There's a few i was looking at that look like they could handle what I need to do (which is be able to record an entire band. Probably do guitars, then drums seperately, then bass and vocals.)

I don't need anything nuts or studio quality. it would mostly just be used for recording stuff for memory, preproduction, and to send riff ideas back and forth to my singer in tennesse

Let me know if they'd all work or not. If they do I'll probably just go with the cheapest option since I'm not looking to do any mixing or mastering or any crazy studio quality recording.

http://www.music123.com/TASCAM-US-1641-USB...-Interface-245002-i1368640.Music123


http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-YAM-MW12C.html#


http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-PHO-HELIX18FW.html


http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-ALE-MULTIMIX12USB.html

That last one (the alesis) I'm concerned about because it's only got 4 mic inputs and 4 line ins, I don't know if the line ins could be hooked up to mics. If they could, then I'd be able to record 8 tracks simultaneously, which would be good enough for a drum set.. but if I'm limited to only the 4 mic ins then I'd need something bigger like this:

http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-ALE-MULTIMIX16USB.html


I'd really like that smaller alesis to work for this because I don't want to dish out the cash for a bigger one, but let me know.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Presonus-Firepod-with-...ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Everything you'll need.

I'm pretty sure that's the interface Anthony had when we recorded a tyag song in his dorm. I liked it alot actually.

I really want to buy new though so I can have the warranty and crap and that things like 500 bucks new.

http://cgi.ebay.com/PreSonus-FirePod-New-I...ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

New?

They won't honor a warranty on gear bought from a non liscensed retailer (like ebay)

Also, if I were to find one of those cheap enough, is there a USB2 version? I've heard USB2 is noticably faster then firewire (I don't know shit about firewire)

Also, I'm running windows vista, so any software would haveto cooperate with vista.

Firewire > USB2 for a recording device. That's why I was linking this as opposed to your own choices. I'll try to find some explanations to link, I'm not sure of the reason why.

"There's a lot to be said for Firewire. It's more stable and efficient. USB takes up more system resources to get the same amount of data in/out of the computer, and every other USB device in the system has to share bandwidth with a USB interface. Firewire has a dedicated controller on your motherboard or card, and it's also a peer-to-peer protocol -- you can daisy-chain. There are some good USB interfaces that have yielded fine results for other users in this forum, but the range of Firewire interfaces goes higher in price and quality. The best interfaces are Firewire. "



From another recording forum.

That makes sense. I found it new on AMS for only $400 which is a good price, but I'd still like to find a cheaper alternative if at all possible.

Would that 8 channel alesis I posted earlier work for a full drumkit even though only 4 of the inputs are mic inputs?

The mic inputs have preamps, the directs are just a line level input. You'd need a mixer or something with preamps in front of those inputs to bring up the level of the mics.

I found the firepod for 330 somewhere, so I just might go with that unless anyone can tell me how to do what i need to do for cheaper then 330 bucks.

Also, this alesis is Firewire, has enough mic xlr inputs, is right around the same price range, plus has a bunch of extra BS on it:
http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-ALE-MULTIMIX16USB.html

would I be better off with the firepod still since all the extra stuff on the alesis can be done with software? I figure all the extra knobs and switches are just something else that can be broken, so maybe simpler is better?

i'd still suggest going w/ the firepod niccolai i haven't had any problems with it so far. also presonus has amazing customer support from what i hear.

just make sure you get the latest drivers for whatever OS you're using

oh, are you guys still using that song we recording in my dorm?

When we recorded did you use the same cubase software that comes with the firepod? Also, what did your laptop have for Ram and processor speed just to be sure my system will run smoothly enough.

I'm running windows vista which is the only concern I have left. Hopefully they will get along.

And we haven't been doing much other then writing, so the only thing I really used that recording for was to dick around with a little music video I was making from clips of silent hill. I'll send it to you if you want, it's pretty cool. We have studio time booked for early january that I'll be engineering but it's probably just going to be used as pre production.

yeah man i'd love to see it

for ram i had 2 gigs processor speed i had 2.0 ghz pentium core 2 duo

i think we used either sonar 5 or 6 producer edition, but pretty much all DAW software will work with the firepod. if possible, ditch vista and install XP, once i did that my computer (in general) just ran so much fuggin better

I'm running one gig with a athlon 2.1 ghz dual core

So I'm a gig short of what we used. hopefully it won't be a problem.

Also, can you use mics in the first two inputs on the firepod? it sais instrument input so I don't know if it's a linein input.

If you can't use a mic in those two ports that blows because that means you only get 6 channels for a drum kit.

nope, you can use all channels for microphones it can take 1/4 inch and XLR's in all of the inputs

Niccolai,
I have 3 firepods linked together. I bought them when they were brand new. I am running sonar producer 5.1. I love these things. I have never once had any problems with them, my system is stable and I run it on a somewhat out of date system. If I were you I would get a Firepod.

I don't know shit about any of this, but you should totally get a Firepod. Everyone is doing it.

DrewBlood said:

It certainly does have the coolest name out of all of the interfaces.

I'm buying the firepod (f10) this week. Thanks Pete, Anthony, Rob... and drew you have a sweet bod.

ordered

Godless Rob, do you have any examples of things you've recorded on the firepod?

wow i was in the market for a recording device....im gonna buy one of these myself....


thanks for the clear-up doods!

MDB, do what I did

I took this URL:

http://www.compuplus.com/i-Presonus-FIREPO...e-1010405~.html?sid=63u0m9si325he82

and had americanmusical.com price match it at 350 with free shipping.

Niccolai is the man at e-haggling. Was going to buy something at zzounds for $400, but showed them another place that was selling it for $350. zzounds came back to me a day later offering $308 with free shipping. Yes sir. They shipped it out the next day and it got to me the day after that.

damn I want one for that price!

