FireWire and Me

jeffgowins3 · Post by **jeffgowins3** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 1:59 pm

Once again, I'm still not understanding two things:

A) What are the pros and cons of a mono channel?
B) What does it mean on the FirePod when the first two ins are Mic/Instrument and the last six are Mic/Line? What is the difference?

You guys have been great. Thanks.

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 2:13 pm

I don't know why you're so worried about stereo vs. mono inputs. Does your band have like 5 keyboards?

The firepod's inputs are all mono, as far as I know. So is your average mixer, as far as I know. One channel per input that can be panned left or right. You get a true stereo sound by using two channels and panning them hard from each other.

As far as the difference between instrument and line inputs - line inputs have a higher gain. That's it. Guitars and basses don't have any internal power source, and the signal is therefore weaker. Keyboards and drum maches do. That's the only difference. The mic part of those inputs are the exact same on all 8 inputs, as is their preamp.

Guitar Center has an excellent return policy.

a bebop a rebop · Post by **a bebop a rebop** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 2:20 pm

The Sober Irishman wrote:I don't know why you're so worried about stereo vs. mono inputs. Does your band have like 5 keyboards?

No, he just doesn't know when you would use a stereo instead of a mono, or vice versa. Neither do I, for that matter.

stueym · Post by **stueym** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 2:22 pm

jeffgowins3 wrote:So it has come down to:

Yamaha MW12 vs FirePod

Yamaha MW12:
+Doubles as a mixer
+Has faders and knobs
+Very good price
+6 XLR ins
+Phantom power
-We can get more inputs
-Not a lot of info avaliable on product (testimonies, etc.)

FirePod:
+Widely regarded as the best
+Phanton power
+8 XLR ins
-Steep price, double that of the MW12
-Seeing as it is 10-channel, that must mean the first two inputs are stereo and the last 6 are mono, correct?
-No physical interface (knobs, faders, fun stuff)

So, yes, for $300 more, I can have what's called the best, but I'm really leaning towards the MW12 now. Thoughts? Thanks you guys, this thread has been eye opening.

To this should be added that the Yamaha MW12 is 44.1Khz/48Khz across the USB audio feed. The Firepod is 44.1/48K/96K across the Firewire Audio.

Most folks will tell you on here that 44.1/48 is perfectly adequate for all our needs here on songfight, but more is always better for the future. Just somethign to bear in mind as another differentiator

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 2:25 pm

...And that anyone who uses the MW12 is GAY.

/cue the p.c. bandits

blue · Post by **blue** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 3:10 pm

jeffgowins3 wrote:Once again, I'm still not understanding two things:

A) What are the pros and cons of a mono channel?
B) What does it mean on the FirePod when the first two ins are Mic/Instrument and the last six are Mic/Line? What is the difference?

You guys have been great. Thanks.

stereo channels are two mono channels with one volume fader. generally speaking, you don't want stereo channels on a preamp or mixer. they limit the number of tracks you can record, since splitting them back into mono is a big PITA and they'll always have the same gain on both sides. pro audio gear outside of broadcast applications rarely has dedicated stereo channels.

mic/instrument inputs are capable of correctly impedance matching the input of microphones (low impedance) and instrument cables (very high impedance) - so basically you can plug a guitar or bass directly in and not lose signal or get a bunch of distortion. mic/line inputs are designed only for handling low impedance signals.

blue · Post by **blue** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 3:23 pm

the prod info on the mixer say "stereo USB audio." Stu, are you _positive_ that all 10 channels come out at once?

the block diagram indicates that the USB is only for the stereo mix:

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/Images/ ... iagram.jpg

Mostess · Post by **Mostess** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 3:39 pm

stueym wrote:...but more is always better for the future.

Ah yes, the future when humans have evolved the ability to hear frequencies over 24,000 Hz.

Or more seriously (e. g. less dickheadishly), are there advantages to sampling at 96kHz?

a bebop a rebop · Post by **a bebop a rebop** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 3:46 pm

I can't actually hear frequencies above about 10 kHz. In physics class we widdled with one of those sine wave generators and my teacher slowly raised the pitch and had us raise our hands when we couldn't hear it anymore. My hand was the first up, the next person was around 16 or 17 kHz.

But am I missing anything? I don't really know. It would be cool if someone would listen to a recording and then listen to it again with all the frequencies about 10 kHz killed and see how much a difference there is.

jeffgowins3 · Post by **jeffgowins3** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 4:28 pm

blue wrote:the prod info on the mixer say "stereo USB audio." Stu, are you _positive_ that all 10 channels come out at once?

the block diagram indicates that the USB is only for the stereo mix:

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/Images/ ... iagram.jpg

Oh, wow, that'd be important, haha. Can anyone get a clarification on this?

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 9:00 pm

Most USB hardware I've seen has been 2-channel. My money's on that.

stueym · Post by **stueym** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 11:01 pm

jeffgowins3 wrote:
blue wrote:the prod info on the mixer say "stereo USB audio." Stu, are you _positive_ that all 10 channels come out at once?

the block diagram indicates that the USB is only for the stereo mix:

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/Images/ ... iagram.jpg
Oh, wow, that'd be important, haha. Can anyone get a clarification on this?

Bummer it does look like its just the stereo mix...shame really. This could still be a workable approach for someone who is only ever tracking two channels at a time.

For my purposes this would still be fine as of course the most I am ever tracking at a time is 2 tracks from any of my equipment just a pain plugging and unplugging gear into the 8 channels of the 01X when I have to....ah the loneliness of the single handed recorder

Of course you could always just pick up an 01X on Ebay one day when someone is desperate LOL or of course Sober could fit you up proper with a source of slightly soiled equipment.

jeffgowins3 · Post by **jeffgowins3** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:06 pm

Well, after much debate, many Cheez-Its, I've come to a conclusion.

FirePod it is.

Tack another one up for the Sober Irishman.

And remember, if I don't like it, I get to punch him in the face and he'll buy it from me.

You heard it here first, ladies and gentleman.

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:43 pm

It's cool, because you can route the two together and you suddenly have a 16-channel interface. BAM.

Congratulations.