Under $600 multi channelDigital input what would you choose?

Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:32 pm

So here is what I think my choices are. I am some what limited by the operating system I run and mostly by my budget. I just need more inputs to my computer. I was wondering if anyone would give their opinion on this. Which one of these do you think is better?

Presonus FP10 "Firepod",
Maudio Delta 10/10,
TASCAM FW-1082, or the
Focusrite Saffire Pro

Upgrading my home studio for recording my band and looking for more inputs to track Drums. I have:
4 SM57's
3 generic vocal mic's
1 AKG D112
1 AKG D88s
1 Maudio Delta 24/96 (2 inputs)
1 Mackie CFX12 (I know its a live board but I use it for Live recording right now)
Ive been using Cool edit pro
BX5a's for Monitors
Fast Computer running XP64bit all above are compatible w/64bit (very important).

Also Looking for a couple of condenser mics for all around use especially for use overhead drums. I will be searching more on this site for info on this question but my budget now is only probably 300 for both so Ill probably just need to wait. I was thinking about the TA2041 but undecided because its not 2 small diaphragm condensers but I could probably use the large diaphragm somewhere else.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 7:14 pm

Im leaning tword the Presonus FP10 because it on sale for 399 and I have read nothing but good things about it here.

Any one else use any of this gear?

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 4:43 pm

If you saved $100 you could just get the Firestudio. I'm happy with it cause I can add more pres if I ever get them.

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 9:18 pm

I've had good luck with my Presonus FirePod -- I haven't used any others from your list.

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 6:53 am

Thanks guys. I ended up buying the presonus FP10 (formaly the firpod). The firestudio didnt have 64bit drivers yet and I havnt read anything bad about presonus so I picked it up. If I get any decent recordings Ill post 'em up.

Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:10 pm

Quote:

I havnt read anything bad about presonus

OK, the Presonus Bluetube "mic pre" is junk.

There, now you have read something bad about Presonus.

Other than that, they're a respectable company - I can't complain, I've got quite a few pieces of Presonus gear.

Enjoy the FP10!

Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:30 pm

MOTU 8PRE! Cause i love them Razz

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:18 am

So how many mics can you record simultaneously with the FP10 you bought? I was researching stuff yesterday, and I wasn't sure how many were actual mic lines or instrument lines? Could you say do bass drum, snare, two overheads, a couple of guitars, bass and vocals simultaneously?

And does it come with any recording programs or anything?

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:21 am

its 8 on each unit, both FP10 and MOTU 8pre. 8 MICs and 2 optical.

You can daisy chain up to 4 units i think. for a total of 32 inputs at once.

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 2:10 am

The pre sonus have pres too built in from what I've read.

I was looking at the Maudio Delta 10 and read on a site I'd have to buy pres to use it. Do you have to buy a preamp for each mic you use or is it some kind of multi preamp you plug into the system once?

Just wondering how much extra money I'd have to spend if I decided to go the M audio way since that's compatible with protools?

How about the motu stuff, either 8 pre or 24I/O? Do they have pres built in or not?

Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 5:57 am

rainsong23 wrote:

So how many mics can you record simultaneously with the FP10 you bought? I was researching stuff yesterday, and I wasn't sure how many were actual mic lines or instrument lines? Could you say do bass drum, snare, two overheads, a couple of guitars, bass and vocals simultaneously?

And does it come with any recording programs or anything?

YES

8 mic lines in w/ 2 spdif in and 8 line out 2 spdif out. 2 of the 8 mic lines in have instrument level inputs also but all 8 mic lines have pre's. It comes with cubase LE which I'm new to but seems to be pretty easy to figure out so far.

bent wrote:

OK, the Presonus Bluetube "mic pre" is junk.

Thanks, I saw one of those on craigslist and was pondering it. I decided to fix my room first. I'm thinking that was a good decision.

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:02 am

Anybody got opinions on Line 6 gear? There is a Line 6 Tone Port UX8 for about $650 at one of the music stores I visited in seoul the other day. Is it good stuff, junk? It does have pres in it I believe. How does it compare to the PreSonus FP10 which I think I was gravitating towards? Should I stick with the PreSonus or consider giving the Line 6 a try. I'll be buying a 17inch MacbookPro by the way, trying to get the 7200rpm harddrive and eventually upgrading the Ram to the maximum possible of 4 gig.

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:50 pm

What are the advantages of using a seperate mic-pre over a built-in one?

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:11 pm

AnomalyAlecB wrote:

What are the advantages of using a seperate mic-pre over a built-in one?

Depends upon your intentions and how much you spend... The separate pres are "USUALLY," but not always, better quality than built-ins. The newest Mackie boards and Presonus pres, for example, are definitely good enough for all but the most demanding - at least for rock n roll. You'd prolly need better pres for quiet acoustic, or classical music though.

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:14 pm

BTW, I liked my 2 Firepods... sold 'em to move up to the Firestudio (needed the digital I/O) so I could also use a Focusrite 428 and Ampex 354 for different flavors.

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