Hooking it all up...

[supersam11]

What would be the best way to link the following items:

iMac (running OS X)
Alesis iMultimix 8 USB
Alesis M1 Active 320 Speakers

None of it has arrived yet but I am going out tomorrow to get the necessary cables along with new XLR to XLR's and some SM58's for recording guitar.

Just not sure if the iMultimix will send info back to the iMac to send through the speakers or its best to just send anything from the desk to the speakers.

Please help.

Thanks in advance

 

[moresound]

Most everything will be explained in your manuals. Be sure to read them from front to back.
58s for recording guitar ?

 

[supersam11]

Yeah thought they were best option?

SM57's then? Oh god the choices!

I'm a slave for a manual...I can't own anything without knowing exactly what it does...sort of like the anti-man!

Only reason I ask is because (like a small excited child) I wanted to go and get any necessary cables tomorrow before it all gets here. I need to go to my local music shop anyway so thought I could use it as an opportunity to get anything needed and save myself a possible trip later in the day.

They are both USB and from what I see on the speakers on the Alesis website, it seems like I have 1/4" Jacks or phono options.

Now I am a complete n00b at this but have been playing live for years.
So any information you have into getting the best results with this equipment will be appreciated.

 

[Jeff_D]

Yeah thought they were best option?

SM57's then? Oh god the choices!

SM57 seems to be the most popular choice for micing a guitar cabinet. Just to throw another option at you, I MUCH prefer my Audix I5 for a guitar cab... for the same price.

 

[moresound]

Yeah thought they were best option?

SM57's then? Oh god the choices!

I'm a slave for a manual...I can't own anything without knowing exactly what it does...sort of like the anti-man!

Only reason I ask is because (like a small excited child) I wanted to go and get any necessary cables tomorrow before it all gets here. I need to go to my local music shop anyway so thought I could use it as an opportunity to get anything needed and save myself a possible trip later in the day.

They are both USB and from what I see on the speakers on the Alesis website, it seems like I have 1/4" Jacks or phono options.

Now I am a complete n00b at this but have been playing live for years.
So any information you have into getting the best results with this equipment will be appreciated.

All manuals can be found on line just open and start reading then you'll know much before they arrive.

 

[Washburn100]

What would be the best way to link the following items:

iMac (running OS X)
Alesis iMultimix 8 USB
Alesis M1 Active 320 Speakers

None of it has arrived yet but I am going out tomorrow to get the necessary cables along with new XLR to XLR's and some SM58's for recording guitar.

Just not sure if the iMultimix will send info back to the iMac to send through the speakers or its best to just send anything from the desk to the speakers.

Please help.

Thanks in advance

Question, why are you getting USB monitors and a USB mixer. Both function as an inteface and you only need one interface.
Most situations, you would use the alesis mixer as your interface/soundcard and then use standard powered monitors out of the mixer for your sound. Am I missing something?

 

[suprstar]

USB monitors, what are you talking about?! The monitors are just regular active monitors, what's a usb monitor?

OP: plug the multimix into your computer, monitors into the multimix. Your computer should pick up the multimix as a sound card. 1 usb cable, a couple of 1/4" instrument cables, mic cables, youre good to go.

 

[supersam11]

I think washburn is right...they are USB, i was hoping there would be someway of hooking them up via the iMultimix anyway.

I know they are both interfaces but I plan to use them separately as well...im also opting for an editors keys USB vocal mic for the same reason...portability.

So both are USB powered does that mean i should start kicking myself now and regret going USB with the monitors?

I'm off to read some manuals...maybe enlighten me on setting it all up.

If anyone else knows if these can/can't be hooked up please let me know.

Thanks again guys!

 

[supersam11]

I am such a n00b...I'll probably just wait for them to come...It may be the case that they are unusable together as both are interfaces and there doesn't seem to be a way of hooking the monitors to the desk.

(The desk has a phantom power switch if that makes a difference...whats that even for?)

I would have expected there to be some workaround for this so the speakers could be used with a desk...but theres no way of telling at this stage

Any ideas for configurations are welcome and I shall let you all know what I have done by tomoro....if I'm not having to much fun that is!!!

