multi-track interface for drummer, firewire? usb?

[marosell]

Going to be doing a build soon to record music with. I'm a drummer and use between 8-16 mics on my setup.

I'm interested in some sound boards / mixers and don't know what to get. Since I'd like to do most mixing in the software, its not super important to have tons of control knobs on a mixer, is it? I just want something that will pipe 8-16 tracks into my mac at the same time, and have Garageband record each track separately to play with later.

Don't know if I should make sure to get a motherboard that has firewire? Or do many mixing boards find that usb is sufficient? I suppose I could always get an aftermarket 1394 card if I thought I needed it...

What do you guys think? Comments / thoughts are appreciated!

 

[erickphilips]

I'm in the same boat actually. I've been using an old m-audio delta 1010 which has 8 inputs. Just enough for me. I've had to use this driver http://www.audio-evolution.com/drivers/ as the m-audio one won't work. However there is zero latency and it's working like a dream. Only issue. No midi.
Not sure whether you can chain them either.
Hope that helped.

 

[Stork]

While I'm just a closet musician using GarageBand for my guitar recordings, I chose the Presonus FireBox for my needs because it had a Firewire interface. Everything I read on musical interfaces for the Macs said that USB can/will cause latency problems. The USB devices are cheaper, but I didn't want to spend time debugging the interface.

I've also read good reviews for Alesis Firewire products.

BTW, here is great site - Bullets and Bones - for musicians starting the computer recording experienced using Macs.

 

[ar13]

I use a Motu 828 Firewire interface connected to a Yamaha 01v via Lightpipe and i can record at the same time 12 tracks from the Yamaha [ 8 lightpipe from 828, 4 omni from yamaha to 4 in's in 828 analog ] and 4 more to the 828 analog . 16 tracks at the same time, We record our rehersals all the time ....

 

[slyooney]

I'm in the same boat actually. I've been using an old m-audio delta 1010 which has 8 inputs. Just enough for me. I've had to use this driver http://www.audio-evolution.com/drivers/ as the m-audio one won't work. However there is zero latency and it's working like a dream. Only issue. No midi.
Not sure whether you can chain them either.
Hope that helped.

That's really interesting for peoples without the money !

 

[aero++]

Going to be doing a build soon to record music with. I'm a drummer and use between 8-16 mics on my setup.

I'm interested in some sound boards / mixers and don't know what to get. Since I'd like to do most mixing in the software, its not super important to have tons of control knobs on a mixer, is it? I just want something that will pipe 8-16 tracks into my mac at the same time, and have Garageband record each track separately to play with later.

Don't know if I should make sure to get a motherboard that has firewire? Or do many mixing boards find that usb is sufficient? I suppose I could always get an aftermarket 1394 card if I thought I needed it...

What do you guys think? Comments / thoughts are appreciated!

Hello there, late reply I know... but if helps is still needed here's a few question

- what kind of quality you're aiming for?

- what's your budget?

- 16 discrete tracks at the same time would require a lot of hardware (16 preamps to start with) and to do it without a mixer would be very expensive.
You could group them down to eight channels. Overheads for the cymbals, snare up + down, hi hat, kick, toms

for multiple track recordings firewire is definetely the way to go

 

[marosell]

- what kind of quality you're aiming for?

- what's your budget?

- 16 discrete tracks at the same time would require a lot of hardware (16 preamps to start with) and to do it without a mixer would be very expensive.
You could group them down to eight channels. Overheads for the cymbals, snare up + down, hi hat, kick, toms

for multiple track recordings firewire is definetely the way to go

Professional production quality, or close enough that it's difficult to tell that it's not, and for as cheap as possible . Vague, I know.

I have mics, so for the board? Less than $2k. Why is a board w/out a mixer more expensive than one with? You would think that not having a mixer would simplify the hardware a bit. Doesn't everybody mix post-recording nowadays with the software?

I'll probably be using Garageband, but I might check out REAPER or ProTools.

 

[humph]

First up, I only dabble with music recording these days (so take what follows accordingly!), but regarding mixing, there's a lot to be said for having faders to play with, as opposed to using a mouse. Unless you are just setting relative volumes once or twice in the track.
So, depending on what software you are using, you might want to look at either a separate control input device, or a mixer (with firewire out) that can also be used as a control surface. I like the look and price of those Alesis ones with f/w, but have no experience with them. Personally I use a Moto Traveller, but that's no good on it's own for 8 mics.

An interesting alternative, if you are lucky to find one second hand at a nice price, would be something like a Mackie HDR24/96. Loads of inputs, and totally stand-alone. So you can take that out and about separately, and then just grab the files off it's HD (via USB, but it's not that slow). Provided your s/w can handle the format.

 

[shredhead]

i recommend the M-Audio 10/10...i know you said 16...but for the price and quality it is worth mixing a couple of your mics together...i think so anyways

 

[aero++]

Professional production quality, or close enough that it's difficult to tell that it's not, and for as cheap as possible . Vague, I know.

I have mics, so for the board? Less than $2k. Why is a board w/out a mixer more expensive than one with? You would think that not having a mixer would simplify the hardware a bit. Doesn't everybody mix post-recording nowadays with the software?

I'll probably be using Garageband, but I might check out REAPER or ProTools.

Mixing 'in the box' is definetely a good choice for you.
Audio interfaces normally don't come with more than 2-4 mic preamp, so you'll have to add more externally, either via a mixer or a preamp box

To squeeze all your budget you could coose between the options below
http://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_fireface_800.htm

http://www.thomann.de/gb/apogee_ensemble.htm

and add extra 4 preamps with this
http://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_quadmic.htm

Or if you want to save a bit of $$$ you could get the fireface 400 (rock solid and beautiful sound)
http://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_fireface_400.htm

and buy an extra preamp like this
http://www.thomann.de/gb/focusrite_octopre_mkii.htm

There are tons of other cheaper option but if you can afford at least the Fireface 400 do it, you wont have to upgrade in a very long time

Ah don't use garage band use logic 9 or PT9