Using multiple POD XTs for recording via USB

[P-T-P]

Anyone know if it's possible to hook up multiple POD (XT, XT Pro, XT Live or the new X3s) to an iMac via USB in order to record simultaneously?

Assuming it is possible, are there any pitfalls or reasons not to do so? How will they work with a hub (okay presumably as they are individually powered)?

I currently have a toneport UX2 which is nice enough, but I kinda miss having knobs to twiddle (ooo-errr missus), and could see an advantage to having seperate bass and guitar pods to record with.

I'm hoping to add something like the Motu 828 mkii interface and figure that between it and a couple of PODs I'd have sufficient inputs to record a live take of my band.

Anyone spot obvious (or not so obvious) flaws in my plan?

[dr.funk]

Drivers will be your biggest problem and sync. Might be worth having a look at asio4all which is supposed to allow you to run multiple soundcards at once.

[bennifer]

Previous poster - he said he's on an Imac - No ASIO, its all supported under the Apple coreaudio standard.

Theres a setting in audio/midi setup that lets you 'aggregate' devices together so the system seem it as 1 big device with many inputs. However even if this works, its a bit of a bodge really, getting an interface of some sort will sort you better in the long run. There may be issues involving sync and clocking so you might get pops or it might not record together in perfect time. Look at the Presonus Firepod (what I personally use) and the Motu8pre as they are both really useful interfaces to get you started in multitracking. They both take 8 xlr/jack inputs so thats 8 mic or line ins depending on how you use it - as a quick band recording you could do say 2x guitars, 1 bass and 5 channels of drums, then do vocal overdubs seperately to save inputs. Then when I track proper recordings its all 8 on drums, then overdub everything else. Hope that helps a bit.

[dr.funk]

[quote name='bennifer' post='226799' date='Jun 25 2008, 04:54 PM']Previous poster - he said he's on an Imac - No ASIO, its all supported under the Apple coreaudio standard.[/quote]

Ahh didn't spot that!

Does the POD XT have a digital output? That would save a mic pre or two on your interface if your recording alot at the same time.

[P-T-P]

Thanks for the answers guys.

I'm planning on getting a Motu 828. So that gives me 8 inputs. To record "as live" I need 10 ideally. 6 for the drums, 2 x guitars, 1 x bass, 1 x vox.

I'ev already got a Toneport, so I suppose I could use that alongside the 828, was just wondering whether the POD idea was possible 'cause they're so cheap to buy really.

[bennifer]

Yeah, if you get a Motu, you should be able to use the TonePort on the side as a basic USB interface without too many problems, at least enough to do some live recording. Depending on what Motu you get, if it has optical SPDif inputs on the back you can add another 2 channels. With my firepod I have a Focusrite Platinum Penta preamp with digital card plugged in that gives me another input, so if you had a Pod with Spdif output you would gain an extra channel there.

[ped]

Could you not just hook them up via XLR to desk?

[P-T-P]

[quote name='bennifer' post='228075' date='Jun 27 2008, 02:58 PM']Yeah, if you get a Motu, you should be able to use the TonePort on the side as a basic USB interface without too many problems, at least enough to do some live recording. Depending on what Motu you get, if it has optical SPDif inputs on the back you can add another 2 channels. With my firepod I have a Focusrite Platinum Penta preamp with digital card plugged in that gives me another input, so if you had a Pod with Spdif output you would gain an extra channel there.[/quote]

Well, having asked the question, I went back and read the spec on the 828 mkii and if I've understood correctly it has 8 line level inputs on the back plus 2 mic/instrument inputs on the front which are all discreet so that's 10 analogue inputs which would cover it. There is one pair of S/PDIF stereo I/O and ADAT I/O too.

[quote name='ped' post='228128' date='Jun 27 2008, 04:03 PM']Could you not just hook them up via XLR to desk?[/quote]

Not sure what you're suggesting there ped. Do you mean everything or just mixing a couple signals so that they can be fed to one of the lines in?