Rig #1 Entry Level Budget Firewire

[Tweak]

Rig #1
http://tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm#Rig1

Who its for: Ideal for the solo composer recording him or her self one track at a time; or for the recording of a small small ensemble overdubbing the parts, one or two mics at a time. Good for Hip hop and all forms of electronica and dance, as well as acoustic guitarists/synth/vocalists/songwriters.


Hooking up this rig: Utter simplicity. Firewire cable from firebox to computer. Mic to XLR input. Keyboard controller to any USB input. Active Monitors on the main outs. Done. Done. Done! So easy a caveman could.. I mean, ugh, even your drummer could do it.  If you have a keyboard or module with sounds then it connects to the firebox line inputs 3 and 4 on the back. If you have a keyboard with no USB use the onboard 5 pin MIDI jacks.

Gear suggested:

Firebox http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--PR ... /sid--rigs
(edit 9/09 Firebox is replaced by the firestudio mobile http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--PRSFSMOBILE)



B1 http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--STUB1/sid--rigs
Monitors:
Mackie MR5 http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--MACMR5/sid--rigs
or
KRK RP5G2 http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--KR ... sid--rp5g2


Controller:
Emu X-board 25 http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--EMU7700/sid--rigs

Alternate audio interfaces:


Presonus Inspire

http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--PRSINSPIRE/sid--ai

The idea is to do it with the LEAST amount of cash

[Tweak]

Its amazing how little it takes when you really get down to it. The cool thing about this rig is great sound in a tiny easy to set-up system. You can operate with a minimum of wires and use it on a laptop or a desktop. Because both the firebox and Xboard are bus powered, take along some phones and you could record on a road trip. Of course you want to make sure you have a high performing laptop with a fast hard disk, or just use it with you home firewire equipped desktop.

The Studio projects B1 is currently winning our poll at studio-central for best condenser around $100.
A quick note--beware of dynamic mics that require a lot of gain like the classic Shure SM57. You'll have to use the gain boost switch, which will add some noise. Condenser mics will be fine as they typically require less gain.

This system is upgradeable at any time. You can add premium Mic preamps better monitors and AD\DA converters when major cash comes in if you need to sound as professional as possible. But this system gets you off the ground with excellent sound.

[cmreal04]

Great for beat creation, but in a rig set up like this a pad controller is a must in my mind, even when trying to keep the price point low. A minute point considering it could be added at any time, but one I thought was still worth mentioning

CM

[ricoba]

ok, so which one is better?
presonus firebox, m-audio profire 610, or motu ultralite mk3? (well, i know motu is da best, but consider the price)

[Tweak]

in my opinion--the motu is the best quality and the best for the money. But only you can place a value on your money--and can define what quality is for you.

[ricoba]

hmm, any idea of lexicon alpha interface?

it's a really good deal interface i guess for anyone who's only using 1 dynamic mic as an input.. it's even has an hi-z input.
any suggestion?

[Tweak]

You know, no one here talks about that interface. I'd love it if someone would say something about it. Lexicon is a great name in effects processors, but that does not necessarily extend to audio interfaces. Buyer beware.

[ricoba]

yeah, i've read the reviews and no one complain about any problem with the interface.. the price is absolutely amazing, i might consider getting one

[TZA]

Comes in a few buck higher but is still a nice Firewire starter set

Tascam FireOne
AT2020
ALESIS M1 ACTIVE520 http://www.zzounds.com/a-3745/item--ALEM1ACTIVE520
M-AUDIO AXIOM 25 http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--MDOAXIOM25

[MR2nice]

I'm trying to figure out a setup based on the equipments I've just got.

Motif XS6
Yamaha HS50M

I'm looking for something simple to connect the XS6 with the studio monitors and then run Logic Pro 8. My interests are dance/trance/new age music. Would Rig #1 work for me? Or do I need a mixer as in Rig #3? Another thing I'm not sure is which cable to use (XLR or TRS).

Greatly appreciate your help. Thanks.

[Tweak]

I'm trying to figure out a setup based on the equipments I've just got.

