firewire unit - help very much apreciated (several small units being considered)tanx!

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diogo

diogo

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hi everyone,

im going with the firewire route but i could really use every bit of help i can get, it being in terms of unit reviews or misconceptions i may have about this ever growing recording form...

i think my best bet is misconceptions first..

- i would really like to understand what the bunch of inputs/outputs on the back are for...u cant connect more mics there right? unless u have another pre..is this right? from what i gather, these things can take synths, drum machines, etc...im not too sure here...

- also, its best if we can get the pci card of the same brand right?

- will these units work with (for example) cool edit pro 2.1? its what i have, im really used to it too...it would be a bummer if i had to get used to another software..i have pro tools as well, but never got to install it.

- can we actually switch the card on a laptop and install another pci card? these units wont work too well with stock crappy cards right? at least we wont be able to take advantage of unit and itll be kind of wasting money..

- are there any units that will take up 3 mics at once? im looking at the smaller ones, but the standard seems to be 2...i cant afford to go up into a firepod or something like that so...just wondering...


ok..im sure i have more but what the heck..units...im currently considering the following ones:

- Edirol FA66

- Edirol FA101

- Presonus Firebox

- Echo Gina

- Maudio Firewire 410

i think the fa101 might be a little overkill..after all im trying to cut down on costs...the edirol units look cool, so does the presonus...Maudio, i own a dmp3 and i think it delivers..but it would be major disapointment if the pres in the 410 were actually the same and not better..

i guess what i want you guys to tell me is...

wich unit has better pres (if possible compare the pres with some outboard ones so i can really understand the quality at stake here) and wich unit is better overal and can give me better results..
also, wich pci card (within a very reasonable price) do you guys recomend to each one of the units..what will perform better with each one...

i will be recording 2 mics at the same time...the ideal would be 3..but that looks impossible looking at these things...using it with windows XP and hopefully cool edit pro 2.1.

price is an issue..thats why im not even looking at RME, etc...i really cant afford it...


tanx in advance for all the help you guys can give me...i can really use it..

many many tanx!



diogo
 
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I have nothing to compare it to but I like my Firebox.

- can we actually switch the card on a laptop and install another pci card? these units wont work too well with stock crappy cards right? at least we wont be able to take advantage of unit and itll be kind of wasting money..

Not sure what you mean here but I don't think you can remove the soundcard in your laptop. You can however bypass it by using an external soundcard such as the Firebox or any of the others mentioned. Make sure your laptop has a firewire port. If not and your laptop has a pcmcia slot you can get a firewire card for it so you can plug the unit of your choice into it.

Most of the units mentioned will work with you software unless i'm mistaken.
 
Ed,

tanx...firebox looks really cool too i must admit..and its not the priciest of the bunch wich is good...

yes i was talking about replacing the soundcard on the laptop cause, whats the point of having a 24 bit interface if the soundcard is 16 or something right? (unless this another misconception of mine that needs clearing)...stock soundcards suck..i know mine does..

a firebox is not a soundcard itself right? i would still need a good pci card to take the best advantage of it right?

i saw u talking about putting other mics in there...how did u do it? an external pre into one of the back inputs?

tanx!
 
All of those which you listed with the exception of the gina will interface with your laptop without the need of additional hardware, granted you have a firewire port. Which ever unit you choose will act as your soundcard when powered up without having to noodle with what you already have in your system, your onboard card will have no effect as to what your new interface will be doing regarding sample rate and/or bit depth.
I'd also like to mention that you can hook your DMP3 into any of these units line inputs for two more additional inputs. It's highly unlikely that the pres in any of these units will be a step up from what you already have, these units generally serve to give you usable pre's, not stellar ones.
 
Clit,

tanx a lot, great explanation..its a relief that the units actually "bypass" the existing soundcards...that was one of my biggest fears...

the dmp3...well, i wont have it, im gonna sell my current setup (dmp3 - fostex mr8) so i can afford the new one :/

i think im pretty set on the firebox, and having a presonus tubepre (with a replaced tube!) plugged into it for an extra channel (i will only need 3) for vocals and the other two serving two SDC for acoustic guitar...

will the front inputs and the back ones work at the same time? i think they do, but i never seem to get past the marketing on the product's webpages...this firebox looks too good to be true :/ ...

pres not stellar...i believe you..i really dont expect them to be...but i really expect a Presonus pre to be a little more "musical" than an maudio pre...both the firebox pres and the tubepre...
i hope...... :rolleyes:


tanx a lot!
 
The Firebox can record 4 inputs at once. The front 2 are mic preamps and on the back of the unit has inputs 3 and 4. You can use the outputs of a mixer or another pre to use inputs 3 and 4.
 
Check this out:

http://tinyurl.com/ds4o3

I just ordered one myself. Luckily someone else sent me the link.

I actualy placed my order at zzounds.com but having them price match and beat the price with free shipping. I should have mine by Monday.
 
hey MKS,

tanx for the sugestion..im quite familiar with the Maudio products, i own a dmp3...as i said, in my opinion it delivers, but, in this particular subject i was going for a step up (even if only a little one) in terms of pres, so im going with the Presonus firebox and their tubepre along with it, so i can have 3 ins.

i really think its more than enough and a cool little unit.

anyway tanx!
 
Ed,

tanx! thats good to know! do you think you could manage some soundclips of the firebox, just so i can more or less have an idea of what im going to get myself into?

either way, many tanx!
 
i have the firebox..great choice..the Pres are excellent for the price.

make sure your computer is prepared though, until i get a dedicated DAW set up, there were plenty of dropouts...I'd reccoemnd getting a texas instruments firewire card for 20 bucks..or if you have a gigabyte motherboard with built in firewire, you will be good there too.
 
stash,

glad to see so many ppl happy with the firebox..it sure reassures me.
will look into those firewire cards...im not sure if my wife's laptop has one.

one thing, can u insert those cards on a laptop´?
i think ill manage, if i cant hook it up with the stuff i have now, ill just build a pc or get a laptop that will basically just do that..but its really good to have options and to know where to go..texas instruments stuff should be easy to get anywhere (i hope! im in europe).


tanx a lot!
 
really looks like the best option..cant get past how usable Presonus pres are...although Edirol units sure look more professional...Presonus's stuff look like toys lol but its looks, i now they're built like tanks..

anyway, edirol is roland, roland is usable but rather thin pres, roland is VS, VS is usable but thin pres..

dunno..

anyway, im sold on the Firebox, perfect for what im after.

if i could only decide between the MXL V67 and SP C1 for vocals...i would be a happy camper.

glad to see so many ppl with the firebox! :D
 
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