go with the Fire firepod, hands down. I own both and the pre's in the firepod are WAAAAAY better then the Alesis. As a matter of fact, everything about the firepod is better then the Multimix. BUY THE FIREPOD, you wont be dissapointed.

if you want to stay with Protools LE, then the 002 is the only other digidesign choice
other than the larger M-Audio products with M-Powered

Cant figure out how to delete this post, info in next post down.

Ya, I dont really mind not using Pro-tools. All their interfaces seem way over priced.

So, the Alesis isnt worth it? Would I just do all the mixing in like Audacity or whatever I choose?

I have some questions about the firepod. Are the first two channels the only channels for like DI? Thats Ill I would need i guess either way. Ive never used Firewire before, Theres two outputs, but do they just plug into the one firewire input on my comp? Is that Ill I would have to do then, plug it into my comp, plug the mics in, and hit record?

Thanks!

Yea, don go with the Alesis, you will be so unhappy like i was.

The fire pod has the first two inputs can be DI 1/4 or Mic/XLR.

All you do is install Cubecase. Or what ever program you are using.

Then just plug in the firewire. Set the mic input/ line input gain and thats about it. its very easy to use.

lmk if u have any questions about it.

I have the Firepod and absolutely love it. I would suggest it to anyone looking to get a good audio interface (and for the price you get way more than with the Mbox IMHO).

Yes, you just pick one of the firewire ports on the back of the firepod and plug it into a firewire (6 pin) port on your computer. You might have to install drivers etc. depending on what kind of computer you have. Then you just plug up your instruments/mics, power it up, and you are pretty much ready to go (you might have to adjust some settings inside the recording software). The firepod comes with Cubase LE which I like a lot.... though I haven't used Cubase SX, Nuendo, or Pro Tools very much. I think that the first two inputs are the only ones that you can use as a DI (I use this for acoustic guitar sometimes)... but all 8 XLR inputs are also 1/4 inputs for line level signals (so if you go like guitar -> effects -> line out of the effects pedal, you can use any input you want). It also has phantom power for condensor mics and the firepod can be used by itself as a line mixer without a computer. All in all, it's pretty tight.

So, why do they have two firewire ports? Also, does it come with a firewire cable?

Thanks!

The two firewire ports are so that you can daisy-chain them to eachother. In other words connect them so that you could record 16 tracks at the same time in the future if you felt like you needed to upgrade. yes its comes with one firewire cable to start you out.

oh ok, i see

thanks

Digital Interfaces

I have found the Layla 24/96 to be an excellent interface. I have a drum studio that only have to ue 1 layla for 8 simultaneous drum inputs mics. I only use 7 and leave one open for other instruments to be patched into. You do need a pre-amp for the Layla, there is no built in pre-amp. I found a Nady PRA-8 channel input with 8 seperate pre-amps. I patch the eight TRS (1/4 inch) into my i 8 input jacks on the Layla.
What the heck, its all talk unless you have something to listen to

I did a track for this song for a guy from the Netherlands.

http://

Re: Digital Interfaces

ABozung wrote: I have found the Layla 24/96 to be an excellent interface. I have a drum studio that only have to ue 1 layla for 8 simultaneous drum inputs mics. I only use 7 and leave one open for other instruments to be patched into. You do need a pre-amp for the Layla, there is no built in pre-amp. I found a Nady PRA-8 channel input with 8 seperate pre-amps. I patch the eight TRS (1/4 inch) into my i 8 input jacks on the Layla.
What the heck, its all talk unless you have something to listen to

I did a track for this song for a guy from the Netherlands.

http://

Hey ABozung, I have just recently bought a Layla 24/96 and I need a little help getting the best set up, as I am just getting into digital recording. How exactly do you have your set up and how do you monitor your recordings? I'm looking for preamps currently and i am leaning towards teh Nady PRA-8 as you suggested. How is your Nady preamp working for you? thanks alot for the advice.
-matt

Matt
The Nady is good for the money. You can't beat it. Of course there are way better preamps, but the Nady works nicely with the Layla. It has always been clean and quiet enough for me. Eight outputs and Eight inputs. It that simple. The trickiest part is patching the layla in your software. The thing I didn't get at first was to make sure you patch the following way.
anologue 1-2 left
anologue 1-2 right
anologue 3-4 Left
anologue 3-4 right
The above example is for 4 tracks. Keep patching in this pattern until you get to
anologue 7-8 right.
If you go stereo or two inputs per track, it will not work to patch all 8 inputs that way. Sounds complicated, but the more you play with it, the more this will make sense. I am using Samplitude and this may be the way it looks in Samplitude, it may not patch that way in your software. I was trying to patch two inputs for one track. Ah never mind, I was an idiot! Just don't do what I did:) I have a laptop for portability and engineering behind the drums. So I use the PCMCIA laptop card and cord to connect the Layla to the computer, I then save the VIP file and go to a desktop to mix etc...

Matt,
What are you recording? I record drums and percussion. Actually, I have a seperate Behringer Ultragain tube/valve preamp with phantom that has one in and one out that I use on the eighth track on my layla. So seven with the Nady and one with the ultragain ( another nice inexpensive preamp). I use the Nady for acoustic guitars, vocals, bass and live percussion. Nice little piece of gear. Haven't used the Nady for any of those instruments. If I can be of any more help, let me know.
Tommy

Tommy,
Thanks much for all the info. i have already kind of messed around with the inputs on the software and panning them to create seperate tracks to record individually, so i get what you're saying. So how do you have the output from your computer set up? How would I go about monitoring the playback and such? Basically I need to know how you have your monitors or speakers connected and what-not.

I am in a rock band and we are wanting to start getting some demos and maybe some eps out, so I am wanting to track all of the instruments individually and i am wanting to acheive the best sound i can for a reasonable price for a group of college students. I need all the preamps for the multi tracking the drums. i was also going to ask you about your drum sound. it is very clear and i like the sound you are acheiving... any pointers?

thanks alot once again
matt

Broken,
You have eight individual TRS (1/4 in outputs) You could assign an output per channel into a sound board and then mix down to stereo left and right. So live recording is completely awesome to do with the Layla
As for me and mu studio,
I use the outputs 1 and 2 as left and rights. Then I set all the channels individually to Anologue 1-2 output. This works as a stero out.
As far as my drum tones. I have years of mixing experience. To be honest that is probably about 70% of the sound you hear. I am glad you like them. I have worked hard to get my own clear and round drum sounds. I do drum recordings for artists over the inernet. I am glad to hear that the tones are coming over clearly.
Good luck Matt,
Tommy