Hey everyone, just a quick couple of noob questions involving a Firepod interface. First, since it's a firewire connection and I'm not directly plugging anything into the soundcard of my PC, will the quality of my soundcard affect the quality of my recordings? I know it will have implications on my playback monitoring, but not sure what it does to the incoming signal. Lastly, I'm having difficulty understanding the difference in input levels. It has two mic/instrument level inputs and six mic/line level inputs. Does that mean that when I'm trying to track my drums using all eight inputs, the two mic/instrument ins will produce a hotter signal? If so, is there a way to compensate for this?

Thanks so much for your time!

If you want to do decent recording etc, get a good PCI Sound interface where you set the levels themselves.

I am failry sure (correct me if I am wrong)....

Usually (not always, depends on the brand) User Level = 0 DB, Line Level = +4 DB, instrument level = - 10 DB.

First, since it's a firewire connection and I'm not directly plugging anything into the soundcard of my PC, will the quality of my soundcard affect the quality of my recordings?

--no. the software will record through the F/W device.

I know it will have implications on my playback monitoring, but not sure what it does to the incoming signal.

--actually, can't you monitor the output through the firepod, too?


Lastly, I'm having difficulty understanding the difference in input levels. It has two mic/instrument level inputs and six mic/line level inputs. Does that mean that when I'm trying to track my drums using all eight inputs, the two mic/instrument ins will produce a hotter signal? If so, is there a way to compensate for this?

--if you're using the xlr inouts, it'll all be mic level. The two instrument level ins are for electric guitar/bass and such. the channels with line ins take keybards, cd players, etc. that have line level output.