Anyone using a PreSonus FireStudio?
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Anyone using a PreSonus FireStudio?
I might get one. Looking for advice.
I've got the Firestudio 26x26 and MSR Controller, I've haven't had time to get to grips with the two yet. I've only had my guitar going through it. I don't really need one this big but I won it in a competition so instead of selling it I thought I'd give it a whirl because you never know when it might come in handy.
You might find it helpful (or not) by reading some of the posts on the Presonus forums.
http://forums.presonus.com/index.php
You might find it helpful (or not) by reading some of the posts on the Presonus forums.
http://forums.presonus.com/index.php
"Never increase, beyond what is necessary, the number of entities required to explain anything" --- William of Ockham (1285-1349)
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I've got the Firepod (forerunner to the Fire Studio) and while I'm generally quite happy with it I find the latency selection very misleading.
Instead of selecting a buffer size (like on most sound cards) you have to select a latency time from a list of options. 2mS, 4mS, etc.
So you set the latency to 2mS, but when you actually measure it it's more like 15mS round trip delay instead of the 4mS you were expecting (2mS out + 2mS in) so there is an extra 11mS creeping in somewhere.
Apparently this is due to the drivers, the OS and the Fire Wire port,
Instead of selecting a buffer size (like on most sound cards) you have to select a latency time from a list of options. 2mS, 4mS, etc.
So you set the latency to 2mS, but when you actually measure it it's more like 15mS round trip delay instead of the 4mS you were expecting (2mS out + 2mS in) so there is an extra 11mS creeping in somewhere.
Apparently this is due to the drivers, the OS and the Fire Wire port,
Noel has left the building!
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have you tried AISO for all (i have not since i do not yet have an interface) someone told me this driver solves a lot of problems.Noel wrote:
Apparently this is due to the drivers, the OS and the Fire Wire port,
What i like to do is run an acoustic guitar thru ableton with effects on the track and listen in headphones while i play... or just walk around the room hitting stuff and listen to what it sounds like effected...
i need low latency. (dont we all)
I tried ASIO for all but didn't have much success with it at the time - and didn't really have time to mess around too much at the time. I'll have to try it again some time.Diskclaimer wrote:have you tried AISO for all (i have not since i do not yet have an interface) someone told me this driver solves a lot of problems.Noel wrote:
Apparently this is due to the drivers, the OS and the Fire Wire port,
What i like to do is run an acoustic guitar thru ableton with effects on the track and listen in headphones while i play... or just walk around the room hitting stuff and listen to what it sounds like effected...
i need low latency. (dont we all)
I sometimes play my guitar through just as you describe and I have to say that total latency incurred by the firepod and a vst effect is definitely noticeable and just about on the edge of what is acceptable.
For triggering VST instruments from a keyboard I don't really notice it - but then that is only going in one direction.
I have a wave file on my system somewhere with a test recording that I made using Ableton Live and the firepod set up as follows: Click on Live Track 1 -> FP out 1 -> FP in 2 -> Live Track 2 -> FP out 2 -> FP in 3 -> Live Track 3 -> FP out 3 -> (same for tracks 4 to 8 ) -> finaly back to FP in 1 -> Live Track 9.
Set tracks 2 - 9 to record - Delay compensation off and click scene launch.
Result: The wood block on track one ends up as a convincing guiro simulation.
I'll dig out the file and post it up later, but I have to go out now.
Where this unit really comes into it's own is for making 8 track recordings in a live situation.
Noel has left the building!
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right... 8 mic pre is one of the things i am looking for so it narrows the search... I want to mic up my drum kit with it too.Noel wrote:Diskclaimer wrote:Noel wrote:
Where this unit really comes into it's own is for making 8 track recordings in a live situation.
ive heard these units are good on latency but i think thats really referring to direct monitering (not going thru live)
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i have a firestudio but i replaced with a motu pci 424
the latency was ok for playing soft synths but not for recording live.
but the direct monitoring makes up for that in most situations.
but i'm still using a P4 3 ghz pc with 1 gig ram.
so that could be an issue too.
also i'd recommend getting your firestudio from somewhere like american musical that has a no questions full return policy for 30 days
becuase the first unit i got was screwed presonus tech support had me running through the hoops and blamed my computer.. but in the end i called american musical to return it (i was going to get an RME) but before i could say i wanted to spend a few more hundred and get the RME they said they would put in a shipping order for another firestudio.. so i gave it a second chance
the second one worked great.
(except i had to disable my wireless nic card anytime i used it.. thats a kown issue and the fix is to disable the wireless)
untill i upgraded the firmware then i had problems but i got that resolved too.... but now i have a motu pci and no latency issues at all.
i still own the firestudio and i'm letting my friend use it on his macbook
he has problems rarely but he switches back and forth with serato interface alot... nothing a reboot doesn't fix.
i plan on keeping the firestudio to use with a mac book pro when we get one in the fall.
i dont know that i'd totally recommend presonus but i dont know what else to recommend either... the motu has its little quarks that piss me off too.
the 8 pres on the firestudio are handy
but i use the pres on my yamaha mixer with my motu 2408mkiii and i like that set up better.
check out RME too.
the latency was ok for playing soft synths but not for recording live.
but the direct monitoring makes up for that in most situations.
but i'm still using a P4 3 ghz pc with 1 gig ram.
so that could be an issue too.
also i'd recommend getting your firestudio from somewhere like american musical that has a no questions full return policy for 30 days
becuase the first unit i got was screwed presonus tech support had me running through the hoops and blamed my computer.. but in the end i called american musical to return it (i was going to get an RME) but before i could say i wanted to spend a few more hundred and get the RME they said they would put in a shipping order for another firestudio.. so i gave it a second chance
the second one worked great.
(except i had to disable my wireless nic card anytime i used it.. thats a kown issue and the fix is to disable the wireless)
untill i upgraded the firmware then i had problems but i got that resolved too.... but now i have a motu pci and no latency issues at all.
i still own the firestudio and i'm letting my friend use it on his macbook
he has problems rarely but he switches back and forth with serato interface alot... nothing a reboot doesn't fix.
i plan on keeping the firestudio to use with a mac book pro when we get one in the fall.
i dont know that i'd totally recommend presonus but i dont know what else to recommend either... the motu has its little quarks that piss me off too.
the 8 pres on the firestudio are handy
but i use the pres on my yamaha mixer with my motu 2408mkiii and i like that set up better.
check out RME too.
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bosonHavoc wrote:i have a firestudio but i replaced with a motu pci 424
the latency was ok for playing soft synths but not for recording live.
also i'd recommend getting your firestudio from somewhere like american musical that has a no questions full return policy for 30 days
.
its not looking good if you think its not for recording live
i will for sure get it from a place i can return it...
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