Firewire interfaces. M-audio NRV10 vs Mackie ONYX 1220 vs Alesis Multimix firewire8

[sunny19sec]

HI. guys. i really need help in deciding which one- i'm going to buy one of the following: M-audio NRV10, Mackie Onyx1220, Alesis Multimix firewire8 and Yamaha N8. which one do you think is better in quality, i just need few input recording simultaneously. i'm impress with M-audio NRV10 but comparing the $$ with Alesis Multimix firewire8 or USB 2.0- it makes sense to switch to Alesis if the sound quality is almost close to each other. or what about Yamaha N8/Mackie ONYX1220. i'll be thankful if somebody can guide me thro' this- in terms of sound quality, features, EQs, preamps. Alesis is good for money but how close is it with its competitors

Thanks

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by sunny19sec

HI. guys. i really need help in deciding which one- i'm going to buy one of the following: M-audio NRV10, Mackie Onyx1220, Alesis Multimix firewire8 and Yamaha N8. which one do you think is better in quality, i just need few input recording simultaneously. i'm impress with M-audio NRV10 but comparing the $$ with Alesis Multimix firewire8 or USB 2.0- it makes sense to switch to Alesis if the sound quality is almost close to each other. or what about Yamaha N8/Mackie ONYX1220. i'll be thankful if somebody can guide me thro' this- in terms of sound quality, features, EQs, preamps. Alesis is good for money but how close is it with its competitors

Thanks

Great questions. Bump for more visibility. I read GREAT things about the quality of the preamps and converters in the Yamaha N series. But I don't know how they compare to the Mackie Onyx or M-Audio you're asking about. No clue on the Alesis stuff either. But the price point sure is compelling isn't it?

[sunny19sec]

yeah. the price; Alesis multimix 8/12. does anyone here knows something abt Alesis? i read few thing abt Yamaha N8/12 that has some probs. don't know. i,m just waiting for some comments on Alesis multimix 8/12 firewire comparing to its high priced competitors; M-audio NRV10, Mackie ONYX1220, Yamaha N8/12. i'll be gratful if some comes up with few guides, review etc--...

[rackdude]

I used an alesis multimix usb which I would think has the same preamps and they do sound pretty sweet and not dull at all, but they get noisy. I now have an N12 and love it soooooo much more. I also passed up from a Phonic board too, and played with Mackies. Buy right the first time... the N12 is right! Now, after changing my mixer multiple times, I finally feel like I don't need a new one.

[sunny19sec]

Hi. Thanks so much for Help. you said the preamps were noisy. i,m confused with low budget if i had $600-700 for Mixer with firewire i would definitely go for N8 or ONYX1220 or NRV10- but since i have to buy Mic, keyboard and other stuff, $$ tied me up before reaching for those and i fall within the range of $350 so i thought budgetwise Multimix 8/12 as my good option but worries after reading many reviews abt the driver probs, pops, clicks, clitches and freezes. i also have thought about just getting M-audio Fastrack ultra and work without a Mixer. what do you think. i,m on a small studio project. need comment- Alesis multimix firewire 12 is affordable but is there a difference in sound quality compare to its competitors- also with M-audio Fastrack Ultra.

[NWSooner]

I can't speak to the Alesis FW versions (8, 12, etc.) but I have an Alesis Multimix 6 which is pretty much the same hardware minus the Firewire. I'm very not impressed, it's pretty noisy. I would recommend the N8. I have the MR816 which is very similar, and it's great. Excellent preamps, quiet, great features, and the drivers have been very good for me under Vista 64 and XP 32. If you have Cubase it's a no brainer for the N8 because of the integration.

[obscure object]

another competitive piece with similar features and same low price is the Edirol M-16DX digital mixer/ USB 2.0 interface ... U may have enough saved for that one .... goes for $300 and less at some online stores, probably because its getting discontinued as it seems Calkwalk are using the same Edirol design in their V-studio series interfaces now.

I have it n I like it ... I bought it over the Alesis ... I don't trust Alesis so much ...I don't like the M-Audio piece as well ... it looks clumsy... If I had the money I'd have bought the N12 or even the N8 ... The Onyx is trusted as well.

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by sunny19sec

Hi. Thanks so much for Help. you said the preamps were noisy. i,m confused with low budget if i had $600-700 for Mixer with firewire i would definitely go for N8 or ONYX1220 or NRV10- but since i have to buy Mic, keyboard and other stuff, $$ tied me up before reaching for those and i fall within the range of $350 so i thought budgetwise Multimix 8/12 as my good option but worries after reading many reviews abt the driver probs, pops, clicks, clitches and freezes. i also have thought about just getting M-audio Fastrack ultra and work without a Mixer. what do you think. i,m on a small studio project. need comment- Alesis multimix firewire 12 is affordable but is there a difference in sound quality compare to its competitors- also with M-audio Fastrack Ultra.

PM sent about the Fast track Ultra. I have one and while people seem really quick to dismiss it, I am making usable, decent recordings so far. But I do believe there are better sounding interfaces. I am on a MAC now, so for not much more, I would go for the Apogee Duet. And I might still pick one up to try it. But that Yamaha N8/N12 or even the Steinberg MR816 haunt me. (Yet well outside of your budget) and maybe even mine! sigh

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by obscure object

another competitive piece with similar features and same low price is the Edirol M-16DX digital mixer/ USB 2.0 interface ... U may have enough saved for that one .... goes for $300 and less at some online stores, probably because its getting discontinued as it seems Calkwalk are using the same Edirol design in their V-studio series interfaces now.

