Blue Microphones

I think you can easily say that the preamps on the firebox on not on par with the Neumann. But will the sound quality suffer? How good are your ears? Preamps can run up into the thousands but I'm pretty sure I couldn't tell the difference between a $500 and a $5000 preamp (unless it's a 'character' difference). I could probably tell the difference between a $100 and a $500 one though. One of those diminishing return things.

I use a firebox as the 'sound card' on my editing workstation. I like it a lot. I also have a firepod for multi-track recording. I'm a real Presonus fan because they've been been really solid for me; both h/w and s/w. My biggest complaint with the firebox is that the preamps do not have enough gain IMHO. I believe the specs say 45db. There's a 12db boost you can enable in software but I'm real suspicous of that. It's OK for most condensers but not OK for a lot of dynamic mics. The firepod pres are better but you're still talking 8 pres in a $500 unit.

-Dan
 
I'm seriously stretching if I go with the Mackie and the Neumann, but if that combo will give me great sound that'll take advantage of both pieces of equipment....then I'm willing to do it. The Neumann is in fact the mic they would use on most major animated features right?
 
I forgot about that thing. I have been meaning to get my hands on one since they came out last year. Good suggestion Dan.

You can get the Mackie 1220 for like $750 with firewire and IMHO that is a very good price for what you get but, as said, portablitity is an issue.

At $200 for the Satellite you really can't go wrong either. It would come down to what scenerios you plan to use it with.

You're right Dan, lots of good choices.

Cheers
 
Despite the cost being higher I am leaning towards the 1220. I have a large Pelican case not being used, so loading up the Mackie and the rest of the gear for this work would be pretty convienient. Plus having those EQ controls and the expandablility it offers is quite nice.
 
You may already know this, but be careful of tweaking EQ too much when you're recording. Most people don't adjust EQ at all when recording, sometimes going so far as to tape over the EQ section so no one's tempted.

However, that board is good for more than just recording. :smile:
 
You can also get an alesis firewire (various prices) that work great. That's what I'm using now as my interface to BoomRecorder. The Alesis has FW built in (not an option like the Onyx.)

Phil
 
Hey, Ptalsky, are the preamps on the new Alesis FW mixers decent? I've avoided Alesis because of disappointment with some earlier products... has it gotten better?
 
They are really clean now on the FW model, no opinion on the other models. I'm using it regularly now without problem.

Phil
 
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