Hard/Soft ware Ques: Firewire Mixer & Vegas

Peter Vred wrote on 2/3/2007, 6:58 AM
Alesis has no forum that I can find, so I hope it's not disrespectful to ask here.
This question is for the technically informed about Vegas programming and Alesis Firewire operation.

The Alesis MM-16 FW allows 18 tracks out to the PC, but only 2-track return via the "Tape In" routing (not thru the RCA jacks, but internally).

My question is: would it EVER be possible for firmware in the Alesis or something in the Vegas software that would allow for EXTRA RETURNS from the PC to the mixer? For things like feeding outboard effects or re-triggering recorded drums.

This is the only drawback I've found to the Firewire mixer, and don't understand, at all, how it works, but am wondering if the hardware is going to be 2-tracks of return for life, or if software/firmware can update the mixer.

Does anyone out there know anything about this ?

Comments

drbam wrote on 2/3/2007, 7:25 AM
It appears that this is true of the Mackie Onyx as well? If I'm understanding it correctly, unless one has an additional audio interface providing more outputs, these units essentially lock you into mixing ITB with no real way to utilize outboard gear or to do an analog mix. Am I missing something here?

drbam
Peter Vred wrote on 2/3/2007, 8:57 AM
Yes Dr, that's right, you're not missing anything here, (although I do mix only ITB).

During tracking, with creative routing of the 2-track return, I can still monitor the recording in mono and send a signal to an efx device or drum module with the other channel, but that sucks.

It's really not that often that I ever need that feature, but I just would like to have it.
I have a feeling that it is going to be a hardware dependent feature, but I'm hoping not.