 

[suprstar]

Well i'll be damned, USB speakers, never heard of such a thing..... That basically means they have a sound card built into them, to record the inputs if you want to. But you dont.. I check checked the specs, they DO have audio line in's, it looks like they'll play the audio even when it's not connected to the computer via usb. So just don't connect the USB. No way can usb deliver enough power to drive the monitors, im positive it's not using usb to power them. USB delivers 500 mA tops. The specs also say it comes with a switchable power supply so ...

Connect them just like any other active monitors via 1/4" instrument cables to your multimix's control room outputs, and use the multimix as your interface.

 

[supersam11]

Hoorah, it makes sense now.

Thanks for your help everyone...I'm off to the shops tomorrow and I'll buy me some more 1/4" Jack leads along with a condensor mic and im gonna have me some fun!

 

[Washburn100]

I looked on the manual and suprastar is right. You can hook the output of the multimix into the 320's with regular 1/4". As for USB mic, same question , why? You can get an inexpensive condenser and go into the multimix.

The reason you don't want a bunch of audio usb devices is because you can only use them one at a time. ASIO drivers do not let you use more than 1. By the way what are you using for a DAW or have you thought about it? Just noticed you said imac so I guess maybe garageband.

I'm curious as to why the rush to get these things. Maybe you might want to do a little more research and you will get better bang for your buck.

1) The multimix is only 16 bit. You can get a plethora of mixers now that are 24 bit and around the same price. Also most mixers/interfaces will come with a lite version of a DAW so if you don't have one, you will get one.

2) The 320's are nice, but rather small for monitors and you are paying for the interface ability and when using them with the multimix, you don't need this. I understand the idea of having interchangabiliy, but speakers should be speakers. If you want a 2nd recording device, get an inexpensive interface like an audio buddy or stealth plug for $50. Put the monitor money into better larger monitors.

3) USB mic's today just don't sound that good (at least the ones I've tried and heard. Also, because of the single interface thing again, when you use the usb mic you have to disconnect the multimix.

I'm not trying to rain on your parade. I know that once I get a piece of gear in mind, nothing is going to stop me! But from experience, I would at least ask you to think carefully before pulling out the bills. You may wait a few days and look into this a little more. You might be a whole lot happier in the end. Anyway, good luck!

 

[suprstar]

Youre right about all that, youre def. paying for he interface ability in those monitors, you could get better monitors for the price without the usb.. And dont bother with usb mics since u got a multimix.

One minor thing: "ASIO drivers do not let you use more than 1" - Technically, you CAN use multiple devices, so long as they all use the same driver. 2 multimix'es, no prob. But since those devices undoubtedly all have different drivers, it's a moot point in this case. So you are right to say he will only be able to use one at a time.

 

[supersam11]

If we are going to be completely honest. Its the cheapest set up going.

Plus having them as USB doesn't bother me as I do plan to use them separately outside of my spare bedroom as well as recording solo stuff by myself...meaning i will only be using one thing at a time anyway.

The mic can be taken to a gig plugged into a laptop without any hassle and capture the full show.

The speakers can come with me to my mates house and can also be used quite easily standalone.

The desk is just about the only thing I havent got a particular reason for getting other than I've heard good things about it.

 

[supersam11]

The desk comes with Cubase LE but I have got logic pro 8 installed...going to see which i prefer.

More used to cubase but logic, of course, is Apple software these days and might be better on my mac.

 

[suprstar]

You might wanna go with cubase if you're going to do heavy midi. IDK how well logic plays with midi, but cubase is really easy, moreso than protools at least. Otherwise I'm under the impression that all the DAW software is 95% the same, just pick one and go. Once you get past the learning curve, whatever you know is the best one. Welcome to an expensive time-consuming hobby

 

[PoorBoyRecordings]

Now I am a complete n00b at this but have been playing live for years.
So any information you have into getting the best results with this equipment will be appreciated.

Hey hey. Another long time musician/learning to record I forgot when I found this site and logged on but I was same as you: long time musician but didn't know beans about recording ( still don't but can't blame all the ppl here who tried to help me, they tried ) Hope you enjoy your endeavors into the realm of recording as much as I have. It's a whole new world.