Recording 4-8 tracks simultainiously with a usb audio interface

[intpseeker]

Great info, all!

Am I opening a can of worms asking about software.
I feel pretty ok about slicing and dicing my two-channel recordings from shows using Audacity. And I've just started to play with Reaper. I see Pro Tools, Cubase, Audition, and others. I also read some reviews where the user has scraped the included software to run their favorite.

Does it make a lot of difference, or is it what you get used to what you get used to?

[Chris K]

when it comes to software, i think it all comes down to personal preference. i found a pretty steep learning curve going from 2 channel audio workstations to multi-track. each software has its own process or "way" to do the same things in them.

Once you get the basics down though and learn the terminology most of the programs are fairly similar...to use a football analogy..once you learn the west coast offense as a QB for team A, you can be traded to team B and learn the different  schemes and terminology but it is still the west coast offense...same with multitrack DAW's...same concepts but a different means to getting the job done.

I started with cubase, got fairly proficient with it, went to m-powered pro tools and was basically lost until i figured out its "way" and now I use Logic almost exclusively. you mentioned cubase in an earlier post, and I personally think it is a pretty good starting point to learn multitrack audio concepts.

there are some good tutorials at grooveboxmusic (www.groove3.com) and other sites that may be a real help getting over the hump.

have fun

[intpseeker]

when it comes to software, i think it all comes down to personal preference. i found a pretty steep learning curve going from 2 channel audio workstations to multi-track. each software has its own process or "way" to do the same things in them.

Once you get the basics down though and learn the terminology most of the programs are fairly similar...to use a football analogy..once you learn the west coast offense as a QB for team A, you can be traded to team B and learn the different  schemes and terminology but it is still the west coast offense...same with multitrack DAW's...same concepts but a different means to getting the job done.

I started with cubase, got fairly proficient with it, went to m-powered pro tools and was basically lost until i figured out its "way" and now I use Logic almost exclusively. you mentioned cubase in an earlier post, and I personally think it is a pretty good starting point to learn multitrack audio concepts.

there are some good tutorials at grooveboxmusic (www.groove3.com) and other sites that may be a real help getting over the hump.

have fun

Grooveboxmusic looks like an excellent resource.

[intpseeker]

Anyone have any experience with Phonic?

This showed up in my inbox:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--PHOH24FWMKII

[rePat]

Anyone have any experience with Phonic?

This showed up in my inbox:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--PHOH24FWMKII

WOW looks like a good value!  I'll be watching for comments on this one.

Pat

[live2496]

There are some user comments on gearslutz: Summary... It's the cheapest way to get that many tracks in via firewire. Firewire driver works good. Mic pres are fairly decent but the line inputs are not so good. One user reported measuring the noise level at -70db. But it could be a production flaw with some units.

You might be taking a chance getting one, but I thought I saw Sweetwater or Musicians Friend (can't remember which) offering a 30 day return if you don't like it.

In the long run, you might be better off spending more on a Mackie Onyx board and getting their firewire option.  A whole lot more, but product support is going to be much better. But some really seem to like the Phonic for live sound plus recording via firewire. There was some talk of Phonic making improvements to the mic pres.

[intpseeker]

There are some user comments on gearslutz: Summary... It's the cheapest way to get that many tracks in via firewire. Firewire driver works good. Mic pres are fairly decent but the line inputs are not so good. One user reported measuring the noise level at -70db. But it could be a production flaw with some units.

You might be taking a chance getting one, but I thought I saw Sweetwater or Musicians Friend (can't remember which) offering a 30 day return if you don't like it.

In the long run, you might be better off spending more on a Mackie Onyx board and getting their firewire option.  A whole lot more, but product support is going to be much better. But some really seem to like the Phonic for live sound plus recording via firewire. There was some talk of Phonic making improvements to the mic pres.

Most of the Phonic fluffers describe the Mackie firewire offering as twce as expensive, and I suppose if you pay bust out retail that would be a consideration, but you can get a 12 channel Mackie ONYX firewire mixer for 799 on ebay before the cashback.

Both describe having the ability to send two tracks back to the mixer from the computer for monitoring. (Get ready. Here comes a newbie question.) What would you use these two channels coming back from the computer for?

[live2496]

I did some looking at Mackie mixers today. The firewire card is an option that will add about $450 to the overall cost.

RE: two channels
I guess that could be a stereo mix of the tracks you are recording on the computer. If the computer can solo a channel then maybe it could be an individual track panned L/R. But if you can listen for distortion at the mixer I'm not certain how useful that would be.

One of the nice things about the Phonic is that what is sent to the firewire can be pre-fader and pre-eq. (There is apparently a switch underneath that can change it to be post-fader.) If I were using one I would record with no eq or post fader, just what is coming straight from the input stage with adjustment for matching of the level with the trim control.

[intpseeker]

Checked out the Mackie:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=533572&is=REG&A=details&Q=

RME:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=445827&is=REG&A=details&Q=#features

Yamaha N8:

http://www.music123.com/Yamaha-n8-FireWire-Digital-Mixing-Studio-637171-i1321714.Music123

[heyitsmejess]

any opinions on this?

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=245002V

its USB 2.0, but if its decent, seems like slot of bang for the buck

[intpseeker]

any opinions on this?

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=245002V

its USB 2.0, but if its decent, seems like slot of bang for the buck

Seems like most folks like this unit. Sounds like a dedicated pci usb card helps eliminate drop outs and such.

Newegg has a bunch 0f these for desktops from $7-60, and a few from $40-60 for laptops.

[heyitsmejess]

i think this is the route im going then....it passes more channels that i need, and i have an older ATX case that i can build into a nice, dedicated system for recording.

now if i can find a small-ish, affordable monitor, ill have what i need!

seriously, this thread is a wealth of information!

thanks again, all!

[intpseeker]

i think this is the route im going then....it passes more channels that i need, and i have an older ATX case that i can build into a nice, dedicated system for recording.

now if i can find a small-ish, affordable monitor, ill have what i need!

seriously, this thread is a wealth of information!

thanks again, all!

That $299 price seems like a good deal. Most on ebay are $399 with one over $500. The lowest was a used one for &290.

[live2496]

I don't think anyone mentioned the Edirol FA-101. It's firewire, can record up to 10 channels at 24/96.

[digifish_music]

I would recommend using a firewire interface rather than USB.  While USB 2 is technically faster than fw400, it operates in a burst mode that is not ideal for audio transmission.

You'll be able to achieve higher track counts and probably a higher degree of reliability with firewire.

Disagreed.

I am both an Edirol dealer, so have had plenty of opportunity to play with  USB and Fire-Wire interfaces and run various multi-track recording set-ups.

USB 2.0 has never cause me or customers any issues. USB2/Firewire, in practice, makes no difference that I have been able to see.

USB 2.0 is more than fast enough to handle 12 tracks of 44.1, 24 bit audio, without a glitch.

The attitude you are expressing is (AFAIKS) a halo effect from the days of USB 1.0 and early drivers for this type of gear (which
were a bit crap). USB 2.0 is mature, fast and stable and most/all? manufacturers seem to have got their act together on the drivers.

Today I would recommend people buy USB 2.0 as it's ubiquitous while fire-wire ports are becoming rarer.

digifish