Phonic Helix12FW MkII 12-Channel Mixer with FireWire
12-Input Mixer with DFX & FireWire Interface.
Overall User Ratings (based on 17 ratings)
Submitted November 17, 2007 by a customer from yahoo.com
"Best non-protools interface out there, period."
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Best non-protools interface out there, period.
Sound
Sound quality is flawless. Very transparent sound and there's basic 3 band EQ. Mic preamps are good. Very clean sound.
Features
Packed with features. The fact it's a mixer, and its also an audio interface, and its also less than 300$. Features are of a basic mixer, but the firewire audio interface tops it all off.
Ease of Use
It's a mixer, and a very simple mixer at that. Nothing complicated here. Ease of firewire/computer integration is also very easy.
Quality
Well built. The knobs are a little bit too "smooth" like there isn't enough resistance against them. Besides that, its built like a rock.
Value
BY FAR, BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK, out of any interface out there. there's USB interfaces that go for 200. Firewire interfaces usually start at around 500 and are usually around 1000$ for decent ones. For 300$ you get a mixer, and a firewire interface.
Manufacturer Support
never had to use it
The Wow Factor
It makes any setup extremely versatile. Works will with PC and Mac. Design is basic, nothing spectacular but its definitely not a pain to the eye.
Musical Background:
Amatuer recording engineer
Musical Style:
hip hop, rock, jazz
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Submitted February 13, 2007 by a customer from gmail.com
"Great Deal"
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I expect to have this product until it breaks.
Sound
This is a great product. The sound quality is amazing.
Features
I love the Firewire. It's awesome. Tell me, where can you find a mixer with a firewire at this price? It's a steal.
Ease of Use
It is very easy to use if you read the directions first.
Quality
This product is very well made.
Value
It's worth every penny.
Manufacturer Support
I called customer support during the installation of the product. A live human being answered the phone and assisted me. I was very impressed.
The Wow Factor
It's not very sexy, but works like a champ.
Musical Background:
Active Musician
Musical Style:
Metal
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Submitted January 4, 2009 by a customer from hotmail.com
"A good machine for those who know what they want."
It's a good sound card and mixer but you need to know what you really want. Invest in good mics and desktop and you'll be grand.
Sound
I like the sound. It's just normal...
Features
Oh It has a lot... For that price, I couldn't except anything more...
Ease of Use
Not very easy and the manual is a joke. Even after a long time use I still dont know a few basic features
Quality
The quality is good. It hasn't failed yet to me. I jut came across the bad review from other users and I would like to complete
1)The Board is not a mixer that you can use it in the club, in full volume and light. It' mostly a sound card for home or studio recordings. Otherwise it would cost really a lot...
2)You will not escape from the cracklings if you a)use it in a laptop b)use it with an external firewire. I have seen a lot of ppl setting up home studios with laptops. Big mistake. The processing in the laptops is extremely slow and this squeezes all the cpu, consequently the card cannot respond. If you don't own the right pc, then it wouldn't be possible to get miracles with having a good sound card, even the best of the market.Only desktops for serious jobs
3)Do you protect it from smoke and dust?
4)Do you switch it off when you don't to use it? If no you decrease it's life expectancy.
If you need a mixer that lasts forever then you have to pay 10times more the price. For me it seems to be ok.
Value
As I said... the best
Manufacturer Support
I don't think it's good. First of all the manual doesn't really help. And the Cubase LE that came together with the board is a joke. Who needs the fake version of this software when everyone owns something?
The Wow Factor
I like it. Comparing with the other sound cards, this gives a very professional image to my home studio...
Musical Background:
Musician
Musical Style:
Pop
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Submitted December 30, 2008 by a customer from live.co.uk
"A great little mixer for recording"
I can't say how long it's going to be with me, but I currently have no thoughts of upgrading, downgrading, going with another brand or any of that. At the moment this is exactly what I need.