I have it n I like it ... I bought it over the Alesis ... I don't trust Alesis so much ...I don't like the M-Audio piece as well ... it looks clumsy... If I had the money I'd have bought the N12 or even the N8 ... The Onyx is trusted as well.

I have the M-Audio Fast track Ultra (The desktop version) and it's not clumsy at all. I find it quite user friendly in fact.

[smotchkkiss]

I recently had an M-Audio NRV10 and I had nothing but trouble with the inputs.

Adjusting the gain pot (on both XLR and TRS inputs), I could barely get any output until the knob was turned about 95% clockwise. At that point, the output would "pop" in and it would be clipping like crazy.

I talked to an M-Audio support tech on their forums and he thought it was a hardware issue. I had that unit replaced with a brand new on and I'm having the exact same problem.

Either M-Audio had a bad run at the factory with these or this unit just plain sucks.

I am still looking for a nice FW interface + mixer unit but I would stay away from the NRV10.

[rackdude]

Originally Posted by sunny19sec

Hi. Thanks so much for Help. you said the preamps were noisy. i,m confused with low budget if i had $600-700 for Mixer with firewire i would definitely go for N8 or ONYX1220 or NRV10- but since i have to buy Mic, keyboard and other stuff, $$ tied me up before reaching for those and i fall within the range of $350 so i thought budgetwise Multimix 8/12 as my good option but worries after reading many reviews abt the driver probs, pops, clicks, clitches and freezes. i also have thought about just getting M-audio Fastrack ultra and work without a Mixer. what do you think. i,m on a small studio project. need comment- Alesis multimix firewire 12 is affordable but is there a difference in sound quality compare to its competitors- also with M-audio Fastrack Ultra.

Most low end reviews that complain about driver clicks and glitches just aren't setting the buffer to something their computer (which is usually worse than someone's who invested in good one) can handle. I stopped listening to driver reviews and found you can make any work without glitches, the latency would be the problem though.

[hugo_zair]

Originally Posted by smotchkkiss

I recently had an M-Audio NRV10 and I had nothing but trouble with the inputs.

Adjusting the gain pot (on both XLR and TRS inputs), I could barely get any output until the knob was turned about 95% clockwise. At that point, the output would "pop" in and it would be clipping like crazy.

I talked to an M-Audio support tech on their forums and he thought it was a hardware issue. I had that unit replaced with a brand new on and I'm having the exact same problem.

Either M-Audio had a bad run at the factory with these or this unit just plain sucks.

I am still looking for a nice FW interface + mixer unit but I would stay away from the NRV10.

You might find it interesting to read the thread on the m-audio board that deals with this very subject. ( NRV-10 input gain issue - Page 5 - The Official M-Audio User Forums - or google on "nrv10 input gain issue") You are not the only one to have discovered the bizarre design of the NRV10 preamps.

Currently (aug 4th 2009) my last post there might explain your observations. ie. very little gain until the 3 o'clock position of the input gain trim is reached, maximum usable gain of about 40db at near max rotation. then a sudden jump to 58db FIXED gain with excessive noise level.

The range of gains from 40db to 58db is not available for use.
No wonder you can only get a low output which suddenly jumps to clipping !

[Carlier74]

I have the N12 but am still struggling a bit with the drivers. If it doesn't work right for you right away, you have to engage in a small phd on the subject and become your own technician. Yamaha's help desk advises the 'trial and error' method.

It's a good desk, and I like being able to mix with my hands instead of the mouse, but I have read a lot about driver issues. (see huge Yamaha n12 thread on this site).

[Mike Lionfox]

Steinberg Mr816. Big rebates right now. I have one it's great. I had the N8 and sent it back for the MR816.

[The Pressman]

I have an Alesis MultiMix 8 FireWire.

When I first got it it took a while to get installed and running. But then an IC chip blew (for some unknown reason). Alesis payed for shipping and fixed it for no price and since then it's been working completely fine. After I got it back I reinstalled the drivers and it has been working fine since then. I regularly record 8 tracks at 16/44.1 with absolutely no glitches, instability, etc. (On Windows XP Pro SP2). Though most of the time I use it as a mixer, not a recording interface.

The preamps are okay, I wouldn't call them dull but they are noisy. It does have 99 built in effects (reverbs, chorus, flanger, delay, pitch and combinations) which sound better than I thought. The pitch shifter is pretty horrid, but I don't mind the reverbs. The EQ is +/- 15dB at 12khz, 2.5khz and 80hz, and the first 4 channels have a switchable high pass filter at 75hz and an extra gain control. It has FX sends and returns which again work fine.

The build quality seems good. Mostly metal. Never had any of the knobs or buttons coming loose or falling off or anything like that. Never had any problems with the inputs/outputs. No noisy pots. So it's all good there.

Overall it's pretty much what I expected for the price. If it got stolen or something I don't think I'd replace it with another Alesis MultiMix, but probably try something else, just for the sake of trying something else.

At the end of the day those FireWire interfaces (M-audio, Mackie, Alesis, Yamaha) all have their pro's and con's and I'd say you get what you pay for.

[The Pressman]

I'm ahh... Awful sorry I put such an end to the conversation..