PC based Open Source Mixers and Procesors

[philrev]

I am on tight budget, i need a mixer and processor but i am still searching, any suggestion for a 400 or less bucks for play recorded music with 2 mics.
1. Motu microbook 2 259 usd. 4 in 6 out It has cuemix mixer and compressor limiter.
2. Phonic firefly 808 usb 400 usd 8in 8 out w adat.
3. AH zed10 with usb connection.
Can i use linkwitz-riley plugin crossover on ah zed10. I want to use open source only software except winxp.

[mattaudio]

I've had good luck with the PreSonus StudioLive. They recently introduced new rackmount interfaces which have onboard DSP processing that can be controlled by computer/ipad/etc. Not sure about these but you should research them as options:

Audiobox 22 VSL (2 mic inputs) $200
Audiobox 44 vsl (4 mic ins) $300

[sine143]

http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/ ... e-audio-6/

[bitSmasher]

Both the MOTU and Phonic are better than the other hardware already suggested... if he already has interfaces with good AD/DAs and just needs software, why suggest another hardware unit?

[sine143]

he didnt say he had those. merely listed them as possibilities. or at least thats what I thought...

[bitSmasher]

actually you're right - re reading it I'm the ass here. got too worked up after seeing a series of people jumping to conclusions/missing the question, that I did the same

[philrev]

Sorry guys for long absence, i was very busy for the past days!
I want to ask opinion on overall sound quality and latency.
1. Emu 1212m pcie card. est. 158 dollars.
2. Profire 610 firewire 220 dollars

I read a lot of reviews on each of this product but don't have direct comparisons.
I narrowed this selection due to budget constraints. Uses of this card as a speaker digital crossover and brick wall limiter for my 1 t39 and 2 jack110. What are the free plugins available? Thanks

[BrentEvans]

If you're spending the money on those, you'd be much better off with a hardware solution from behringer or BBE. Neither is particularly well suited for low latency, and the free or low cost plug hosts that are out there aren't reliable enough imho.

[SirNickity]

Ditto. Look for a used rack if that's all you can afford. You don't want to fool with software for speaker management. Think of it as a safety system for your drivers, and respect it accordingly. You want that hardware to be THE LAST and most infallible piece of gear in your chain.

I know that some people go 100% virtual and "it works fine," but the idea of this makes me sad.

[philrev]

Its nice to have a hardware based speaker processor & mixer and have a user friendly equiptment and a peace of mind, but for the time being i probably settle for the software solution as money is not enough for the hardware. I am still searching for the web for digital solutions with my budget of 300$ or less. I like the RME Digi 9632/52 card (XP only driver) and Reaper combination but not sure if the reacomp (compressor) plugins can be used to protect my speaker from harmfull voltage. I like the levelizer from SAC but thats beyond my budget. I also like usb but for my budget i am not sure if could get a descent one, primary use is to play recorded music and 2 mics. Thanks

[BrentEvans]

Phil, I don't think you're hearing us here. This isn't as much about preference as about reliability. One digital pop (and they will invariably happen) can throw a driver way past where it needs to be. The apps you're talking about (reaper especially) are not designed to do what you want, and will at some point fail. 99.999% working is guaranteed failure in this case.

This isn't about it being "nice to have" or "preferred" but "necessary for safety." Anything in software is subject to the output hardware chain, and digital stuff will pop if the PC hiccups, if power glitches, if something stomps on your realtime memory access... it happens, like it or not.

No software package is completely safe as it relates to protecting your speakers. Period. Even SAC.

[philrev]

Thanks you guys for the input! Your knowledge and experience really guide me. I will use a hardware limiter to secure my speaker investment.