Interface- Quesitons

[EtherealEntity]

Hi Sorry in advance for this essay!
I am studying recording etc in college at the moment, I am knowledgable and understand fluently how to use all the equipment at college to record using our 32 track desk, and Protools with a Digi 001. This has 8 inputs to take 8 simultanious recordings from the 8 group outs on the desk. As I understand, the Digi 001 has its own 8 input soundcard to allow this simultanious 8 recordings.

I have recently been building up my home studio. I require 2 simultanious recordings. Currently I have a Creative X-Fi Soundblaster Elite Pro interface, which also has its own soundcard in my PC. In my DAW, I am able to select input 1 or input 2 on my tracks as desired, for my simultanious 2 track recording. So, everything is fine

However, I am looking for a new interface. My one is more of a gaming thing. It's just jacks, no XLRs, no phantom power etc. I was originally set on the Tascam FireOne which has 2 inputs and I read good reviews about it. However, on trying to purchase it, it's pretty much impossible to get hold of now. Out of stock everywhere etc. So...I need to find a new one.

BUT, just today I have suddenly come up with another question because of something a friend said.
He has a cheap 8 track USB mixer. This he plugged into his computer, and in his DAW (the same one I am using - Sonar) he only got "USB Audio Interface" (i.e. he did not get 8 tracks). As far as I can see this can be for 3 reasons:
1) He is doing something wrong and everything is fine.
2) His mixer I believe only has a master bus (as opposed to , for example, the 8 busses of our 32 track desk at college). This would mean his mixer just has one output, I guess. As opposed to our 8.
3) You can only take ONE signal across the USB connection, as it's not using a dedicated multi-input soundcard. THIS is what I am afraid of.

Upon thinking of reason number 3, I wondered if the Tascam FireOne would actually do what I wanted it to. It was a FireWire interface. Would I be able to select input 1 or 2 like I can with my current soundcard? Or would I have the same problem as my friend, finding just "Firewire audio interface" as an input in my DAW. This would mean I can't do 2 simultanious recordings.

So I am looking for an understanding of how a FireWire/USB interface (which is what I want) works..and if it actually CAN do what I need!

With that said, I need some suggestions on interfaces with atleast 2 inputs When I say atleast I don't mean I necesarily need more, but if I can get say, 4, for the price, then that's good
Nothing fancy, just need good quality preamps, phantom preferred, visual level meters preferred. XLR or XLR/Jack inputs. That is ofcourse if I can actually do 2 simultanious recordings with a USB/Firewire interface.
I just need to know it's something that, if my recording sounds bad, it's NOT the interfaces problem.

If I was right about number 3, WHAT do I need?
I am thinking I would need a whole new soundcard with several inputs, something like the Digidesign Digi001 with its 8 inputs to take the 8 outs from the mixer at college.
Hopefully this is not the case

Thanks for any help you can give, and sorry again for the long read

 

[gecko zzed]

Your DAW will recongise the number of inputs provided to it by the interface.

This is the key . . . examining the interface's specs to see what number of tracks it will send down its USB or firewire cable.

In the case of the 8 track mixer with USB output, it's likely that its USB interface only provides a stereo output from the desk, in which case the DAW will only see L and R. Many of the mixers with built-in USB interfaces operate this way.

Multi-track interfaces are usually firewire-based, though some USB interfaces are as well.

Look at brands such as Presonus, Tascam and Edirol for reasonably priced interfaces that will provide what you want.

 

[EtherealEntity]

Right that makes sense I'll have a look around. I guess I'll have to be careful, as the majority I'm looking at don't seem to CLEARLY state, as you did, how many tracks actually go down the Firewire/USB.

For example this; For example this http://www.dv247.com/invt/20611/
I can't seem to find a clear statement in the description, as with many products...Though it seems like a nice interface.
However looking at the circuit diagram they printed ontop of it
http://www.avforums.com/forums/atta...4114692-sale-edirol-fa-101-trade-pict0573.jpg

It looks like inputs 1+2 are combined when using the firewire input. It gives me the impression that my DAW would say "Firewire Interface 1/2" and give me a combined audio of both...
This wouldn't really be a problem because the thing has 10 inputs, but sadly 1and 2 happen to be the only XLRs on it.
Would this be the case?
I see 1+2 are seperated again for the jack outputs on the back, but that defeats the point of me wanting it as a FireWire interface.


EDIT: I found this post, https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=280648 which has made me more secure about this issue. I have been looking at several interfaces by PreSonus at the moment. Perhaps I will get something a bit larger and more versatile...hmm. Just to double check before I buy anything, interfaces such as the PreSonus FireStudio, FireBox etc, these CAN all record to seperate audio tracks yes? I presume so after reading that other thread, but still don't know exactly what I'm looking for in the specs to get a garunteed answer

Out of curiousity, would I still be right in thinking that 1 and 2 in the Edirol interface I linked earlier ARE combined through the Firewire?

Thanks for your help