A question about firewire mixers...

Posted on Aug 26, 2007 01:36 pm
JAMESveeder
Member Since: Aug 25, 2007

I currently am using the Alesis 8USB mixer, and It's fine for now i suppose, but I read that a firewire mixer can send each individual track to the computer instead of one stereo track.

Is this true? This would be an amazing discovery on my part and it would help me out a lot.

Thanks for your replies :)

[ Back to Top ]

pjk
Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004

Aug 26, 2007 08:59 pm

I think whosyourdaddy has used the alesis IO26, and likes it much. He's got a post about it somewhere in the past on here.

I believe the onyx mixers by mackie have a firewire card option, that will probably send individual channels.

There's also the motu 8pre, which gives you 8 preamps, and firewire.

Also, there's the presonus firepod, which is similar to the 8pre, just by presonus.

Personally, I use analog mixer, and a PCI solution, with 8 analog inputs.

JAMESveeder
Member
Since: Aug 25, 2007

Aug 28, 2007 06:13 pm

Hmm, well i'm looking for a new mixer, the 8pre looks pretty neat though. It's kinda expensive for me but I could probably handle saving up for that, or I could just go for the Firepod.

But does it do this?

Say I have 7 drum microphones and I wanted to send each on to a different track on the computer. When I record I have a snare mic, kick mic, 2 ambient/room condensors, and 3 tom mics. Will it be able to send each one to a seperate track in like cubase or any other audio editing program? Then I could go back and edit the snare track and level out sounds without messing with the other drums.

If that's what it does then great.

The Mackie Onyx mixers are all pretty freakin' expensive haha. I don't really have the budget for that.

Thanks :)

pjk
Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004

Aug 28, 2007 06:46 pm

Yep, you got it, just like you want. Each on it's own track, though they will bleed onto each others track pretty badly =).

I've done a few small recordings with kits, and the bleed is pretty pronounced. But they are on their own tracks, so there you go.

If I was looking, I'd certainly put the 8pre at the top of the list. Motu makes some pretty nice stuff, and robust too.

Firepod has had a few issues, that have been brought up here on the boards, but I think they've gotten resolved. Could be learning curve, or maybe product issues. I can't remember offhand.

Like I said, if you didn't need firewire, an analog mixer / PCI interface does the thing for me. I've heard people using 2 maudio 1010s in one PC for 16 inputs at once.