Help Me Decide on Firewire Interface
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Posted on Dec 23, 2004 01:18 pm
teetopkram
Member Since: Dec 16, 2004
After getting advice from several in this forum, I have decided to use my Powerbook G4 (1 Ghz, 1GB Ram, 60 GB HD) rather that my G4 desktop (400 Mhz, 128 MB Ram, 10 GB HD) for recording purposes.
Further, I have read enough complaints to realize that USB (1.1) is not the way to go. So I have begrudgingly (because its more expensive) to go with a Firewire interface. <i>Any comments on this decision?</i>
Can someone recommend a good Firewire interface that will (1) allow me two channels of input (required); (2) MIDI interface (not necessary as I can buy a USB MIDI interface); (3) SPDIF in (not necessary as I can just record from 1/4 out on my Tonelab); (4) microphone preamps (not necessary as I can just get a small Behringer mixer). I will be recording mainly 1-2 tracks at a time.
I was considering:
- the M-Audio Firewire Audiophile (has pretty much everything except preamps, but it has RCA connections... <i>I have been advised to stay away from RCA connections...is this a real concern?</i>)
- the M-Audio Firewire Solo (has everything except MIDI and I wouldn't need a separate mixer for the preamps). <i>Even it is has preamps, is it still a good idea to have a separate mixer?</i>
<i> Can anyone comment on either of these two options, or recommend another interface in the same general price range?</i>
Thanks in advance - Mark
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WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Dec 23, 2004 01:43 pm First comment, use the [] sqare brackets instead of the <> greater than, less than brackets and the italisized text will work better :)
Second, I too now am becoming intrigued with the chatter about USB audio interfaces. I have had my Tascam 428 for some time which utilizes USB interfacing and have not had a problem. I don't know how deep to go with this however. I use Cubase SX, and have used XP Pro and Windows 2000 professional, obviously with a PC. Both PC's ran intel pentium chips, one a P3 the other a P4. Obviously I could go into further detail and specifications but having not had a problem I don't know how far to go without piling on usless information.
I have seen numerous posts like yours now refering to USB as undesirable. It would be informative to know more of the specifics of just what is going on. I too am always peeking around at different interfaces in the event that I may need another in the future. Obviously the marketing geeks are not going to advertise " Yesereedy Bob get this here disfunctional USB device now, limited quantities available".
Dec 23, 2004 02:03 pm I dunno about "undesirable", but certainly less desirable. USB 1 blows chunks, I wouldn't use that at all. USB 2 improved the speed a lot. I don't really know all the technicals, as I just don't pay as much attention as I used to, but, I have come to a few conclusions...
USB is a decent solution if you are a one-man band type of thing just recording one thing at a time, perhaps even double tracking it...but it starts to loose appeal when recording several tracks at once. Whereas Firewire can keep up with that better.
That said, the laptop in question is a 1gHz system, so it's multitracking many at once will also be limited by that, to what degree I don't know as I am no guru with Mac's by any stretch of the imagination. esi-pro.com/viewProduct.php?pid=16&page=1 seems a decent Firewire Product, but it requires OSX 10.3.6 + and I am unsure of the OS version you are using.
M-Audio also makes good Firewire products as I recall...
Dec 25, 2004 08:54 pm Ive been looking into the same thing recently and i found a unit that looks to work really well. here it is in musicians friend:
service.bfast.com/bfast/c...mp;bfmtype=gear . This is the presonus Firepod. It has 8 mic pres that supposedley sound amazing (according to the reviews). It has everthing your asking for. It has a midi interface, SPDIF, it has 8 mic preamps as well as phantom power, and two inputs. It has a bunch of outs (like 12 or something) and looks really easy to set up. 24 bit and up to 96 khz. I am considering buying (once i gte 600 bucks!). good luck teetopkram!
