Author Topic: Presonus Firebox question (Read 6651 times)

smokydays · « **on:** March 02, 2006, 11:44:07 AM »

Anyone know if the firebox will run standalone without the firewire? Like mics>firebox>Microtracker[via spdif]? I know it will need the 12v dc power, but not sure if the firewire connection is mandatory.

TNJazz · « **Reply #1 on:** March 02, 2006, 12:05:32 PM »

Quote from: smokydays on March 02, 2006, 11:44:07 AM

Anyone know if the firebox will run standalone without the firewire? Like mics>firebox>Microtracker[via spdif]? I know it will need the 12v dc power, but not sure if the firewire connection is mandatory.

I just bought one to play around with. Apparently it will pass signal to analog 1 and 2, but it will not automatically route through the SPDIF. I did read somewhere that if you routed to the SPDIF and then unplugged the firewire it would continue to pass signal though...

smokydays · « **Reply #2 on:** March 02, 2006, 12:14:06 PM »

Thanks TNJazz, I am gonna pick up one of them soon and was just curious. I wonder if you would be able to test personally if you had time. No big deal if ya cant. I wonder if it will remember the route after being unplugged from power too? I highly doubt it, but would be cool if it did. +T man.

TNJazz · « **Reply #3 on:** March 02, 2006, 12:18:51 PM »

Quote from: smokydays on March 02, 2006, 12:14:06 PM

Thanks TNJazz, I am gonna pick up one of them soon and was just curious. I wonder if you would be able to test personally if you had time. No big deal if ya cant. I wonder if it will remember the route after being unplugged from power too? I highly doubt it, but would be cool if it did. +T man.

I am going to do some testing with it this weekend actually. I will report back. It's a really nice box overall from what I can tell though. Very solid, and the stock preamps are not bad at all. Of course I use Presonus gear all around, so maybe I'm a little biased...

Dirk

smokydays · « **Reply #4 on:** March 02, 2006, 09:10:52 PM »

Cool Dirk, sounds good!

-dan

poorlyconditioned · « **Reply #5 on:** March 02, 2006, 10:53:57 PM »

Quote from: TNJazz on March 02, 2006, 12:05:32 PM

Quote from: smokydays on March 02, 2006, 11:44:07 AM
Anyone know if the firebox will run standalone without the firewire? Like mics>firebox>Microtracker[via spdif]? I know it will need the 12v dc power, but not sure if the firewire connection is mandatory.

I just bought one to play around with. Apparently it will pass signal to analog 1 and 2, but it will not automatically route through the SPDIF. I did read somewhere that if you routed to the SPDIF and then unplugged the firewire it would continue to pass signal though...

How do you "route" this thing? I tried making SPDIF (outputs 9/10) the default in Windows. And when I play audio, it comes out SPDIF OK.

That's fine, but the analog inputs (1-8) are not "routed" anywhere. Sure, I hear them on the "input monitor", but nothing else. It seems inputs and outputs are just treated independently (*).

(*) The most recent BIOS update from Presonus routes analog in (1-8) to analog out, so it can work as a standalone preamp.

Richard

TNJazz · « **Reply #6 on:** March 06, 2006, 10:33:24 AM »

Looks like this is indeed the case.

SPDIF is not active on the Firebox unless it's set as the clock source in the Firebox control panel. This activates it. It appears that the mic pres pass through to the outs 1 and 2. I didn't use the line inputs the other night so I'm not sure what they do, but my guess is they go to outputs 3 and 4. SPDIF in routes automatically to SPDIF out.

I didn't look too closely at the routing possibilities in the Firebox software, as I was busy testing out a bunch of other stuff as well. I'll give it another go one night this week though, and report back.

FWIW - 4 channels ROCK FUCKING SOLID on my laptop, at 24/96.

Dirk

rowjimmy · « **Reply #7 on:** March 09, 2006, 01:43:20 PM »

+t for smokin up the 4-channel > laptop.
Also, this is pretty interesting stuff, have you guys made any contact with presonus as far as feature requests for future firmware updates?

Seems like all you'd want is the s/pdif out active at a specific bit/sampling rate when firewire is not enabled. It might not be possible for them to do but, hey.. don't ask, don't get.

smokydays · « **Reply #8 on:** March 09, 2006, 01:44:50 PM »

Quote from: rowjimmy on March 09, 2006, 01:43:20 PM

+t for smokin up the 4-channel > laptop.
Also, this is pretty interesting stuff, have you guys made any contact with presonus as far as feature requests for future firmware updates?

Seems like all you'd want is the s/pdif out active at a specific bit/sampling rate when firewire is not enabled. It might not be possible for them to do but, hey.. don't ask, don't get.

