using Presonus Firebox, can't get input 2 to work

[Bradlee]

I am using a Presonus Firebox with Audacity. I can't get it to recognize sounds going into input 2. And, I can't get it to record input 1 and 2 at the same time, making each its own track (i.e. setting up two mics, one on the vocals and the other the guitar, each being its own track). Can someone help me? I want to be able to record into input 2 b/c it's a Hi Z instrument input. And, I want to be able to record two tracks at the same time to capture a live performance.

[alatham]

Just to cover the basics, you need to make sure you aren't using ASIO drivers (I'm not sure how to do this), but if it's working at all then you probably aren't using them.

Also, Audacity's edit -> preferences -> audio i/o menu is where you'll need to select the inputs you want. Try setting the PreSonus to record to 2 channels and see if it picks up input 2.

Sorry this is so basic, but I'm not sure why Audacity isn't picking up what you want. Let us know more about how it's set up and why you can't seem to pick up that channel and we can get more detailed.

[Bradlee]

Thank you for getting back to me. I've been extremely frustrated with this. I just talked with Presonus tech support and they said that the Firebox can work only with ASIO Drivers. I read that Audacity isn't compatible with ASIO - is this correct? And, if it is, does that mean that I won't be able to record into input or record into input 1 and 2 at the same time and create two separate tracks (guitar and vocals, etc)? I have been able to record into input 1 and I've gotten some great sounding multitrack recordings and mixes. So, it is working, but just not completely. And, I've actually gotten audacity to recognize input 2 by itself a time or two - and it recognizes when I record in stereo, with cables into input 1 (left) and input 2 (right). By the way, I'm using Audacity 1.34 beta unicode.

As for what you suggest on the Presonus setting - there is not place to set the Presonus to record to two channels. There are a couple of inputs on the front and you can just plug into them. As for edit/preferences settings in audacity.... don't see where I can select to record into 2 channels - there is a mono option, stereo option, and then 3 inputs/channels, 4, 5, etc.

Let me know if any of this helps and if it will help you help me.

[waxcylinder]

I read that Audacity isn't compatible with ASIO - is this correct?

IIRC from reading other posts on the forum, the reason that ASIO is not supported is down to IPR licensing issues.

I think that you can reconfigure/recompile Audacity to work with ASIO. Try searching the forum for advice - or maybe someone with more in-depth knowledge than me on this issue may post here later.

WC

[alatham]

don't see where I can select to record into 2 channels - there is a mono option, stereo option, and then 3 inputs/channels, 4, 5, etc.

Recording in stereo is the same as recording to 2 channels, so you've already got that covered.

Also, when I said to set the PreSonus to record in 2 channel mode, I meant to have it set as such in Audacity, that wasn't very clear. Mea culpa.

I'm not sure why you can't select channel 2 by itself, but if you can get it to record in stereo, then there's a workaround:
1) Set Audacity to record in stereo mode. You'll be capturing both channels 1 and 2.
2) Once you're done, click the new track's name (this is a drop down menu) and select "split stereo track".
3) Delete the empty track and click on the remaining track's menu and select "Mono" instead of "Right". Now channel two will have been recorded and will work just like any other mono track in Audacity.

[Bradlee]

I will give this a try....I worry though that the sound might be compromised going in as stereo and then being converted. I'll check it out. I wonder if I could plug into input 1 and input 2 (2 lines....mic'ing a guitar with one and voice with another....), set it to stereo, record, then split as you've suggested, and then convert to mono - would this work??

Also....I've searched for ASIO info in the forums and see where you've helped people with it before. I quoted this from one of your replies:

"Yes, you can make Audacity use ASIO drivers, but only if you're prepared to compile Audacity from the source code. I can't tell you how or help you do this.

http://www.audacityteam.org/wiki/index. ... _Interface

You should ask for help at the Compiling Audacity forum:

http://audacityteam.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=19"

My question to you on is this....I have Audacity 1.3.4 beta unicode.....and the link is for instructions in 1.3.3. Will the instructions still work for 1.3.4 (what i've got)? And....and this may not be a question for you, I may need to visit a specific forum, etc.....will I need to uninstall audacity before installing what I need to install to reconfig, etc.? I'm a computer novice and don't want to be doing too much to my pc w/o having specific, safe instructions. Thank you for everything.

[alatham]

I worry though that the sound might be compromised going in as stereo and then being converted.

Don't worry, you will lose zero sound quality doing this. All you're doing is taking in 2 channels and deleting the channel that you weren't using. It will be no different from using Input 2 as a mono source.

Also, you should be able to record from both sources and then Split them and convert both channels to mono. That would allow you to mix both sources however you please. Be aware that if you're using 2 mics, there will be some bleed between the two, so you'll have to deal with that when you're mixing (especially if you use any pitch effects on either track, it will make the dry track sound odd).

As for compiling your own version of Audacity, I've never done it myself. Personally I don't think it would be too hard, but I'm a modestly experienced programmer. I don't want to overstep my nice-guy status, but you'll probably be pulling your hair out if you try it.

This page on the Wiki will probably be the most helpful place I can send you:
http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... On_Windows

There's also a forum devoted to this topic, but it's not the most heavily populated so be patient:
http://audacityteam.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=19

[Document02]

I just talked with Presonus tech support and they said that the Firebox can work only with ASIO Drivers.

The firebox is stated to work on windows, delivered with windows drivers, so you can safely bet that the tech support is just trying to get away whatever way they can with their lousy windows drivers. (I had issues with a couple of other windows based softweres working with WDM driver). Concerning the number of inputs, I wouldn't know if this is a limitation of the firebox or in the way windows deals with sound...

That said, I record in stereo and split the 1/2 inputs as already described with good results. You will not loose sound quality doing this, but be careful to save before splitting I noticed some crashed when playing around with stero/mono split and merge functions.

Additional tip, unless you really want to record in 96kHz, install the latest drivers but keep the older firmware of the firebox (I took them quite some time to get a firmware that could record in 96kHz, even though the firebox as always been advertised as a 24bits/96kHz interface), as the new firmware creates a higher noise level when recording (more info in the presonus forums)

[Bradlee]

Document 02 - Thank you for the feedback and suggestions. I do have the latest drivers installed....how will I know if I'm 'keeping the older firmware' as you suggest? How do I use it? Thx ~ Bradlee

[Document02]

During the install of the newer drivers they ask you if you want to udate the firmware.
If you don't know, the firmware rollback is available on presonus site
http://www.presonus.com/faqdownloads/Fi ... llback.exe