Firewire mixer
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Posted on Dec 01, 2008 10:56 am
Supermole
Member Since: Dec 01, 2008
hey, can anyone help me with some advise on firewire mixers.
I have an g4 ibook on which i am recording audio in garage band. (I know this may be a bit basic but it seems to work well and is so easy.)
Question is can I use a firewire mixer to record multiple tracks of audio at once. If so what sort of 8 or 12 track mixers would be good for this.
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Dec 01, 2008 11:00 am Welcome to HRC.
The wording of your question makes me ask a question; do you actually want a mixer, or do you simply want a device to allow multiple simultaneous inputs?
If you just want multiple inputs, you can get a larger sound interface and skip the mixer part altogether...and save some money. Since you are recording in Garage Band, I presume you are mixing there as well.
Dec 01, 2008 11:11 am sorry for the confusing wording.
I need a mixer as i will be recording several vocals and guitars at once. I want something I can control with faders and pots if possible.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Dec 01, 2008 12:27 pm Do you want everything to be in its own separate track in GarageBand?
Or do you just want to be able to record onto a single stereo track in garageBand and use the mixer to control volume of the individual instruments as they're being recorded?
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Dec 01, 2008 12:32 pm I see where dB is going here, in tracking, you only need to set the gain on a channel, and then you're done. Other volume is controlled in software (like monitor volumes).
This really negates the need for a mixer.
Using faders and pots for tracking would be on a control surface.
That said, the maudio i/o desk looks pretty nice, as does the i/026 from alesis. The alesis is quite a bit less $$$ than the maudio. There's also the mackie option, of having a regular mixer, with a firewire card put into it. This lets you send all channels over to a PC via firewire (spendy as well).
On all-in-one interfaces, there's the tascam that's just come out (1641, i think). There's firepod / firestudio (can't remember which is which). There's also the motu 8pre, and the rme fireface.
Basically, you're looking to do 2 things:
1. preamp : boost mic (or inst) signal up to line level
2. D/A - A/D conversion. convert sound to digital, and back again.
However you figure out a solution is up to you, but there's several ways to do these steps, either all in one, or in separate devices.
Dec 01, 2008 12:56 pm I need to be able to have everything in its own separate track, is this possible?
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Dec 01, 2008 01:10 pm Yes it is possible, there are a few mixers that offer this capability. What they are saying is this...
The input into the PC will be controlled only by the gain knob. The sliders will control the volume of what is leaving the main outs on the mixer, but will not effect the gain going through the firewire channel. Therefore, unless needed for live shows the mixer is overkill and will not be any simpler to use as a PC recording interface and will offer no benefit over a standard (and cheaper) firewire interface.
You could get the Mackie Onyx 1620 with 8 mic pre's...
www.zzounds.com...em--MACONYX1620
Or the Onyx 1640 with 16 mic pre's...
www.zzounds.com...em--MACONYX1640
And then add on the firewire card to either one...
www.zzounds.com...item--MACFWCARD
As you see, dedicated capture from each channel of a mixer can be expensive. Remove the mixer portion and switch to a dedicated computer interface and you can get 8 channels of top end Motu (firewire) for around $1000...
www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/896mk3/
Or you could get 8 nice and clean channels with their more basic setup for about half that (or 16 channels for around $1100)...
www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/8pre/
There are plenty more interfaces out there to choose from, these are just what have my eye at the moment.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Dec 01, 2008 01:14 pm OK if you're wanting to record several vocals and guitars all at the same time, then you're going to need a sound card that has as many inputs as you have individual signals. Plus you're going to need preamps for each of those inputs.
A firewire mixer may be your best bet, since they have integrated preamps for each channel and are capable of sending several individual tracks to the computer.
Do those Mac iBooks have a PCMCIA slot? If so, then there's an EMU sound card called the 1616 and 1616M that might fit your bill also. As the name implies, it has 16 ins, 16 outs. You'll still need preamps for those inputs though. Maybe a 16-channel mixer with either direct outs or channel inserts on all 16 channels would work. But I'm not sure if the EMU is Mac-compatible.
The M-Audio Delta 1010 and 1010LT might work for you as well, but again you'll need to pair it with a mixer or some other unit that has lots of preamps.
Mark Of The Unicorn makes some good high-end units that have that many inputs, but they're pretty high-dollar units.
Dec 01, 2008 05:20 pm hey, thanks all you guys for the helpfull advise and sugestions, I think I know what sort of direction i'm heading.
Gotta go to bed, (it's getting late here in England)
Cheers
