Newbie question - FF400 portable recording?

tjalla · 22nd July 2007

Hi all,

Thanks largely to recommendations from this page, I've begun setting up a basic (but hopefully half decent) home studio -

AKG C414 XLS
RME FF400
Intel iMac
KRK V6 IIs
Garageband (for now)
MOTU DP5 (in box, will install soon)

I have two questions about the FF400

1. When running bus power (no external power connected) is it safe to flick the switch on the back to function as on/off? Or is this potentially hot-plugging, and do I have to shut my computer off each time I want to turn the RME on/off? Oddly, the RME seems to receive bus power even with the comp shut down.

2. I'm travelling overseas next week and would like to record some a capella vocals with family members - what would be the best way to use the AKG 414>FF400 as a portable recording setup/storage - without a computer/software - that would allow me to store audio, either analog or digital. A firewire external drive? Minidisc? Preferably something that isn't going to degrade the sound, and if converting to digital, preferably using the RME's A/D. And I'd like to be able to playback takes, through headphones. Solutions? Both Firewire for storage with minidisc for monitoring?

Sorry if my lingo/tech talk sound really green - that's because I am! I'm a working musician, and am happy to talk guitars/tubes/amps/speakers/pickups till the cows come home, but this is all really new for me.

Thanks in advance!

Trevor

d_fu · 22nd July 2007

You need a (laptop) computer to record with the FF400. No way to record directly to a FW drive. I'd also suggest to use two (identical) microphones for stereo. One 414 will only provide mono...

tjalla · 24th July 2007

Perhaps I'll try to access a laptop while overseas. Alternatively I might just use the rme as mic pre sending an analog out to a minidisc. hardly ideal, but if that's as good as I can do without a laptop...

Thanks,
Trevor

liuto · 24th July 2007

Maybe you can find a recorder with digital in, then the FF400 would be your micpre and AD only, without the unnecessary DA conversion.
Regards
Hermann

22nd July 2007	#1
tjalla Gear interested Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 9 Thread Starter	Newbie question - FF400 portable recording? Hi all, Thanks largely to recommendations from this page, I've begun setting up a basic (but hopefully half decent) home studio - AKG C414 XLS RME FF400 Intel iMac KRK V6 IIs Garageband (for now) MOTU DP5 (in box, will install soon) I have two questions about the FF400 1. When running bus power (no external power connected) is it safe to flick the switch on the back to function as on/off? Or is this potentially hot-plugging, and do I have to shut my computer off each time I want to turn the RME on/off? Oddly, the RME seems to receive bus power even with the comp shut down. 2. I'm travelling overseas next week and would like to record some a capella vocals with family members - what would be the best way to use the AKG 414>FF400 as a portable recording setup/storage - without a computer/software - that would allow me to store audio, either analog or digital. A firewire external drive? Minidisc? Preferably something that isn't going to degrade the sound, and if converting to digital, preferably using the RME's A/D. And I'd like to be able to playback takes, through headphones. Solutions? Both Firewire for storage with minidisc for monitoring? Sorry if my lingo/tech talk sound really green - that's because I am! I'm a working musician, and am happy to talk guitars/tubes/amps/speakers/pickups till the cows come home, but this is all really new for me. Thanks in advance! Trevor

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22nd July 2007	#2
d_fu Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 2,420	You need a (laptop) computer to record with the FF400. No way to record directly to a FW drive. I'd also suggest to use two (identical) microphones for stereo. One 414 will only provide mono...

24th July 2007	#3
tjalla Gear interested Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 9 Thread Starter	Perhaps I'll try to access a laptop while overseas. Alternatively I might just use the rme as mic pre sending an analog out to a minidisc. hardly ideal, but if that's as good as I can do without a laptop... Thanks, Trevor

24th July 2007	#4
liuto Gear nut Joined: Jul 2004 Location: Rekawinkel, Austria Posts: 145	Maybe you can find a recorder with digital in, then the FF400 would be your micpre and AD only, without the unnecessary DA conversion. Regards Hermann