Sound
Couldn't fault the sound quality you get. The recording quality is great (to my ears at least, I won't claim to have a magic ear), and the playback I get sounds brilliant with no noticeable delay on my system.
Features
I mean, you're paying normal analog mixer prices for something with a FireWire interface right on board. It's fantastic.
Ease of Use
Not really the boards fault, but getting it to record becomes a pain in your software your first time. All different recording programs have different ways to go about it, and it's easier in some. Once you get the hang of it its brilliant.
Quality
It's built like a tank from what I can see. It's not the sexiest product in the world, but I won't worry about it being smashed to pieces. And I've been using it for about a year and it's always been reliable.
Value
You won't find a similar mixer for any cheaper, I don't think.
The Wow Factor
This was more a purchase of practicality than anything else. The color and style don't do much for me, but the layout of the mixer is easy to follow. Faders are all smooth as can be, so that's a plus. I wouldn't currently be recording if it wasn't for this puppy so I should really thank my lucky stars.
Musical Background:
Professional musician, amateur recording engineer
Musical Style:
Jazz/Funk
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Submitted December 16, 2011 by a customer from me.com
"Bang for the buck is fantastic!"
Still have it and use it
Sound
I went to this model from a Mackie primarily for the FIREWIRE interface, however I discovered that this little mixer is much quieter than the Mackie when I use it in conjuction with my Bose L1Mi system. Garageband works great with this mixer.
Features
Firewire for Garageband recording
Effects for live performance
Ease of Use
No issues setting it up initially and with a MAC, it was automatic
Quality
I have not had any issues with this unit in the four years of use
Value
Yes, Yes, Yes!
Manufacturer Support
Never had any issue with product
The Wow Factor
Small footprint, very portable
Musical Background:
40 years, keyboard, bass, trumpet
Musical Style:
Christian
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Submitted December 9, 2008 by a customer from gmail.com
"A good tool for professionals mini studios. Don't hassle with it, it always respond."
Buy this card for good recordings and professional staff. DON'T USE IT WITH VISTA. Windows vista blows...
Sound
Really good sound. Professional machine, worth to buy it. It works good for serious productions and recordings. I am surprised with the quality of the preamps. It seems that you don't need an extra preamp except if you need a warmer sound then use a tube preamp and you will not regret it. All for all, is a great machine. DO NOT USE IT WITH VISTA. This crap Windows vista don't really work well with it. The sound becomes narrower in the recording because Vista squeezes all the CPU.
Features
I think it's great. It has all I need, I bet there are mixers with much more features but this one is fine for me.
Ease of Use
It's not really hard to use it but if you read the manual it's gonna be better
Quality
For me quality it means: How is the recording sound. My answer is read above.
Value
With this price you can't find something better. I promise you, I searched a lot for sound cards, all craps, I am so happy with this...
Manufacturer Support
I never used the support but to be honest I haven't seen anyone using this product in Ireland, maybe the support is poor here but anyway...
The Wow Factor
Very good looking...
Musical Background:
Musician, Music teacher, songwriter, music engineer
Musical Style:
Rock
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Submitted December 23, 2008 by a customer from hotmail.com
"Expect it to last 6 - 12 months"
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Get a USB mainstream brand name mixer interface and save yourself the headache.
Quality
Stay away from Phonic products THEY ARE ABSOLUTE JUNK!!!!!
This mixer has failed twice now and I'm just tired of it.
You get what you pay for and so don't expect it to last more than 6 - 12 months, and be ready for some nice crackling as you press the switches and turn the pots.
Value
No value in a product that fails and is not reliable.
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Submitted February 8, 2009 by a customer from graffiti.net
"Some major nonsense in some of these reviews... beware"
Just a comment to the review titled "a good machine for those who know what they want"
'1)The Board is not a mixer that you can use it in the club, in full volume and light. It' mostly a sound card for home or studio recordings. Otherwise it would cost really a lot...'
does this sentence even make any sense?? It's not a powered mixer and therefore has no volume... what has light got to do with anything??
