Hi all! I'm currently new to this forum. I would like ti ask for help to any of ya in this forum about Patchbay wiring.
I've bought a new Soundcard, Presonus FIREBOX. I also have :
- Beringher Xenyx 1204 FX mixer ( which is crap lol)
- Neutrik 1/4' TRS Patch Panel (48 points)
-T.C Electronics M-One Dual Effects Processor
-Behringer Truth B2030A monitoring speakers
-Korg Kontrol 49 MIDI controller
-an APPle iMac Intel Based ( 2.13 Gh, 1 Gb RAM ).
I do make ambient Music and Electronica, so that I want to make adjustment and monitoring each of my track in DAW such as Cubase and Ableton Live, Logic, and then rout each of those track to my mixerso that I can EQ and balance the sound for mixing down. Is it possible to do it that way. Can Anyone tell me how to route everything into the patchbay with my current gears ?
To make it clearer, this is my example:
I have a song with 4 tracks, so from Logic ( or wutever the DAW is..) how can I route the signal so that I can EQ each of the track in my Mixer ? ( with the patchbay, of course ) . And from the patchbay , I want to insert the T.C FX unit to any track that I want to and route the signal back to the computer so that I can record them again( with the effects added in ) . I don't have ADAT or tape record.
Is it possible to do the routing things that way?
I'm still stuck wih the patchbay routing. I'm planning to add another TL Audio Fat Man Dual Valve compressor into the system. Please help me and thank you for concerning my problems.

how many I/Os are on your soundcard?

I have the Presonus FireBox , which has 6 direct outputs, 2 Mic Preamps in, SPDIF in-out, 2 Direct inputs .
Cheers!

Well, I'm not really sure I see the need for the patchbay at all.

I would connect the Firebox (via firewire) to the PC, then run analog I/Os to the Xenyx. Use the aux send/return on the Xenyx for the M-One. Use the USB connection on the Xenyx to the PC. Plug your monitors into the FireBox. Plug your Korg (via usb) into the PC.

Does that accomplish everything or no?

Thankx for the tips, but how about if I want to add in for example, Compressor, or side chain effect units? I still need a patchbay don't I ?

Its really your choice to get one or not, but no you don't NEED on.

To Uncle_Jerr : the Xenyx does come with the USB interface, but to me, it doesn't work well at all. I would rather stick with my Firebox.
To all: Thank all of ya guys very much for readingand answering my questions. I appreciate that.
And my last question : is there any of ya guys experience with the Behringer Xenyx ? Is it good enough for mixing down stage ? Cheers!

Good enough for a live mix sure, but I would not trust it in a scenario where you are after decent quality.

oink! that hurts so bad! So in your opinion, which mixer i should go after, specially I want to route each of the tracks from my DAW to each channel of the mixer and route the signals from the mixer back to tha ADAT ? The Mackie 24 is what I'm looking at, but it's quite expensive though. Is the any options besides da Mackie ? Cheers!

Behringer is on the high end of lower quality gear, and is useful for live recording, since you are not after studio quality, with Mackie being somewhat above that.

The best bang for the buck for mid range boards are Yamaha.

Errr...I'm trying to get the stuio grade quality...Thinking of buyng a Makie 24 and upgrade all of my stuff to hardware. Already got a TL Audio Fatman Fat Funker Compressor and a T.C Electronics M-One Dual effects....hmmmh...how much do ya guys think I should spend money in order to get studio quality stuff, in this case, my home studio ? Cheers

If you want studio grade, stay away from Mackie and Behringer. Go with (analog) Soundcraft, Manley, Sony, or high end Yamaha, or (Digital) the ONLY mackie mixers I like are the X series. Yamaha and Sony again rank high in my book.

IMO Mackies are way over priced, and you can get same or better quality for a lot less damage on the pocketbook.

Just because something costs the most, does not mean it's the best.