Recording Engineers/Musicians - Should I get this?

[TechBoyJK]

I've been wanting to get a MultiChannel Audio Interface for a while. This way I can record a few instruments/mic all at once.

I was at best buy and saw they had this on clearance for $299. MSRP is $899 and they still go for $499 on eBay. I'd need to get a firewire card, but this seems like a pretty good deal considering anything like this is usually $1000.

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/ProFire2626.html

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I had an M-Audio FW interface I was pretty happy with. Portable equipment takes more abuse. Sad day, that was.

Price is right, too. Wowza.

Go 4 it.

 

[Possessed Freak]

What benefit is this over a full mixer board?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

What benefit is this over a full mixer board?

Size and portability, basically. It rack mounts, the "mixer board" is in software on the computer.

Also, they're usually a bit cheaper than a comparable full size mixer with the same number of ins/outs/preamps and a computer interface.

 

[whattaguy]

looks like a steal for $299.

 

[whattaguy]

Size and portability, basically. It rack mounts, the "mixer board" is in software on the computer.

Also, they're usually a bit cheaper than a comparable full size mixer with the same number of ins/outs/preamps and a computer interface.

I would add that a "mixer board" gives you only the pre-amps. You would still need to have a AD/DA converter to your PC unless you want to go with your onboard line-in which only gives you 2 channels at a time.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I would add that a "mixer board" gives you only the pre-amps. You would still need to have a AD/DA converter to your PC unless you want to go with your onboard line-in which only gives you 2 channels at a time.

Many newer mixers come with AD/DA converters and USB or Firewire connectivity.

Or maybe it would be more accurate to say that many computer audio interfaces are coming with built in hardware mixers.

:shrug:

They're usually more expensive than a traditional audio interface like in the OP, and definitely more expensive that the old-fashioned analog mixers.

 

[Fritzo]

Two things that I see:

- There's no mute buttons visible. You'll have to turn all of your channels to 0 manually. That would suck on a constant basis.
- No mono option from what I can see. That can produce balancing issues when you're recording (that's being picky though).

Other than that, if it has a built in preamp, it looks good.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Two things that I see:

- There's no mute buttons visible. You'll have to turn all of your channels to 0 manually. That would suck on a constant basis.
- No mono option from what I can see. That can produce balancing issues when you're recording (that's being picky though).

Other than that, if it has a built in preamp, it looks good.

Mutes are handled by the computer. (Software mixer).

All 26 channels are mono - you arrange them into pairs when you do stereo recording.

 

[Saint Nick]

Go for it. I have a similar product and am very happy with it.

 

[TechBoyJK]

picked it up tonight. yea.. killer deal. I could probably sell it for a profit on ebay.