Newbie Rack FX question.

[Koe:rade]

Okay, this is the first rack unit I've bought.
I did my research and the TC electronic Fireworx seemed the thing for me.
I particularly want to use it for vocals.. so I figured I would just take XLR from my mic to the left XLR in, then the stereo XLR outs to my Mbox2. The probolem(s) seem to be A) I cant use it with any of my condensors, perhaps the box does not have phantom power? and B) I seem to be getting a very low input signal even with the input knob turned up full... depending on the preset only one or two lights will light up with me singing at full volume... sometimes none but I can still hear something.

I'm sure there is something (or a number of things) I'm doing completely wrong, as this is my first rack unit ever, and I've really got very little idea of what im doing!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
Koe.

[CinningBao]

Interesting choice
From looking at the spec http://www.tcelectronic.com/Default.asp?Id=797 I'd say that you need to phantom power your condensor mics before they hit the Fireworx.
Not sure of Mbox specs, but if you connect the mic to that, with the appropriate mic power on, and then route that out to the Fireworx the signal should be at a reasonable level, though I'm not sure what restrictions you might come across routing that audio back into your Mbox sound card.
Normal (basic) practise is to have a mic pre-amp with phantom power to boost the signal before it hits the Fireworx, which then feeds it into your desk/soundcard.

So, in a nutshell, you need to boost your condensor mic signal before it hits the Fireworx with a basic phantom powered mixer (if you don't care for quality) or get a cheap mic pre-amp, though I wouldn't want to make any suggestions myself.

Start saving.... NOW!

[Koe:rade]

Hm yeah a mic pre seems to be the way to go then... Can anyone recommend a decent cheap one? since I just blew all my cash on the fireworx!!

[Koe:rade]

Actually also I would ideally like to set everything up in a way that I could have Mic, Computer (samples, softsynths, etc.), Hardsynths, Guitar, Bass, etc. able to go into the Fireworx with out messing around with the connections everytime I want to route something into it. Is it better in that case to get a decent mixing desk, have everything go to the desk, and then out to the fireworx (and any other rack gear I might get in the future)? Also how would I connect the audio from the computer to my mixing desk? (given that the mixing desk will eventually be going back into the mbox thru the fireworx) Would this have something to do with S/PDIF? I've never used these connections before.

I'd really love some help with this as I will soon be setting up my workspace somewhere else and would love to be able to set it up in a way that's going to be most hassel-free in the long run... even if that means saving for some extra equipment.

[glokraw]

Actually also I would ideally like to set everything up in a way that I could have Mic, Computer (samples, softsynths, etc.), Hardsynths, Guitar, Bass, etc. able to go into the Fireworx with out messing around with the connections everytime I want to route something into it. Is it better in that case to get a decent mixing desk, have everything go to the desk, and then out to the fireworx (and any other rack gear I might get in the future)? Also how would I connect the audio from the computer to my mixing desk? (given that the mixing desk will eventually be going back into the mbox thru the fireworx) Would this have something to do with S/PDIF? I've never used these connections before.

I'd really love some help with this as I will soon be setting up my workspace somewhere else and would love to be able to set it up in a way that's going to be most hassel-free in the long run... even if that means saving for some extra equipment.

If you got a digital hard-disk 8 or 16 track recorder, they usually have an fx send > return loop, so put the firebox in the loop, and your computers output into the digital recorder, thereby able to send vst/sample output thru the fx loop, on the way to fame and stardom , and of course your guitars/mics can just plug into the recorder, and go through the loop too. The Tascam and other brands will be your mixer, also, lots of potential for $300 and up.

Have a great week!

[C00kie]

Actually also I would ideally like to set everything up in a way that I could have Mic, Computer (samples, softsynths, etc.), Hardsynths, Guitar, Bass, etc. able to go into the Fireworx with out messing around with the connections everytime I want to route something into it. Is it better in that case to get a decent mixing desk, have everything go to the desk, and then out to the fireworx (and any other rack gear I might get in the future)?

A mixer would do the job indeed. Sounds like you will need 8 or eventually even 16 channels...

Most mixers have a FX (or Aux) Send knob per channel, and the effect's input would be connected to a dedicated output (FX or Aux) on the mixer. Then the outputs of the effect unit go back into the mixer; either via Aux Inputs or on a pair of regular channels (preferred if you have plenty left)

Also how would I connect the audio from the computer to my mixing desk? (given that the mixing desk will eventually be going back into the mbox thru the fireworx) Would this have something to do with S/PDIF? I've never used these connections before.

Not with S/PDIF, unless your mixer has S/PDIF inputs. That's a digital audio format. Cheap analog mixers can't handle it. So you would use the normal outputs to go into a pair of channels on the mixer. Also your monitoring speakers (or whatever you use for listening) will be connected to the main output of the mixer instead of directly to the audio interface of the PC.

Good luck!

[Koe:rade]

It looks like to get the computer to go through the effects back to the computer I need to have more IO options on my audio interface. which means upgrading from my Mbox. So I was looking at the Digi003 factory. Does anyone know how to set up aux sends/returns for my effects with that? is it possible?