Firewire/mixer Question.

[Kurtisroy]

Hey guys! I used to come here a lot when I was into recording awhile ago, but it seems that I have lost my memory of any recording XD

Anyways. I'm looking to start a small home studio, and I've had some trouble with firewire. I have a mac with a firewire port, so check that off the list.

I plan on recording drums, guitars, bass all that good stuff, so I need at least 5 channels to work with. I've looked at the maudio firewire interfaces and they are really expensive! I found this for a decent price, but here is my question.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...Konnekt-6-FireWire-Audio-Interface?sku=180229

I know I need a firewire interface to make it work with my computer, but I also want a mixer to us for all my intruments, mics and directs in. Do I hook the mixer up to the firewire interface then into my computer? Or is it the other way around? My gut feeling tells me I can go from a mixer (I've been looking at a euro desk..16 channel) to the firewire interface, into the firewire port?

Any help would be great!

Thanks

 

[Dr. Varney]

Well, I just looked at that interface and it looks rather wonderful.

I'm not sure how many inputs the 'Connect 6' has but I'm guessing, as it's name suggests... six?

I think your gut feeling is right. That's what I do, anyhow.

IN: Instrument -----> Mixer -----> Interface ------> Computer ----¬
OUT:Amp/monitors <------Mixer <------Interface <------Computer--

However, my gut reaction is that the 'Connect 6' is already a mixer in it's own right. That's why I'm interested to know how many inputs it has.

I think maybe the decision should be really whether you need a mixer situated before such a great interface... or conversely, whether you need an interface with such a sophisticated front end if you are going to use a mixer?

And you don't necessarily need a firewire interface. You can go internal, if you have a good mixer but the interface you're looking at seems to cover a lot for the money. I do like the look of it very much.

When it comes to the onboard effects at the interface/mixer end, I like them - but I can only use one effect at a time. I have discovered that by instead using my internal VSTs, I have more choice and layering options. Many people prefer to apply their effects after the recording is done, for some flexibility when it comes to finally mixing but I like to record them directly.

I use a small mixer to plug everything into, then that goes to my internal sound card. The sound card itself is clean but fairly rudimentary - it just accepts the analogue signal which is then processed inside the DSP software and through into the DAW.

I'm not sure if I've answered your question properly but that's just what I think. I'm no expert but I hope it helps.

Dr. V

 

[Chili]

Hey guys! I used to come here a lot when I was into recording awhile ago, but it seems that I have lost my memory of any recording XD

Anyways. I'm looking to start a small home studio, and I've had some trouble with firewire. I have a mac with a firewire port, so check that off the list.

I plan on recording drums, guitars, bass all that good stuff, so I need at least 5 channels to work with. I've looked at the maudio firewire interfaces and they are really expensive! I found this for a decent price, but here is my question.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...Konnekt-6-FireWire-Audio-Interface?sku=180229

I know I need a firewire interface to make it work with my computer, but I also want a mixer to us for all my intruments, mics and directs in. Do I hook the mixer up to the firewire interface then into my computer? Or is it the other way around? My gut feeling tells me I can go from a mixer (I've been looking at a euro desk..16 channel) to the firewire interface, into the firewire port?

Any help would be great!

Thanks

If you're recording drums, the minimum will probably be 4 inputs; snare, kick, two overheads. You will want them each on a separate track, so right away, the interface you have linked will not work. (it's only 2 channels in and 4 channels out, hence the 6 in the name) For as many mics/inputs you will be recording at one time will be how many inputs you need on your interface. Running through a mixer into the interface will only yield 2 inputs.

Another consideration is that you don't want to make adjustments to anything while your tracking. Leave all EQ, compression (mostly), reverb, etc until you have everything tracked and are ready to mix it down. You don't know what adjustments you need until you are listening to all the parts. Adjusting individual tracks on a mixer before it gets recorded in the computer means they are permanent and they might not work when you have everything else recorded. Once you have all your raw tracks recorded, then you start making adjustments to get them to fit with each other and you would do this inside the computer, not on a mixer.

If you can use a drum VSTi like ezdrummer, then you can use this interface and not even worry about buying a mixer.

peace,

 

[Kurtisroy]

ok great! That helped a lot. So basically how many channels I need, I need that many on the firewire interface? Gotcha. I'm not one to adjust sound while its being tracked, you're right when you said I need to track it raw. So would it be dumb to buy a mixer? I also do some live sound. But if a firewire interface works, should I just get that?

 

[Dr. Varney]

I think a lot depends on how many tracks you want to record simultaneously. What Chilli is saying is that whatever you put into the mixer will be summed into just two channels (left & right) with that interface. With most electronic home studios, it seems a lot of people are recording each part seperately and tracking them in the DAW. That's what I have to do, anyway.

Unless of course, you are happy to mix everything straight down onto two track stereo, having tweaked everything before you start, to end up with a sort of 'live' but fixed recording. Otherwise, I'm not sure a couple of hundred dollars will cut it.

Dr. V

 

[Chili]

ok great! That helped a lot. So basically how many channels I need, I need that many on the firewire interface?

Correct.

I'm not one to adjust sound while its being tracked, you're right when you said I need to track it raw. So would it be dumb to buy a mixer?

I think so.

I also do some live sound. But if a firewire interface works, should I just get that?

There are other products out there that might serve you better. I have a Phonic Helix Firewire mixer that has worked well for me. Mine is older and no real problems. It has 4 mic inputs and a few more line level inputs and it will stream the raw audio to your computer. Then you can use the mixer portion for tracking and adding effects to the monitoring so your singer can have reverb without it being recorded. You can also use a mixer like this for live gigs just like any other mixer.

hth,

 

[Kurtisroy]

Gotcha! Cool. I'm just thinking about getting that firepod. I forgot I have an alesis usb 2.0 mixer that I've been using for live stuff. So I think once I've got the firepod, I'm all set correct?

 

[dastrick]

Howdy.

If it were me I wouldn't even worry about a mixer. Just get yourself an interface like the Firepod and you'll be set. For live shows you can control everything from the DAW (Cubase, Logic, etc.).

I used to have a Firepod and liked it so much that I bought a second one. Then sold them to get a Firestudio. If you don't buy a mixer you could use that extra $$ for a Firestudio and have the Presonus Control software to set up different headphone mixes and main mixes.

There's also the Zoom R16 which would suit your needs. I've never used it, but it gets great reviews and has a lot of features for the money.