recomendations on usb2/firewire mixer for recording

[jeremyrozario]

i'll just be frank, i'm quite a noob to mixers and stuff, so here goes


heres my current setup.....
*a mac mini
*OS X
*garageband
*may later invest in other software e.g. cubase, reason, maybe pro tools

lookin for stuff with like.......
*12-16 channel mixer
*must have usb2/firewire out
*volume sliders =P
*with or without built in dsp doesnt matter

i need it for.....
*multi-track recordin for drums, guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals, harmonica
*home studio
*maybe bring it out for gigs?

budget....
*around $1200-$1400, less is always better, can get mics and other stuff, maybe plugins and stuff too

stuff i've heard of so far but dun noe enough abt....
m-audio nrv 10
yamaha mw12

so maybe when giving suggestions, can give pros and cons? thanx

 

[rawn]

You can look at Mackie Onyx mixers as well.

 

[jeremyrozario]

the mackie onyx mixers are a bit out of budget...

 

[dude3d30]

Hello there,

I own a M-Audio Project Mix I/O.

Its a firewire audio/control surface and interface
You can check out the specs at the M-Audio website.

Well, basically, it has 8 Analog Mic/Line inputs. SPDIF and ADAT in/out. World Clock sync and a MIDI in/out port.

Motorized faders and assignable faders as well.

Its compatible with most Major DAWs like Pro Tools M-Powered, Logic, Nuendo and many more.

 

[jeremyrozario]

again, out of my budget... $1200-$1400 SGD

anw i went down to sinamex yesterday, only firewire mixer they had was the nrv10, but for me there are insuffecient XLR ins, the other alternative that they should have carried was the alesis multimix firewire series, but apparently they won't bring it in


any other firewire mixers out there?

 

[goofyindie]

for arounf ur budget. u might wanna check out alesis multimix firewire 12 or 16.

it's works with cubase and all sorts. try checking it specs at sinamex.

for $880 u can get multimix 12 firewire. for another $450 for a good alesis m1 active 520


and yah. that would start u off. than maybe put it a little more for microphones.

say about $200 more

 

[unsane]

phonic helix series. do a search..

 

[Kimmi]

u could try luther Musicworks for the alesis.I think they sell it also.

 

[jeremyrozario]

goodfyindie:
sinamex won't bring in the alesis multimix firewire series, when i queried about it, the salesperson gave me the impression that sinamex is trying to sell the M-audio nrv10, over the alesis firewire, because of profit issues???

me: so do you bring in the alesis multimix firewire series?

salesperson: we used to.

me: didn't sell well?

salesperson: all sold out.

me: any new stock coming in?

salesperson: nope. at that price difference...u can try the m-audio

me: nrv 10, yup i read abt it, but there are insuffecient XLR inputs, i need 8 to mic up my drumset

salesperson: you can use another mixer....(wasn't paying attention after this point when i got the impression that they were trying to get me to buy the nrv10)

unsane
really interesting, firewire, 96khz sampling rate, sound damn good, and the price in euros is veri decent, is there a dealer in singapore? the german site was too er....german =)

Kimmi
i'll go check probrably later today, but i think they probrably take their stock from sinamex, but no harm checking it out =)

 

[unsane]

esden at sim lim

 

[burping_boy]

I bought a Phonic Helixboard 12 Firewire MKii and it's really budget and value for money. I got it below $500 if u need a price for benchmark. For ur need of more XLR inputs u'll need at least the helixboard 18 or 24.
http://www.phonic.com/en/product/de...&group=en&product_no=helixboard18firewiremkii
http://www.phonic.com/en/product/de...&group=en&product_no=helixboard24firewiremkii

u may want to research more on their reviews and comments, some find them underpriced for their performance, some find them crap. For me, it's just good enough. However, i dun see phonic mixers selling anywhere in shops, i got it from phonic distributor wintron trading, and the owner dany is a helpful and nice guy. If u are interested, u can contact him at 98711881.

Hope this helps.

 

[soft]

I have a question for these usb/firewire mixers. When we plug in 8 microphones into the mixer, record to computer, will we get 8 discrete tracks on the computer?

 

[unsane]

yup.

there are a few that just send a stereo pair, but its generally kind of a bonus feature on an otherwise live mixer

 

[soft]

SOFTies who are considering these USB/Firewire mixers should fully understand this point. How many simultaneous discreet recording outputs to computer.

If their want to do drums tracking, a stereo output will not be useful.
For those not clear of what I am trying to say: Most mixers have many inputs where you plug in microphones and instruments. When you want to record to the computer for proper mixing, you want to have all the microphones and instruments recorded on discreet tracks. Meaning Bass Drum on track 1, Snare on track 2, Hi-hats on 3 .......

If the mixer only allows a stereo (usb/firewire) output, then you will have every microphone and instrument set in a stereo LR track. You wont be able to do any mixing at all.

That said, you could still use the mixer to do track-by-track. Record just the Bass Drum, then record the snare, then record the hi-hats ....

 

[burping_boy]

Depends on the specs, usually USB 1.0 mixers only supports a stereo output, and USB 2.0 or Firewire Mixers should be capable of streaming discrete track outputs.

 

[jeremyrozario]

yup, thats the reason why i'm a bit particular about having a firewire/usb 2 mixer, anw went down to esden yesterday afternoon, raymond is a really cool fella

veri friendly, informative and veri good on the price side, juz gonna look around a bit more, but more or less i'm inclined to the phonic helix 18

 

[soft]

Must influence Raymond to come onto SOFT! ha..ha... I told him but he say he is using phone + fax only, email also hardly check. haiz... he has alot of affordable and useful stuff.

 

[rawn]

If you can stretch your budget, get the mackie, not bad preamps and EQ's. Take it as an investment man.

 

[doggieshaman]

reviving this thread! =D

came across something on the net, i wonder if anyone brings in EDIROL in sg?
http://www.midi-store.com/Edirol-M16-DX-digital-mixer-p-16898.html

i'm currently in the process of weighing up options but if its true that Sinamex doesn't want to sell/stock the alesis series then might have to look at other options

 

[z_z]

Edirol is Roland...try calling Swee Lee. They don't bring in all the Roland / Edirol stuff though.