Phonic Helix or Alesis Multimix Firewire

[greggp]

I'm thinking of picking up a small firewire mixer to use for a couple of things: first to use to practice in the garage over headphones with the band, and grab a recording on a computer; and also to occasionally add the mixer to our live rig either to put in a few more mics or make a live recording.

We don't have a lot of time to get together except to practice once in a while and then go to our gigs (mostly corporate type stuff). We like simple stuff, so a mixer with some effects plugged into the headphone amp is how we rehearse, and we just use a Mackie 808s and a separate rack with a power amp, BBE and crossover to add some subs. It works for us.

So I've been looking at the Phonic Helix or the Alesis Multimix Firewire mixers. My inquiries have revealed that the cheaper rigs like these may sound o.k. as mixers, but may burn out the firewire chips.

Does anyone have any opinions on either of these mixer setups? I think I'm leaning towards the Alesis Multimix 18 Firewire.