Motif XS6
Yamaha HS50M

I'm looking for something simple to connect the XS6 with the studio monitors and then run Logic Pro 8. My interests are dance/trance/new age music. Would Rig #1 work for me? Or do I need a mixer as in Rig #3? Another thing I'm not sure is which cable to use (XLR or TRS).

Greatly appreciate your help. Thanks.

Given that your mac has firewire, rig #1 would be fine. If not, go with a USB 2.0 solution. The cables--for mics you use XLR, for the Motif, TRS or TS. The Firebox line outs are balanced, which means you can use a TRS to XLR cable to maintain the balanced connection. Otherwise, if the monitor 1/4" inputs are unbalanced, then use regular TS cables.


http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--PRSFIREBOX

[MR2nice]

Thanks Tweak for your help.

Could I also go with Firewire connection from Motif w/ mLAN16E2 to the Firebox?

[MR2nice]

Hi Tweak. After more reading on your site I saw an image that you've provided and have a question.

http://www.tweakheadz.com/images/nmodisetup.jpg

Let's say I get the PreSonus Firebox now and later decided to upgrade or add a mixer, like the Behringer UB1204-Pro or the Mackie Onyx 1220 12 Channel Mixer. From the image could I replace the Audiophile 24/96 with the Firebox and follow the same connection as drawn out?

I really want to set this up correctly the first time so I don't waste time and $ down the road. At most, I will only record another device like a Mic for vocal. I won't be plugging any guitars or other instruments. My main instrument is the Motif and that will be it.

Thanks again.

[seanakio]

yes you can replace a pci card for a interface. An audio interface just bypasses the sound card in your pc. just be sure to get one with all the i/o you would need.

[MR2nice]

Thanks seanakio for the clarification. With that, I've drawn up a diagram with the equips I already have, planning to get the mixer if everything looks good in this image.

http://img141.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hookupot6.jpg

Would it also work if I connect the Motif using Firewire to the Firebox for "MIDI In/Out" instead of using the breakout cables?

Thanks.

[Tweak]

Nice pic. You could easily add a Mackie 1402 VLZ3 to a firebox.

here's a page on that

http://tweakheadz.com/how_to_hookup_a_mixer.htm

I would probably not connect the Motif by firewire (unless I wanted to use it as my audio interface) ; use USB for midi or the standard midi jacks on the firebox. You can try the FW connection but it might interfere with the firebox. I would connect by ethernet so you can bring the Motif's card storage online as an external drive.

[MR2nice]

Thanks Tweak. I think I'm almost there regarding the connections. Been doing a lot of reading on your site. I just have one question. When I look at your instruction for Rig #1 there's a way to connect the Motif or any keyboard with sound to the FireBox. "If you have a keyboard or module with sounds then it connects to the firebox line inputs 3 and 4 on the back." I really want to use the sound that's coming out of the Motif for recording. If Line-In 3 & 4 from the FireBox is already used to connect to the ALT OUTPUT of the Mackie 1402, then how can I connect the Motif in this case to the FireBox?

[cici]

I have the PreSonus Firebox and I have a question about how other people are setting it up. I had it setup and working property for my MIDI keyboard, but I have a question for guitar. For recording an electric guitar, are you going straight through the Firebox and hooking your monitors to the Firebox output? Would it be necessary to have a DI box too?

Thanks,
Ci-Ci

[Tweak]

Thanks Tweak. I think I'm almost there regarding the connections. Been doing a lot of reading on your site. I just have one question. When I look at your instruction for Rig #1 there's a way to connect the Motif or any keyboard with sound to the FireBox. "If you have a keyboard or module with sounds then it connects to the firebox line inputs 3 and 4 on the back." I really want to use the sound that's coming out of the Motif for recording. If Line-In 3 & 4 from the FireBox is already used to connect to the ALT OUTPUT of the Mackie 1402, then how can I connect the Motif in this case to the FireBox?

In this case the motif audio outs are routed through the 1402 line inputs. You press the mute button to send that channel to the alt 3-4 and on to the firebox 3/4. Press the solo channel when you want to record it in isolation.

