Phonic Helix Board 12 users - advice please

[hemmick reef]

I've been looking at this little mixer for an all in one solution for my home studio.

My only concern is this.... can I record vocals whilst listening to recorded tracks in cubase (via firewire), through headphones with the main monitors turned down?

In other words is there a way of adjusting headphones and monitors separately. This is crucial when recoding in the same room.

Thanks.

[rackdude]

I have the Helix 24 boards and yes you can.

[hemmick reef]

Originally Posted by rackdude

I have the Helix 24 boards and yes you can.

Thanks for the reply.

What are the preamps like compared to other small mixers and soundcard preamps?

[rackdude]

They are a bit dull, but they work. Don't push them past 3 o clock though cause they will be noisy... but if you are using only hot condensor mics, they will work just fine. Dynamics you might want another preamp. However, where else can you get such a large mixer with firewire so cheap?

[hemmick reef]

Originally Posted by rackdude

They are a bit dull, but they work. Don't push them past 3 o clock though cause they will be noisy... but if you are using only hot condensor mics, they will work just fine. Dynamics you might want another preamp. However, where else can you get such a large mixer with firewire so cheap?

Yep, just what I thought - I need to record onto separate tracks in Cubase which reduces the choice quite a bit as many of the small mixers are 2in/2out USB.

[mrufino1]

We just used our 24mkII board on a video shoot the other day and the engineer had no problem with the sound of the board. I made him promise not to laugh at my gear and he replied ,"I don't care what it is as long as it works." He has done some very high profile projects and knows his stuff, and although I usually have no problem with this kind of stuff, it was a nice reminder- when we took the tracks to his studio they sounded just fine. So in short, it will work great for what you are doing.

[hemmick reef]

Originally Posted by mrufino1

We just used our 24mkII board on a video shoot the other day and the engineer had no problem with the sound of the board. I made him promise not to laugh at my gear and he replied ,"I don't care what it is as long as it works." He has dpne some very high profile projects and knows his stuff, and although I usually have no problem with this kind of stuff, it was a nice reminder- when we took the tracks to his studio they sounded just fine. So in short, it will work great for what you are doing.

Thanks for the great feedback.

I am in the process of upgrading my gear, to make things easier - more music less fiddling!

I have been using an Edirol DA2496 with Cubase SX2.

My new computer doesn't support PCI cards, so I want to get a setup that won't be a step down from what I have been using, but still able to produce near professional music. So hopefully the Helix + Cubase LE will do nicely, and its £250 to upgrade to Cubase 5....if I really need it that is?

I've also been looking at the Yamaha N8 (too big) new Lexicon interfaces (expensive for my needs) and the Edirol Ua-101 (possibility, but no Cubase). They all look great but I'm not sure if I will get better results in the end of the day, that will be down to my skills more than anything I reckon.