Man that is a great idea!

balou2 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 09, 2006, 10:04:54 PM »

Dirk,
Presonus is gonna have to send you a commission check before too long! I'm going with the Firepod myself.

rowjimmy · « **Reply #10 on:** March 10, 2006, 09:27:45 AM »

Question is, what bit/sampling rate would you want it to 'default' to? I'd bet you'd only get one.
24/96 might be too high for some, 16/44 wouldn't be too thrilling, 16/48 still smells like magnetic media, to me...

smokydays · « **Reply #11 on:** March 10, 2006, 09:30:12 AM »

If there was a way that it would just "remember" the last setting that was used when the firewire was plugged in, that may work. Hard to know if there is any hardware in the unit that could do such a thing when the power is switched off.

smokydays · « **Reply #12 on:** March 10, 2006, 09:32:38 AM »

You also could just throw this in your taping bag:

rowjimmy · « **Reply #13 on:** March 10, 2006, 09:36:41 AM »

Quote from: smokydays on March 10, 2006, 09:30:12 AM

If there was a way that it would just "remember" the last setting that was used when the firewire was plugged in, that may work. Hard to know if there is any hardware in the unit that could do such a thing when the power is switched off.

The motu traveller and the new motu ultralight both allow you to 'create mixes' while attached to the pc and it will save them and allow you to access and even tweak them while in standalone mode. Of course, they cost a bit more and have fancy lcd dispays.

TNJazz · « **Reply #14 on:** March 10, 2006, 09:44:50 AM »

Quote from: rowjimmy on March 10, 2006, 09:36:41 AM

Quote from: smokydays on March 10, 2006, 09:30:12 AM
If there was a way that it would just "remember" the last setting that was used when the firewire was plugged in, that may work. Hard to know if there is any hardware in the unit that could do such a thing when the power is switched off.

The motu traveller and the new motu ultralight both allow you to 'create mixes' while attached to the pc and it will save them and allow you to access and even tweak them while in standalone mode. Of course, they cost a bit more and have fancy lcd dispays.

Yes, but they're still MOTU devices.

I want something that I *KNOW* will work each and every time. For PC users, that brand name is unfortunately not MOTU. Search the web for horror stories about MOTU and the PC platform, especially when updated firmware or drivers are released.

The Ultralight definitely looks like a sweet device though. I'm almost tempted to try one out.

Smokydays - how would an Ipod help? Would it somehow act as a controller?

smokydays · « **Reply #15 on:** March 10, 2006, 09:46:54 AM »

Quote from: TNJazz on March 10, 2006, 09:44:50 AM

Smokydays - how would an Ipod help? Would it somehow act as a controller?

That's the new Microsoft Origami. It runs a full version of Windows XP and has firewire/usb.

Edit to say: That Ultralight does indeed look sweet!

TNJazz · « **Reply #16 on:** March 10, 2006, 09:57:13 AM »

Quote from: smokydays on March 10, 2006, 09:46:54 AM

Quote from: TNJazz on March 10, 2006, 09:44:50 AM
Smokydays - how would an Ipod help? Would it somehow act as a controller?

That's the new Microsoft Origami. It runs a full version of Windows XP and has firewire/usb.

Edit to say: That Ultralight does indeed look sweet!

Origami eh? I'm going to have to check that out! Looks kind of like a Sony U70 mated with an Ipod...

smokydays · « **Reply #17 on:** March 10, 2006, 10:01:43 AM »

Quote from: TNJazz on March 10, 2006, 09:57:13 AM

Quote from: smokydays on March 10, 2006, 09:46:54 AM
Quote from: TNJazz on March 10, 2006, 09:44:50 AM
Smokydays - how would an Ipod help? Would it somehow act as a controller?

That's the new Microsoft Origami. It runs a full version of Windows XP and has firewire/usb.

Edit to say: That Ultralight does indeed look sweet!

Origami eh? I'm going to have to check that out! Looks kind of like a Sony U70 mated with an Ipod...

They are calling it an "Ultra Mobile PC". Here's a link to their site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/umpc/default.mspx

Looks like Samsung may be the first to market with one.

poorlyconditioned · « **Reply #18 on:** March 10, 2006, 11:02:24 AM »

Quote from: rowjimmy on March 10, 2006, 09:36:41 AM

Quote from: smokydays on March 10, 2006, 09:30:12 AM
If there was a way that it would just "remember" the last setting that was used when the firewire was plugged in, that may work. Hard to know if there is any hardware in the unit that could do such a thing when the power is switched off.

The motu traveller and the new motu ultralight both allow you to 'create mixes' while attached to the pc and it will save them and allow you to access and even tweak them while in standalone mode. Of course, they cost a bit more and have fancy lcd dispays.

The problem is: 1) MOTU devices cost a bit more, 2) the quality, of the Traveler at least, is not as good, at least stock,
3) maybe drivers issues on Windows, but I'm not sure about this.

Oh yeah, well, I've already got the Presonus...

Richard

TNJazz · « **Reply #19 on:** March 10, 2006, 12:21:19 PM »

Quote from: rowjimmy on March 10, 2006, 09:27:45 AM

Question is, what bit/sampling rate would you want it to 'default' to? I'd bet you'd only get one.
24/96 might be too high for some, 16/44 wouldn't be too thrilling, 16/48 still smells like magnetic media, to me...

If I had to pick a default, I'd choose 24/48.

rowjimmy · « **Reply #20 on:** March 10, 2006, 12:38:46 PM »

As for the origami, It runs XP tablet edition...
But thats a whole other thread.