Small home studio setup on a budget

[rustyshed]

Hi everyone,

I am looking to purchase a Behringer XENYX 2442FX mixer and connect
this to a Hercules firewire interface then into my computer.

Am I right in thinking; (upto 10 mics) into mixer - (upto 12 audio lines) plug into hercules FW (12) - then Firewire cable transferes upto 12 audio streams to computer.

I can then mix down audio on my Pc with say Cubase Sx 3.

IS THIS CORRECT?

Also would my pc specs suit audio recording:

Amd 64 sempron 3600+
1Gb Ram DDR2
200GB SATA2 Hard Drive
2x IEEE 1394a ports

I will put another Harddrive in for OS System and cubase program.

Any recommendations and advice anyone one could give would be gratefully recieved.

 

[ssscientist]

The USB port on the Behringer mixer only carries the main left and right output from the board. The 2442FX does have 8 direct outs that you'd need to plug directly into the firewire interface if you wanted to get 8 outputs out of the board.

The Behringer also has 4 aux sends which MAY be useful for sending audio into the Hercules interface depending on whether they are prefader (as the name implies) or postfader, in which case they would probably be called 'effect sends.'

Other than that, you might need to add more ram to your computer but everything else sounds solid.


.

 

[rustyshed]

Thank you for your reply.

I have been told by some people to dump this setup and go for an alesis mutimix16 Firewire or a Phonic helix 24 firewire mixer.

What do you think?

Look forward to your reply, best wishes.

 

[ssscientist]

From what I've heard the Alesis and the Phonic have nothing on the new Behringers.

Stick with the Behringer, especially if you can get it for a good price.


.

 

[Willybomb]

I have a Hercules FW 16/12 and a berry 2442 fx pro desk.

- I run inserts from berry channels 1-8 to the herc.
- If I want to get a eqed 2nd track of an instrument, I hook up the relevant direct out (which are post fader).
- If I want the other channels on the berry as well, I'll use the aux 1/2 sends. I rarely use the group outs for recording although that's an option too.
- The output of the herc is fed into berry channels 15/16.
- The berry's main outs feed my power amp.
- I do not use the herc mixer control panel applet for monitoring (monitoring set to "none"), and rarely level setting as I use the berry trim for that.

This lets me set an overall volume level, and monitor the input VS playback properly. It's a shame the herc doesn't have a proper mixer or monitoring software.

Latest stuff recorded/mixed:

HTH.

Willy.

 

[rustyshed]

Phonic mixer and demo

Hey man that song sounds cool, the sound is kicking!

So do you find the firewire cable ok ? no issues, ive heard they can be dodgy, is this true?

Ive pretty much made up my mind to get the Helix24 just want to be sure you know.


Cheers man look forward to your reply.

 

[ssscientist]

ive heard they can be dodgy, is this true?

I've been running a Firebox for a looooong time with no 'dodgyness' at all.

Ive pretty much made up my mind to get the Helix24 just want to be sure you know.

I KNOW you're not talking to me...

 

[rustyshed]

Hi,

I have checked out the firebox, but its only has a couple of channels, I need something I can get at least 8 audio channels into the computer seperately.

This is why Im looking at the Phonic Helix boards and even the Hercules 16/12 firewire interface.

I have a BUDGET of £800

I was thinking of getting:-

Phonic helix 18 - £268 or maybe Alesis mutimix 16 FW

or Hercules 16/12 firewire £199 + secondhand Behringer, Mackie desk - £200

Computer - £400

and postage of items will take up the rest of the cash.

Im trying to sum up all the options with what I need and what I want.


So what do you think?

 

[ssscientist]

The Firebox has 2 microphone preamps and 2 line ins for a total of 4 inputs, and I wasn't suggesting that you buy one. I just brought it up as an example of my own firsthand experience with the complete lack of dodgyness in a Firewire interface.

As far as the rest of it goes, as I've said before you've got a solid grasp on what you need. Just be sure whatever computer you go for has a Firewire port or two, that you get one with an operating system and a monitor, and that you plan to make your next purchase some additional computer memory.


.

 

[Willybomb]

Sorry about the long time between replies:

So do you find the firewire cable ok ? no issues, ive heard they can be dodgy, is this true?

My cable is fine, but the Hercules firewire card itself died for some reason, so I replaced that with one I had kicking around.

 

[drummerboy_04AP]

You should check out the Presonus Firepod, Ive heard good things about it and Im about to order one.

 

[joswil44]

Presonus Firepod at www.americanmusicalsupply.com comes with a free Audio Technica AT2020 Microphone and Cubase LE for $499. And you can break it down into 3 payments with a credit card.

That would give you 8 Mic Preamps inputs plus 1/4 inch inputs on the back.


You can get something like the Behringer MINIMON MON800 Stereo Monitor Matrix Mixer to monitor your music plus it has a talkback mic for only $39.

Then you don't need a mixer and can do everything else on the PC.

PC Specs should be fine.

I have seen studios with simple setups like this putting out albums on major labels.

Just mic Preamp Inputs strait into the PC with EQ, Effects and mixing all done in the software.