Phonic Helix Board 18 FireWire MKII

see the description of the series "universal", it is the same with usb less. Please note that manufacturers we are trying to pass tables that make the acquisition usb ...
Note for newbies to avoid getting happily roll:
for now, I've only seen the stereo taken out of the usb, not multitrack with each separate voices sent to the computer at the same time.
in this kind of range I do not see the Firewire to do this job.
16 tracks are by samson (unreliable failure see forum), phonic, a little better, after prices soar of a sudden very high ... you see.

UTILIZATION

nothing complicated for the table, doc on hand for firewire and buttons assignments, yes, it will.

SOUNDS

blah ...
honestly, preamp in, Berhinger done better, even in the entry-level ... that is to say, the gain of a SM58 will put almost fully for the level.
EQ is work done by adding a metallic sound on all frequencies.
The effects are ok for a little reverb in a bar, but then light light, it grows not otherwise breath and metal galore.
good, go for animation market, auction sales, it is good ...
mix for musicians, it is possible, but will not equalize the slices too, reversible or a nice reverb (just for presence, not more).
to the sound of techno genre, considering how I appreciate this kind of Zique, I would tend to say that it should do so, since there is no microphone connected, and drowned in effects glin-glin star-trek of the soup must pass easily through foggy brains of listeners (I digress here ...).

OVERALL OPINION

I think we should take this table as a data acquisition card and only use the line inputs, without correction and output firewire to the computer ... Basta, no more and this is already seen the price.
I just arcelé Phonic develop drivers for it compatible with the real time of ubuntu, they replied, I am hopeful.
watch your firewire chipset must be a Texas Instrument and your firewire must be large, not mini. otherwise: it will not work.
I advise you to gently open the bug and check all your solder XLR in passing take a look at your power supply capacitors before they fart. In closing careful not to crush the son of internal power supply, including the LED display.
on the MKII version, is no longer the concern of the noisy power supply and firewire would be more stable.
How do you rate the quality / price?
for me that I paid € 150, I think it is correct, given the fragility and risk taking on such secondhand. it allows me to make the purchase low price multitrack remains to set this story in real time ubuntu, that said, tested under windows it works well.
It will do its job behind a good analog mixer fitted with real preamps.

With experience, you do again this choice?
I still have to test all of this in more depth, but saw the beginning, I would say yes.

Digital Consoles - 16/44 sample, 1 to 24 bits/96kHz,
no automation - Rackable,
16 channels (including 8 microphones with low pass and parametric equalizer, and Alim 48V) + 2 in the, 2 SUB GROUPS, 3 auxiliary, departures, 3 returns, extensive connection (RCA Jack, XLR ...), integrated effects section,
Internal sync or PC

Used on stage for a rock band sound with 6 musicians, and studio models and save reweighed "creative" (o))))

UTILIZATION

The manual is clear and sufficient, should absolutely take the time to read it well take advantage of all the intricacies of routing table
Common functions easily accessible

SOUNDS

Console aasez transparent, no breath, quite enough to save a group or a repeated pattern.
May good, seen the price, we know that it's not upscale
but it's still very decent and very usable

OVERALL OPINION

Used for 1 year
Recording, for microphone inputs, do not hesitate to push the gain and volume,
or use a preamp dedicated voice channel type