[Tweak]

I have the PreSonus Firebox and I have a question about how other people are setting it up. I had it setup and working property for my MIDI keyboard, but I have a question for guitar. For recording an electric guitar, are you going straight through the Firebox and hooking your monitors to the Firebox output? Would it be necessary to have a DI box too?

Thanks,
Ci-Ci

The front panel inputs are like a direct box when the instrument button is pressed. Just plug in the GTR.

[Rossdewees]

I have 1500 to create entry level budget firewire, What should I buy?

[seanakio]

did you read the thread? Look at the rig in the first thread, there is a link there. If that one doesn't sound like it suites you look at the others tweak has listed until you find one that best would suite your needs. If you still can't seem to nail it down, read through the guide and that should answer most of your questions. This is also a very vague question, we would need to know what your trying to do with your rig, how many i/o you need. If you already have a cpu, do you have software, etc.

[savrababa]

OK stand aside people big newbie with highly unstable head overwhelmed by the info coming through. Might start asking questions.. Uh-uh.. there he goes..

I have read tweaks guide up to the install part and i am intending to go through the whole thing. Been scanning the net to try and learn about PC recording home studios for about 2 months now and honestly Tweak you are light years ahead of any other related-alike site.A big thanks for starters.
Now i feel i 've come to the point where i can do my first post here.So..

As far as i can figure out from what i've read i am probably going to go with an audio interface mixerless rig such as rig 1. Here's some specifics:
- I am a solo guitar player,singer,composer. I play metal. The ideal production for me is In Flames "Clayman" (I'm only mentioning this to specify as much as possible the sound i am looking for).
- I am probably going to be using Cubase. The sole reason is because i am a little bit more familiar with it (when i say familiar i mean i've seen it run by other people..)
- I have a monster PC.
- I need 2 microphones recording simultaneously with decent preamps for my guitar sound.
- I want to be able to upgrade relatively easy to something that can be used to record a band later on.
- Up to date i've been using guitar pro to get a basic format for my songs so i've done a lot of keyboard note by note writing.
So basically i think of getting an audio interface, record the guitars and vocals and do everything else on the PC using softsynths.
How does this sound? Is the absence of a midi keyboard that important?
I really look at the PreSonus Firebox as the classic way to go but i also like the Lexicon Omega Studio USB. I would have gone with the Lexicon already but i've read about a few problems about how easy it is to use and tweak has made me scared about drivers enough. Do you think it might have issues with a new PC and cubase? It says it has Omega asio drivers which is what is best..oops err most suited for cubase right?
Anyways i'm looking for suggestion and help of any kind. Thanks to anyone who might respond and again a big thanks to our teacher Mr. Tweak :)

[Tweak]

So basically i think of getting an audio interface, record the guitars and vocals and do everything else on the PC using softsynths. How does this sound? Is the absence of a midi keyboard that important?

You are on the right track. Since you are primarily a guitarist (as was I when I started) see how far you can get without a keyboard. There will be a point, if you are like me, when you decide you have to have one. That is the time to get one. A good piece of advice, never buy on advice, only when you are sure you want it.

I am hoping to get more feedback on the Lexicon's. Their history is less than stellar, but i have a feeling they are really trying to make a great interface now.

One of the mics, if it were me, would be an SM57. Everyone needs one, espec for cabs. Otherwise I always suggest contrasting it with a condenser like the C1, B1, or NT1a.

Regarding the important question on is the Firebox i/o enough, you should keep in mind if you get external gear, like a keyboard or MPC that each unit will take 2 precious inputs. Will you be adding external hardware in 5 yr? That is the hard question and it really needs to be answered now.

[Zoso]

First let me say that this is an incredible site with a wealth of information that has been an absolute godsend for a noob like me. I went with the following to get me started:

Interface: Presonus Firebox
Microphone: Shure SM57
Controller: M-Audio Axiom
Headphones: AKG K240S
Monitors: KRK Rp5G2 Rokit

I had mentally prepared to spend $1500, so I was quite pleased to come in under a grand. I plan on using GarageBand as my sequencer to start with and then graduating to Logic Pro down the road.

Now for the question: do monitors come with the cables to connect to the interface, or is that a separate purchase?