What location interface for Boom Recorder and MBP?

V

vicrattlehead

Well-known member
I bought Boom Recorder (V 7.22) several years ago and love it!

I haven't been doing much multitrack recording lately, but I do have a multi-track job coming up in December and I have a quick question for Multi-track Mac recording aficionados....

For a 5-day shoot, I'll be recording up to 4 actors wearing lav mics from Lectro 411a systems and will also be running (2) boom mics (Senn. 416 and Schoeps CMC641) on channels 5 and 6.

So I'll have up to 6 channels that I'll need to record at 48k, 16 bit. I'll be using my 2006 17" MacBook Pro as the recording computer. Also have access to a 13" 2011 MBP.

My question revolves around the interface side of things---

1.) I'm looking for an interface that can perform the duty of bringing the 6 mic signals in for Boom Recorder to record, but this same interface also needs to have good pre-amps and give me the ability to adjust mic trim and send a stereo mix out to the camera for reference recording.

2.) The interface also needs to be able to send out two headphone feeds, one for me and one for the director, and I'd like to be able to select what channel/channels the headphones are monitoring on the fly.

3.) After this particular shoot is over, I'd like to take the interface back to our studio and use it as the audio output for our Final Cut Pro System (2011 iMac 27").

4.) Also looking for an interface manufacturer who is good at supporting Mac drivers.

5.) I'm also keen on running JUST the interface and MBP without a separate mixer in the chain (trying to save space as this is a travel shoot), but if I have to have a mixer in the chain, I could probably bring a Mackie Onyx 1220i.

So I thought I'd ask for your opinion on what sort of interface would best fit the bill for these needs. There seem to be so many options out there right now. I used to use a Mackie Onyx 1620, but the drivers seem to no longer work in my 17" MacBook pro, and it's a big honkin' device for taking out on location.

I would appreciate any guidance you can provide!
 
I would also recommend MOTU gear. One thing to be aware of, though. I believe the Traveler has only 4 mic preamps unless it has been changed since the last time I looked, so if you were planning to rely on the pre-amps on your interface for your 4 lavs and 2 boom mics, the Traveler may not have a sufficient number of pre-amps. If you are going to run some of the mics through a mixer, it may be fine as it has 8 ins, I believe.
 
Here's a link to the MOTU traveler.
http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/traveler-mk3
On it's own, it isn't going to give you everything you'll need. You will need to have a mixer in front of it.

Will the Mackie Onyx series work with Boom Recorder without an interface? Their website says they'll work with most DAW's, but what is "most"? The Onyx 1220i isn't going to give you enough inputs either. You'd need this: http://www.mackie.com/products/onyx1620i/. Neither solution is going to give you two separate headphone outs that you can route things to easily on the fly.

What you are basically asking for is a production rig, but wanting to put it together with studio gear, and that won't work very well. If I were you, I'd rent the production gear you need to do this job properly (I can think of several solutions of the top of my head that will allow you to do what you want easily), and buy whatever studio gear you want separately, and look at the gear as serving one purpose, which is what it was designed for.
 
I use the 1640 onyx with boom recorder with great results. But I use only in film settings based around studio work, no location. The mackie requires AC power but there is a dc mod that will void your warranty. Using something like a sound devices 788, zaxcom fusion or nomd would be a much better option for field work. Or even a tascam dr680 will work on the cheaper side of things.
 
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David W. Jones said:
Agree go with MOTU.
Click to expand...

+1 on the Motu Traveler Mk3. It is like a audio swiss army knife. Very Mac friendly. Make sure you have time to learn the software since it has a steep curve. Yes only four preamps, but four more 1/4". FW interface, Midi, 3 power options and more. Good preamps and output. Flaky company, don't expect too much support.

Grant
 
Hey Everyone,
Thanks for the suggestions!

I have been looking in the direction of the MOTU traveler for awhile and it sounds like that is really the way to go. Even though it only has 4 XLR mic pre's, I guess I could get something like a Sound Devices MixPre to provide phantom power to my booms, and then run those into one of the traveler's #5-#8 1/4" line inputs.

Any other thoughts?
 
Since you are probably going to get a mixer regardless, you might also consider a Tascam 680 and skip the MBPro altogether. Of course there are other multi-track recorders for more money.

Grant
 
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