Niccolai said:

i will do that....probably after i buy this

im making the trip from the cape to carlino guitars.. this weekend probably

me^^^^

poop said:


Mattsmusic in south weymouth might have an MH1000 and they are a hell of a lot closer to the cape then carlino.

what time they open till????

actually i remember browsing their site and dont remember seeing one, but maybe i should call em.

really, im not sure i want that exact one but something in the 1000 series for sure maybe the NT style if i like the way they play

Matt's music website is never updated and doesn't show any of their acrtual inventory.

I think they are open till 9 but the phone number there is 781 335 0700. Just call and ask if they have one in stock.

i certainly will thanks man

just called em...none in stock

i really wanna play one first so i think im going north

do you have any input on these axes? i know youz iz innu em

I've got one. the LTD 1000 line is as much guitar as anyone will ever need IMO.

I'm also a big fan of the M1000.

If i were you, I'd buy the firepod now though (since it's getting discontinued) and wait till late january to shop for an MH1000 since the NAMM show is comming up and they may reveal new models/color options/pickup options/etc.

You feel me knockin?

my bands recording jan 4 i needed a new guitar so i bought the m1000
























my personal 'best investment'. so fucking awesome

Pics plx.

cant put it down

my firepod just came in the mail.

I'm going to open it up and test it out a littleand post what i think about it.

do me a favor and try tracktion. You will not go back to anything else. its like playing an easy video game compared to pro-tools. changing inputs is like moving icons on a desktop. very straightforward.

http://my.mackie.com/products/tracktion/demov3.asp

free demo... i'm pretty sure you can record whatever in the demo it just makes a sound once a minute and you cant export stuff.

at least that was the case in the first version

Cubase isn't all that bad. I'm still learning the odds and the ends.

My only complaint about this entire package so far is that it does not come with a manual for cubase so you're kindof on your own learning the program.

instalation was awsome, and the program didn't slow down my computer and is very managable.

I recorded this silly little joke rap song on it:
Http://www.myspace.com/longcatbeachkillas

that's with just raw tracking. no EQ or mixing or mastering or compression or anything. I don't think it sounds too bad.



I highly recomend this interface.

i heard that with the version of cubase they give you free with the interface, its not the full version so you cant record more than 2 tracks simultaneously?

either way...if the interface can be run on a decent computer and not need 4 GHZ and 3 gigs of RAM, thats enough already. if i bought this it would be for live basement/ demo recordings


btw... i typed in firepod at americanmusical.com and nothing came up....they might not have it anymore :(

I recorded new Hekseri and Spoorloos on Motu ultralite

if you want to record a drum set properly get the 8pre product from MOTU instead. The Ultralite has 2 pre amps

oh and Logic Studio, but that's Mac only

My_dying_bride said:

not sure, I haven't tried yet.

but either way, it's not hard to download and crack Sonar.


It's running really well on my 1 gig, 2.1 AMD dual core setup that only cost me 350 bucks, so you don't need crazy power.

My_dying_bride said:


When you first install it, it will only let you record through the first 2 inputs simultaneously, but all you haveto do is go into the preferences and turn on the remaining 6 tracks and then it will let you record 8 tracks at once.

I just did this to my system so I can record an entire kit, then make 8 more tracks and do bass, guitar, and vocals all on cubase LE.

you can do up to 48 tracks on LE (8 at a time). And I doubt anyone would ever need more then that.


I HIGHLY recomend these.

and even if american musical ran out, just check the other online retailers and tell them to beat one of the prices here:

http://www.google.com/products?q=firepod&b...ruser&price1=300&price2=400&btnP=Go

for audio recording USB 2.0 and firewire wouldn't matter because of the bandwidth need. remember, only a couple years ago, you had the layla echo 24 was the bomb and that was 22Mbps pcmcia and still did something like 16x24bit stereo and 8x sometihng bit mono. if you wanna talk about usb being system resources intenstive... PCMCIA is like the worst.
firewire is 400Mbps, usb is 480Mbps. since bndwidth isn't the issue with this device, I wuld look at 2 things.
1) cost, a better processor/hard drive would make your recording better.
2) giving the ubiquity of USB, you will be able to drag it to anyone's house without bringing you PC. also, you can get a cheap laptop with USB for field recording... but find one with firewire would be $.


I tyed all that, but nicolai undoubtible can just reach into his never ending pile of cash and ull out enough money for both the usb and firewire versions. plus, a quadcore laptop even though they don't exist yet and has a pizza sauce nozzle in the back. the pizza bus and a high speed spegheti interface.

haha. I wish.

even though USB and Firewire don't seem to be drastically different now that I read that, the catch it that it seems all the best interfaces with high quality components are firewire.

I would love the ability to just carry around my firepod and plug it into anyones computer.

I didn't read the whole thread, but you got the USB one right? firewire is "better" but then again so is DSL ad in the same exact way as firewire, but it's losing to USB and will become increasingly rare and more pricey as people stop making/supposrting them.

I went with a firewire interface.

I found it for cheaper then the USB and it's better quality and came with software.

for 330 bucks, couldn't beat it.

I knew what i was getting into with the rate of firewire popularity, but it will work pretty good for now. I'm expecting to make my money back with it recording local bands and shit.

if the firepod is unavailable when i get the money together im gonna just save the extra couple hundred and go for the step-up...

Firestudio Project is real nice, fixes a lot of the latency issues I used to have with the old Firepod. But it doesn't work with any non-ASIO supported recording software (Cool Edit Pro 2.0, for example), so heads up. I had to upgrade to Audition 3.0 to really use it. But the latency fixes alone might make it worth the extra $. Also, the H/W clip meters are a nice feature.