Comments

[r]Evolution wrote on 1/18/2006, 3:17 PM
Wow, that's pretty cool.

How is it as far as performance?

I've always heard that you should stear clear of USB because it used system resources... but this DOES sound cool.

Finally, I could actually mic a DrumKit or multiple vocalists and have them go to different tracks.

Or mic different areas simultaneously for Foley work.

Or...

Or...

Or...

(add your reason here)
fldave wrote on 1/18/2006, 3:58 PM
Cool. Interesting possibilities. Have a Vegas version for Windows CE (listening ForumAdmin?), a WinCE usb-enabled machine, and 5 usb microphones. A very portable surround recorder.
farss wrote on 1/18/2006, 4:18 PM
Only problem is you're kind of limited in the choice of microphones!
Why not buy something like the Alesis Multimix 16?
Looks very cheap for what it is and gives you 16 tracks into Vegas via firewire.
If you want a really good mike with digital in Neumann do one with AES... or you could buy a couple of new cars or pay off the mortgage.

Bob.
fldave wrote on 1/18/2006, 5:01 PM
But will it fit in my coat pocket?
[r]Evolution wrote on 1/18/2006, 5:19 PM
Will VEGAS recognize the Alesis Multimix 16 as seperate channels?
ie... Record to seperate tracks in VEGAS or will it combine everything into 1 track.
Steve Mann wrote on 1/18/2006, 11:20 PM
I can't speak for performance because I just made a quick test with ultra-cheap USB mics. But, since I was told that it wouldn't work (like capturing from 3 Mini-DV cameras simultaneously on one PC - which does work), I just had to try it.

A decent USB microphone will set you back $80 or more, so by the time I buy eight of them, I would be just as well to buy the Alexis or a Presonus Firepod and use my wired microphones.

I am sort of leaning toward the Firepod because I can gang two of them to get 16 mic lines.

Does anyone have any experience with either (Firepod or Alexis)
FrigidNDEditing wrote on 1/18/2006, 11:47 PM
Usually vegas will recognize different channels and record as separate tracks. Not sure about the Multimix specifically, but Vegas usually separates tracks from a most digital recording boxes.

Dave
farss wrote on 1/19/2006, 12:58 AM
I recall a post from someone, somewhere that has the Alesis Multimix running with Vegas.
Even if it didn't work with Vegas that's hardly a show stopper as it does come with CuBase LE with which it will obviously work with so at a pinch one could record using Cubase and just drop the recorded tracks into Vegas.
Two things that do concern me are firstly you end up recording to 16 files at once, that sounds like a lot of CPU and HD subsystem load although it only goes to 24/48K so things might not be too scary.
Secondly, it's absurdly cheap for what it is, I think around half the price of the Firepod and it gives you quite a bit more, it's a half usable standalone mixer as well as a recording device. At that bargain basement price one has to wonder what corners have been cut, like how good are the mic preamps etc.
So far the only negative comment I've heard about it is the built in FXs are a bit sad, to be honest I cannot understand why any of this sort of kit has built in FXs anyway, more of a negative point in my mind, so that doesn't faze me. What does worry me is I cannot find any reviews of the unit. I'd assume as Alesis have a reasonable reputation the thing cannot be a total dog.
Bob.