Presonus Firebox and Mixer

[almazza]

Hi,

Sorry if this is slightly OT: My current computer setup consists of a Macbook with a 2Ghz Core 2 Duo CPU, 3G of RAM and my audio interface is an Alesis Multimix USB 2.0 15 channel mixer. For software I am using Ezdrummer, BFD2 and Cubase Studio 4.

Lately as I've been doing some more recording and since I've added BFD2, it seems that the Alesis isn't a very good recording interface. I am starting to run into frequent audio dropouts, and my latency in Cubase is about 20-30ms in/out (I thought it was lower until I checked recently).

This has led me to want to use a separate audio interface an just use the Alesis as my mixer. The Presonus Firebox seems to be in my price range, it's firewire, and gets good reviews. My questions are: Are there other people using the Firebox along with a mixer? If so are you running a set of your mixer outs into the front 2 inputs? Assuming your mixer also outputs to a set of speakers and/or power amp are you then monitoring by sending the Firebox outs back into the Alesis?

Thanks

Adam

[almazza]

Well, I went ahead and got the Presonus Firebox, and decided I really wanted a dedicated machine for music instead of a laptop. I built out a windows XP box last week. Specs are;

Q6600 CPU (overclocked to 3.0GHz)
4G RAM
2 x 500G SATA disks (OS on one, music programs/files on the other)
addon SIIG firewire card so that I'm not taking resources form the CPU
Presonus Firebox and USB2 midisport

BFD 2.0.3
Cubase Studio 4 (whatever the latest update is)

All is working very well now . No real latency at all. Anyway I put up 2 test videos which show BFD2 in action using a TD-9 as a controller. I don't think I can go back to internal sounds at this point

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thACwWhtpgU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfrk5gQxBOk

Both videos are pretty sloppy, but over a 4+ minute video you'll notice no dropouts, and no real latency.

Adam

[Jack_]

So how do you like the Presonus? I'm just starting to think about getting some recording equipment and the Presonus is one piece recommended on Tweak's guide.

[almazza]

I like it very much. It has some limitations that I'm trying to work around. If you have a computer dedicated to music, and you think you'll need more inputs look at the Firestudio Project. It has more inputs.

I also use the Firebox for bass, and the preamp sounds pretty good to me, at least for the price.

Adam

Adam

[weldman]

I like Presonus gear. I however would never get the small firebox. The firestudio project has 8 inputs on the front and is great for tracking drums as well as other instruments.

Mixers into interface:
I advise staying away from doing this as you mix down as soon as you hit the interface making mixing and editing harder.

[Mesh_Head]

I got a Firestudio Project last week.

So far so good.
Its my first ever recording setup, and it seems to work great. But im a rookie at it for sure.

Anyways I dig it!
Pat

[weldman]

Mesh_Head:

We all start from the beginning at some point.
Check out Tweaks guide linked in my sig. That should give some tips on mixing and such.

[almazza]

Dave,

Thanks for the input regarding the mixer into an interface. I was indeed running into problems. After working with the Firebox for a while, I actually am returning it for a Firestudio Project (going to Ebay my Alesis mixer as well). I am hoping that in the not too distant future Presonus will release firmware and/or drivers that will let you chain 2 together.

Adam