'2)You will not escape from the cracklings if you a)use it in a laptop b)use it with an external firewire.'
again, makes no sense, what is an external firewire?? the crackling I referred to was not audio popping / crackle but plain old cheap quality potentiometers crackling whilst being adjusted.
'I have seen a lot of ppl setting up home studios with laptops. Big mistake. The processing in the laptops is extremely slow and this squeezes all the cpu, consequently the card cannot respond. If you don't own the right pc, then it wouldn't be possible to get miracles with having a good sound card, even the best of the market.Only desktops for serious jobs'
again makes no sense but anyway (again) more nonsense...I have recorded a number of commercially used projects using a high end laptop. Also, this mixer IS the soundcard.
This mixer is junk and Phonic replaced it and I SOLD IT on craigslist...good riddance.
Sound
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Submitted July 24, 2008 by a customer from hotmail.com
"Pay a little extra and buy quality, just go USB if you can't afford firewire."
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Perhaps they should merge the company with that other 'budget' audio company from Germany.
Sound
Sounds fine for the price (when it works).
Features
Has all the features that you would expect for a 12 channel compact mixer (all the features that were pioneered by those Woodinville WA folks).
Ease of Use
It's a mixer, nothing much to say (the manual won't help you much).
Quality
Failed after only 6 months of light use (not worth the hassle of fixing considering the price)
Value
Poor value due to poor quality. They seem to have a lot of refurbished stuff, that says a lot about quality and value.
Manufacturer Support
Poor support from the Phonic people. E Mail tech support is answered by people who seem to know very little about the product (or even understand the question that was asked).
The Wow Factor
It may make a good door stop.
Musical Background:
Active Musician
Musical Style:
Rock, Blues, Instrumental
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Submitted July 2, 2008
"The Perfect Garageband and Bose L1M1 "mate"!!"
At this point, it does everything I need it to do and it does it well. For podcasts and creating backing trax, it does it all. If I was lost or stolen, I would purchase another one in a heart beat! Only complaint is that some kind of grab device would be nice (otherwise known as a handle)
Sound
I replaced my Mackie CFX12 with this little mixer for the main consideration of the Firewire interface to record to Garageband. I also use a mixer for more channels when necessary on my Bose L1M1 system. To my surprise, the Helix is MUCH quieter than the Mackie - lot less hiss and mixer noise to the Bose. This was a very pleasant surprise.
Features
Sometime wish there was a "handle" for the mixer. Every time I move it I seem to bump a setting and knock it out of adjustment. Have to review each setting after moving the unit. Minor thing I know, but just a wish.
Ease of Use
Pretty much plug and play. I little understanding of how the submix and channel switches work is by experimentation, but not overwhelming! Love how it "just works" with the MAC and Garageband. Truly a beautiful thing!
Quality
So far no problems - owned for about 6 months now - use in home studio and in live music settings.
Value
I can't believe the "bang for the buck" on this mixer!! I consider this to be one of the best values around and I'm telling anyone who will listen. I've had the Shure, Mackie and other brand names, but this beats them all in my opinion.
Manufacturer Support
Doesn't apply - haven't needed anything from the company.
The Wow Factor
I did not purchase this for the "sex" appeal. I purchased it for the "features". Firewire, effects and the small size!
Musical Background:
Active Musician
Musical Style:
Gospel
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Submitted July 14, 2007
Phonic Helix12FW Mixer Customer Review
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This is one of the only firewire mixers that will run under windows xp 64x; which is why i bought it. If you are running x64, make sure you buy this one, (MKII) the first edition does NOT support XP 64x
Sound
Sounds great; no buzz/pops/fuzz.
Quality
I'm quite astonished with the quality of this mixer, considering the price.
Value
You cannot beat this product as far as bag for your buck goes.
Manufacturer Support
I email them a question I had, and they got back to me promptly... much faster than i ever expected.
The Wow Factor
nothing sexy, but its not like its the star of the show.
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