Help with deciding on FW1884/FE-8 add on

[slash81291]

I am a noob, but heres my question.

All i want out of this mixer is recording. I want it to be able to record simultaneously 10 tracks. Then have 6 others that i can use to overdub, or add keyboards later, or add lead guitar over the basic mix. So with this i can use it part with Midi to track over an existing mix right? i can also record intruments simultaneously with this right?. I am in the process of setting up a home studio. so bear with me

also to conect this what i would do would be...

Instruments/mics > FW1884/FE-8> computer?

Do i need to have a P.A.? I would like to have a P.A. in the mix so we can use the room for practice as well as recording. Like have basically 3 monitors on the floor of the live room for musicains. have one head set in the ISO booth for vox/ One in the control room. then 2 speakers there.


any help for a confuzed noob?

 

[sloom]

I don't do MIDI, but I'm sure you can insert MIDI tracks with it- it's an input device with MIDI ports. But what you're talking about would be a software function- what sequencing app are you using? The FW1884 is 1) a way into the PC, and 2) a control surface for your software.

Plug the FW1884 into the FireWire port on your computer. Yep, plug in mics. Mic pres are on the unit. What is an FE-8?

If you're going to record your band live, you'll need a separate, small PA for vocals. Or you can overdub vox after you get rhythm tracks, etc done.

 

[MrBlackthorne]

The FW-1884 doesn't do 10 simultaneous tracks without additional hardware. It only has 8 inputs built in. I have an FW-1884 and I can do 16 simultaneous tracks, because I also have an M-Audio Octane that plugs in through the FW-1884, giving me 8 more channels using ADAT lightpipe. You can also get an additional 2 simultaneous inputs via S/PDIF digital RCA, for a total of 18.

Sloom is right, the FW-1884 is just a DAW for a computer, meaning you need a computer with software (Cubase, Logic, etc) to record to. It also works as a control surface for the software, meaning that the faders on the board control your software faders, etc. It's actually very slick - the faders are motorized and move with the software. The FE-8 is an addon that gives you 8 more faders for the control surface, but it adds no additional recording capabilities. I believe the system comes with software that offers some limited recording capabilities.

The FW-1884 has quite good monitoring capabilities. I have a small PA (a Fender Passport, actually) that I connect the FW-1884 to through stereo RCA cables. Then I run the live mics from the room to the FW-1884 and use that as both a live mixer and recording interface simultaneously. Keep in mind, though, that there are no EQ capabilities built into the FW-1884, so it's not ideal to tweak your sound in the room.

The FW-1884 has 2 16 channel MIDI busses built in. (2 input, 2 output).

Hope this helps some.

Rick

 

[sloom]

See, give up a half-arsed answer and you get properly educated!

Thanks for the clarity, Rick.

 

[slash81291]

Yeah i know that it is only 8 channels, but i would be able to record more simulatenously with the fe 8 right?

Anyways, Im still lost with what im going to do, something like a Mackie 4 bus 24 channel or an onyx is looking good right about now. but withe onyx and the other if I go into the computer, i would need to controll the faders and stuff with the mouse right?

How about an allen heath 20 mixer.

So basically what i really want to achieve. is the ability to record many tracks simultaneously, then use other tracks to go over or overdub a certain thing. I will be recording to computer. This wont be used for live sound/ JUST RECORDING. What would you guys recomend between Mackie/tascam/AH

Mike

 

[MrBlackthorne]

Hi Mike,

No, the FE-8 does not give you more recording capability. It simply adds 8 faders to the control surface, allowing you more hardware faders to control the software. It does not allow you to record more channels. To add more channels, you must purchase an add-on preamp, such as the M-Audio Octane or similar, which give you 8 additional simultaneous channels over ADAT lightpipe. Additionally, you can buy a digital preamp that will give you 2 more channels of audio over S/PDIF digital coax. That's a total of 18 channels, but not built-in. Only 8 channels are actually built-in to the unit.

You don't actually need the FE-8 to control more than 8 software faders using the unit. The FW-1884 allows you to control 4 banks of 8 faders individually. So, for instance, channels 1-8 are your drums. If the unit is set to control Bank 1, the faders will be in position for your drums. Say, channels 9-16 are your guitars. If you switch to Bank 2, the faders will move into the proper positions for your guitar... etc...

I don't have any experience with any of the other mixers you've mentioned, so I'm really not qualified to give any advice on those. As far as I understand it, the Onyx does not work as a control surface, so yes in this case, you'd have to use the mouse to control software faders in the mix. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, though.

For the record, I really like my FW-1884, although I have had some problems I need to get fixed with channels 1 & 2. I had a Tascam US-428 before this, and I liked it so much, it inspired me to get the 1884. It's a fantastic sounding machine, that's for certain.

Hope this helps,

Rick

 

[sloom]

Here comes a compromise...

If you want lots of inputs, there are other ways beside Tascam to go... but since we're in the Tascam forum I'll leave it with you and Google, and the other forums. But If you don't need more than 8 at a time, Tascam is reputed to have very good A/D converters, which is a prime feature to be hip to concerning your input interface.

Tascam in general is not a losing situation by a good stretch.

You want:
-Inputs
-Control of your software (read: No mouse)

There will be compromises. I'm almost willing to bet you'd be happy with the Tascam. I don't work for Tascam, and have had complaints here and there... so what- nothing's perfect! Some things are just more imperfect than others.

Limit your thinking to the two items listed above, I'd say. A&H won't get you into the PC. Mackie Onyx will, but you then have to use the mouse. Mackie Control Universal won't let you in, but offers surface control.

An "all-in-one" like the FW1884 will save you the expense of buying two things. (Oops You can always add inputs later with a Presonus Firebox, a Mackie Onyx 8-input pre, a Delta 1010, etc. Whatever will be compatible.

Also, new stuff is always coming out: Maybe Tascam will make an add-on soundcard for this type of situation? I wouldn't be surprised...