is deprecated. I'd go with FireWire if at all possible.
 
I'll I said was USB devices allow multi-track recording. I wasn't saying they specifically allow 8 channels. The rest of what I was saying was not tied to USB interfaces specifically.

I apologize for not specifying.
 
with all the problems that i've seen people having with some of the usb interfaces, i'd avoid usb all together. matter o' fact, i'd avoid most of the all in one boxes.
 
RAK said:
I'll I said was USB devices allow multi-track recording. I wasn't saying they specifically allow 8 channels. The rest of what I was saying was not tied to USB interfaces specifically.
Click to expand...

Fair enough. My point was that the original question was about eight inputs, which USB can't really do, at least not without some rather disgusting kludgery.
 
Dude, you keep asking the same question over and over again. :D That's okay, though. I'm easy going.

Like everyone said in the other thread that you posted, the Firepod is a good choice for you. You mentioned you had a Power Book laptop and firewire (or USB) is the only choice you have in the way of interfaces. I wouldn't go USB...for reasons that I mentioned in your other thread. This leads us back to the Firepod, which is a great interface for the money. It has decent pre's and comes with everything you need to get you started. Well, except cables, mics, and instruments....and the computer itself. But you get the point.

And get rid of that Peavey mixer... ;)
 
Myriad_Rocker said:
Like everyone said in the other thread that you posted, the Firepod is a good choice for you. You mentioned you had a Power Book laptop and firewire (or USB) is the only choice you have in the way of interfaces. I wouldn't go USB...for reasons that I mentioned in your other thread. This leads us back to the Firepod, which is a great interface for the money. It has decent pre's and comes with everything you need to get you started. Well, except cables, mics, and instruments....and the computer itself. But you get the point.

And get rid of that Peavey mixer... ;)
Click to expand...

What kind of Peavey mixer? IMHO, the PV series pres are excellent, and if you mean the 16FX, judging by the specs, I think they're the same pres as the PV series.

Generally speaking, I can't hear any real difference between the Peavey pres and the FIREPOD pres with condensers, but when I stick a ribbon on there, the Peavey pres sound a bit more open on the high end. It is subtle, but I would keep the mixer if I were you, if only for when you find yourself using a ribbon mic.
 
dgatwood said:
What kind of Peavey mixer? IMHO, the PV series pres are excellent, and if you mean the 16FX, judging by the specs, I think they're the same pres as the PV series.

Generally speaking, I can't hear any real difference between the Peavey pres and the FIREPOD pres with condensers, but when I stick a ribbon on there, the Peavey pres sound a bit more open on the high end. It is subtle, but I would keep the mixer if I were you, if only for when you find yourself using a ribbon mic.
Click to expand...

That may be true but using that mixer is not accomplishing his goal of getting separate tracks recorded.
 
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