Looking for suggestion for portable I/O

[Lycanthrope]

Hi Folks

I play in a few bands and want to be able to multi-track record in rehearsals. That means my MBP and some kind of decent, but portable audio input device. Mostly I'll be recording bass, guitar, electric drum-kit (preferably midi) and voice. I assume I can't seem to find anything suitable on the market, they either seem to be cheaper units with two inputs of professional stuff that' way over the top for what I need.

Any suggestions? Cheap, portable and good quality of course

 

[salientstimulus]

Are you hoping to record demos, or is this mainly for getting ideas down, etc? It sounds like you only need 3-4 tracks (gtr bs voc) + MIDI? And for the bass & guitar, will you mic the amps, or use line outs?

 

[Lycanthrope]

No, it's not for demos - we have a studio we can use for that, this is just to record all our rehearsals to listen back to, indeed for capturing the ideas that come out of jamming, but also to analyze our playing to see where we can improve (so hard to hear this at the moment you're playing).

At the moment we take a feed from the mixer, audio out from the Roland V-drums, mics for the guitar/bass & voice. I imagine capturing v-Drums with midi is far better than audio, then three tracks for audio.

 

[ChrisA]

So you've looked around and found that once you've gone past two audio inputs you are into some $$$. I think there are only a few options (1) buy two of the cheaper interfaces and gang then together as a "composite" or (2) use an analog mixer and mix down to two tracks. Or (3) Keep an eye out for used studio gear. That is the route I'd go.

 

[matteusclement]

M audio 1812 (not sure if that is the right number)

2 XLR ins and 6 more 1/4 jacks that you can use if you have a sound board kicking around.
I love mine.
Firewire makes sure that I don't get lag or mess ups.

 

[Lycanthrope]

I can't see any 1812, but there's this:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/ProFire610.html

All the line-outs on the back, are they for individual tracks for inputting onto a mixer?

 

[matteusclement]

yeah, just like that.
But I have a feeling that one has a nicer look and that equals higher price tag.

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FireWire1814.html
this is the one.
it has ADAT lightpipe incase you ever want to add another unit.
It has been awesome.

i've done 8 tracks with live effects no problem

 

[Lycanthrope]

Oh yes, I missed that one, cheers.

Strangely it's more expensive in some shops here then the Profire, others less. I'll read up the specs for comparison, but otherwise looks perfect for the job.

Thanks a lot!

 

[matteusclement]

yeah, it's the light pipe.
if you don't know what it is and are never going to use it, then go for the profire one. My only comment ontop of that little unit is to have a compressor that is about the same size.
something like this or cheaper might be good:
http://www.long-mcquade.com/?page=products&ProductsID=5840

drums can be a bit tricky on the m-audio unit, but you said that it was midi right? then no worries.

 

[Lycanthrope]

So is the Profire the better model or the 1814?

Here the Profire is more expensive:

Profire €280: http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardw...ls-compatible-firewire-audio-interface--57220

1814 €230: http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardw...in-14-out-firewire-recording-interface--22278

But here the 1814 is more:

Profire €319: http://www.keymusic.be/details.asp?prodid=105675&taal=

1814 €399: http://www.keymusic.be/details.asp?prodid=81400&taal=0

So if the 1814 is the better model then that's a bit of a bargain from DV247!!

 

[matteusclement]

profire.

 

[Lycanthrope]

Well I bought a second-hand 1814 for €160

 

[Lycanthrope]

Just a short post-script...

I got my 1814 and did a first rehearsal session with it yesterday. Out of the box I was able to just plug it in and record four audio + MIDI. Really easy to use on my MBP and Logic 9.

Only problem I had was that I read the night before that there still were no drivers for Snow Leopard (apparently M-Audio have a history here of being lax with drivers), so I did a reinstall of Leopard.

Well impressed though, thanks for the recommendation