kairosman
10-04-2002, 10:08 PM
I am a (poor) college student trying to shoot a short film and produve a DVD with dolby digital surround. My budget is $1500 ($800 of which is already spoken for). I am currently trying to decide what I should purchase to record in the field and monitor a surround mix using either firewire, usb, pcmcia, or pci (or a combination).
I will be doing all of the recording in the field using a laptop (P3 500mhz/ 192/6gig total) but I should not really need to be recording more than 2 channels simultaneously so USB would probably work just fine. I would however like to have the option of using condenser mics so most of the usb stuff I have seen won't really do the whole job. Firewire would be great except that presonus's firestation seems to want more PC than what the laptop is. Then again, if I am only recording two channels (maybe 4 but that would be rare) could I possibly get by with the slower PC? I really like the preamps on the firestation more than the motu 828. so yes, I have considered the motu, but I would rather go with the presonus as far as firewire interfaces go.
All of the actual editing will be done on a desktop (P4 1.8ghz/512/80gig drive for audio/video) which has room for PCI but I would rather use firewire since that would work on the laptop too. I need something like the 828 or firestation do that I can monitor all 6 channels as I am doing the surround mix.
Here is the question--are there options that you think I should look at? I considered getting something like the emagic EMI 2|6 and then also getting something like the ART DPS DIO Preamp which would give me a few extra features over the motu and do a nice job too, but I don't know exactly how it would compare as a total package really. I am sure there are also a million other options too.
I am currently using win XP on the desktop and win 2000 on the laptop (though I can put XP on laptop or revert to 2000 on desktop with ease) . I am also running logic 5 platinum so whatever I get must work with that. I will be using a variety of mics but I will only need two channels w/phantom power at a time but the more the better.
To recap-I only have $700 to spend on the actual hardware to get the signal into the PC. I already have all the mics I need so the $700 will basically be for a preamp and D/A A/D of sorts. I need min 2 channels audio in to the PC and 6 channels out.
Opinions?
If I missed something- let me know.
I will be doing all of the recording in the field using a laptop (P3 500mhz/ 192/6gig total) but I should not really need to be recording more than 2 channels simultaneously so USB would probably work just fine. I would however like to have the option of using condenser mics so most of the usb stuff I have seen won't really do the whole job. Firewire would be great except that presonus's firestation seems to want more PC than what the laptop is. Then again, if I am only recording two channels (maybe 4 but that would be rare) could I possibly get by with the slower PC? I really like the preamps on the firestation more than the motu 828. so yes, I have considered the motu, but I would rather go with the presonus as far as firewire interfaces go.
All of the actual editing will be done on a desktop (P4 1.8ghz/512/80gig drive for audio/video) which has room for PCI but I would rather use firewire since that would work on the laptop too. I need something like the 828 or firestation do that I can monitor all 6 channels as I am doing the surround mix.
Here is the question--are there options that you think I should look at? I considered getting something like the emagic EMI 2|6 and then also getting something like the ART DPS DIO Preamp which would give me a few extra features over the motu and do a nice job too, but I don't know exactly how it would compare as a total package really. I am sure there are also a million other options too.
I am currently using win XP on the desktop and win 2000 on the laptop (though I can put XP on laptop or revert to 2000 on desktop with ease) . I am also running logic 5 platinum so whatever I get must work with that. I will be using a variety of mics but I will only need two channels w/phantom power at a time but the more the better.
To recap-I only have $700 to spend on the actual hardware to get the signal into the PC. I already have all the mics I need so the $700 will basically be for a preamp and D/A A/D of sorts. I need min 2 channels audio in to the PC and 6 channels out.
Opinions?
If I missed something- let me know.