Firepod vs. Firebox.

[taylor666]

I originally had considered getting a Firepod but I don't feel like shelling out 500$ right now. Is the Firebox decent? I would like to record some drums but I'm a little nervous 4 inputs wouldn't be enough but then again it would only be for some demos. I would most likely use 2 OHs an sm57 on snare and a AKG d112 on the kick but I would replace the snare and kick drums. I could even use my guitarport for an extra mic if I really needed to . Well anyway, would the Firebox be sufficient for recording some decent demo tracks?

 

[JeffTD]

4 inputs = not nearly enough for drums, and even though I love my firepod, 8 inputs isn't enough for a metal kit, and that's not even taking into account inputs for triggers.

I'd save up for a Firestudio and expand via ADAT, but the Firebox would probably work for what you're talking - you just will have to work on the best placement for the OH's, as that'll be the only source of toms, hat, and ride. Get ready to compress!

 

[ApolloSpeed]

dude........get the damn Firepod.

I had one for a year......and it killed me to only have 8 inputs. Now I got a second Firepod! 16inputs! I usually have a couple inputs or more unused!
It is wonderfull, to have more than you need!!

 

[Jackal_Strain]

I'm gettring three

 

[Genius Gone Insane]

I highly recommend what DSS3 said...one day you'll want that expandability.

 

[taylor666]

Yeah I think I may just go for the Firepod then because I know that 4 inputs isn't enough. I guess I was just looking for a way out of spending the extra $200 but it sound's like it's worth it.

 

[deathtotaliban]

no what u really should do is splurge for the Firestudio, its got so many more features taht the firepod doesnt, i wish i hadnt just bought mine a year ago ha.

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

Yeah the firestudio is my next perchase. I have a lexicon omega 4 inputs isn't enough.

 

[taylor666]

Ahh you guys just keep putting more ideas in my head . The only thing I would be worried about is if any of my computers would be able to handle the Firepod or Firestudio. What are the min. requirements to be able to run say, 8 tracks simultaneously?

 

[t-willy]

i had a firepod recording eight tracks at once two years ago on an shuttle PC with an AMD Athlon XP 3400+, gig of ram, some shit vid card, and two hitachi deskstars (raid).

recorded for 45 minutes straight (just doing some live demo shit) and no problems whatsoever. recorded through cubase le (came with the firepod).

i sold that when the band parted ways and bought a firebox. hated that fucking thing. always had problems with it hicupping (sp?) when recording one track. went through presonus customer service (which rocks by the way) and couldn't figure it out. finally sold it and went back to the old school method of a mackie 1402 mixer and an m-audio delta 66.

bottom line - wish i never sold the firepod.

 

[taylor666]

Thanks for the info. How is you're current setup working btw? I considered getting a sound card/cheap mixer for a while but everyone told me to stay away from that and stick to firewire.

 

[Thedeloshimself]

since the firepod and studio are both A To D converters as well, if you didn't need any converters, wouldn't it be smarter to spend the sum of your money on JUST pre's rather than pre's with converters? Couldn't you buy better pre's?

 

[CJWall]

since the firepod and studio are both A To D converters as well, if you didn't need any converters, wouldn't it be smarter to spend the sum of your money on JUST pre's rather than pre's with converters? Couldn't you buy better pre's?

I guess so, but not all converters are created equal and therefore will (most of the time negatively) affect the difference you'll hear w/better pres.

 

[t-willy]

Thanks for the info. How is you're current setup working btw? I considered getting a sound card/cheap mixer for a while but everyone told me to stay away from that and stick to firewire.

no prob.

since i'm pretty much recording solo this days, it's perfect. the delta 66 has been rock solid and the mackie 1402 gives me some decent flexibility for routing purposes, plenty of channels, inserts, decent enough mic pres for my needs, etc etc... I did have to pick up an m-audio midisport as well to run my roland v-kit.

i bought it all second hand off fleabay and had good experiences.

i probably change my whole setup an average of once every 1.5 years. bet i could make more music if i spent less time screwing around with that shit, but.......

anyhow, good luck.

 

[deathtotaliban]

for PC requirements the firepod actually requires quite a bit of processing power to record audio and a lot of memory if u are going to be using plug-ins(which who isnt going to?). Just to give u an idea of what type of computer can handle JUST recording this worked for me for a while: it was a dell dimension 8200 desktop, with 256 mb ram, 80 gig hdd, a P4 at 2.4 ghz. Now realize sure i was able to record 8 inputs simultaneously and it worked pretty flawlessly, I could not run hardly any plug-ins and using Nuendo 2.2 it lagged like a bitch. Luckily now I have my setup thats in my sig. and that works amazing. 2 gigs of memory makes using all the plug ins u need an ease. But know that u need a pretty decent computer to record well with anything but the firepods and studios do require a good comptuer

 

[Thedeloshimself]

i did several trials to see if that was the case, and my a to d's didnt affect the sound whatsoever. ive got two Roland VM-3100's but i just use them for converters not for mixing. I'd rather have nice tube pre's than the solid state pres. theyre nice most definitely, but id rahter have a blue tube pre instead of like a firebox for example.