Echo AudioFire or PreSonus Firebox

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Member Since: Sep 11, 2004

So I am looking into purchasing a firewire audio interface and have narrowed my options down to these two beauties.

www.echoaudio.com/Product...Fire8/index.php
www.presonus.com/firebox.html

As it stands, the presonus is $150 CAD cheaper than the echo, and it looks like it has better drivers. Also, it has a volume control for the main monitor ouputs, which is a nice touch. On the other hand, the Echo has more balanced inputs, and just looks wayyyy sexier. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any reviews of the Echo, and I don't know how reputable the company or drivers are.

Any opinions?

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Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Apr 18, 2006 09:07 pm

Well, according the that page I just viewed the Presonus unit is $200.00 US less then the Echo.

That said though, they are really 2 differant birds. Echo has been around a long time. In fact they were one of the earlier companies to market an affordable multi channel audio interface. So they do have a good reputation.

Now, I honestly wouldnt pay their prices as I have found other units of equal quality for less money. That is in the PCI type realm though, not firewire.

The presonus is cheaper indeed as it does not have as many bells and whistles as the Echo unit does. You need to look at how many inputs or outputs you will use at the same time. IF only 2, then the presonus will be a fine unit. If it is more, then you might want to look at the Echo unit, or others.

Noize

Ultra Magnus
Member
Since: Nov 13, 2004


Apr 19, 2006 02:26 am

The Firepod looks pretty sweet, is that in your price range?

Member
Since: Sep 11, 2004


Apr 20, 2006 09:56 pm

The firepod has a bunch of mic pres that I wouldnt use, and still only has 2 TRS ins. Both are in my price range, but i'm concerned about drivers mostly i suppose. The echo unit is tempting but I'm not sure how good their drivers are. I can't find any reviews on the unit!

I also looked into the newer MOTU Ultra Lite firewire interface but don't know much about it. It wasnt ranked very highly on musiciansfriend.com.

Any suggestions? I'm open to any external audio interface with a price tag up to $600 USD, but it has to have the following:

2 instrument inputs/preamps
2 TRS ins
2 TRS outs
headphone out with volume
S/PDIF in
MIDI in/out

would prefer 4 TRS ins or more

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Apr 22, 2006 12:53 am

If those are your requirments, then the Presonus Firebox, not the Firepod would be a good choice for you then.

The MOTU UltraLite has a bit more bells and whistles. And MOTU has a habbit of not releasing junk drivers, so the risk is low there.

As for MusoFriends ranking system, dont pay any attention to a stores rankings system. It is usually not very reliable. They will promote what makes them the most money.

I have heard from a user that is pretty happy with his. Using it on a laptop, running it on bus power and it seems to be working fine for him.

Member
Since: Sep 11, 2004


Apr 22, 2006 02:48 am

Slick!

It really does seem to be the perfect interface for me at this current point in time. I'm glad to hear that they make solid drivers.

Is that user using it on a winxp setup? That would be even more reassuring. Seems like they treat the mac equally, if not better in terms of support, so i'm anxious to see if anyones ripped it in using XP.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Apr 23, 2006 09:31 pm

Yes, Windows XP Pro actually.

And yes, MOTU is one of the few who manage to stay pretty up to date on both the Mac and PC front.

Noize

Member
Since: Sep 11, 2004


Apr 26, 2006 05:38 pm

Great!

I have a USB audio interface sitting here from Digitech that doesn't do ASIO or anything fancy (its pretty much a mixer with USB), but it has absolutely no problems playing the audio sessions i've created without the slightest bit of distortion.

The Delta 44 can't do this by any means, so I'm pretty sure the Delta isn't the right interface for me. I'm going to pick the MOTU interface up next week.

Thanks a lot for the info, I think i'll be happy with my purchase.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Apr 26, 2006 06:21 pm

You mean that the Delta 44 can't play back audio without distortion? I own one and have no problems with distortion on playback.

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


Apr 26, 2006 07:06 pm

Yeah, me too... clean and clear .

Member
Since: Sep 11, 2004


Apr 27, 2006 11:43 pm

I need the use of the Delta 44 and the audiophile 2496 at the same time and they don't cooperate well together with my motherboard, so i'm opting to replace them with one external unit that will cover both. I installed a delta 44 on my friends computer just today with the same motherboard and it works fine, the problem is: i need both.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Apr 28, 2006 09:00 pm

Ah yes, the motherboard. Indeed they should run together without any problems. I have run the audiophile and my Delta together to check the 2496 out before sticking it in my sons box. And it worked just fine for me with them together.


Member
Since: Sep 11, 2004


May 02, 2006 05:08 pm

So i was set to purchase the MOTU Ultralite, and I called down to Steve's Music in Toronto, Ontario as I am making a trip there this weekend. I called to make sure they had at least 1 unit in stock that they could reserve me, and they said they had 4, but unfortunately, these units were actually there for repair!

This product made its debut in this store less than a week ago and they've got 4 repairs! I asked him if they were unreliable units and he said "we probably just got a bad batch"

I'm now contemplating the PreSonus FirePod. The Firebox needs two more inputs to honestly satisfy my needs, and I suppose it leaves room to grow for the future. Frustrating!

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 02, 2006 08:42 pm

Ya, the Ultralite is brand spankin new. I hadnt heard anything bad about it yet though. That does surprise me a littel though as MOTU is usually not one to release junk. But then again, it is getting to be a very competative market for the new breed of interfaces in USB and Firewire so maybe they too have jumped the gun a little bit and released, or pushed production and got what usually happens. Half built units gong out the door in poor condition.

Does X-Box 360 ring any bells. Thousands of hardrives and chips, freezing and crashing the very first day of its release.

No wonder Sony takes longer to release their playstation units. Better QA?

Member
Since: Sep 11, 2004


May 03, 2006 06:39 pm

Yeah the first gen PS2s were terrible too. Mine died and I had to ream out Sony to get a free repair.

As stupid as it sounds, im going to go with the PreSonus FireBOX, not POD. I'm almost positive that this is my final decision.

Anyone on the forum have/use one?

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


May 03, 2006 09:27 pm

You'll have to go with a Nintendo product if you don't want to deal with that crap. I have all their systems, bought the GameCube on launch day, and have never had a problem with any of them.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 03, 2006 09:49 pm

I have all Playstation stuff. No problems with any of it. It is just a matter of not buying the first releases of the stuff. The boys have a firsst generation PS2 and we simply keep it clean and dust free. No problems at all, and it gets transported on occasion as well. Mine is a second gen PS2, the mini one. Absolutely much better then the first gen PS2 as it has much better outputs and built in LAN connection and such.

But I will be waiting maybe a year before jumping on the PS 3.

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


May 03, 2006 09:58 pm

Who knows, it might be down to $500 by then ;)

Sorry, my blatant Nintendo fanboyism is showing through...

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 03, 2006 10:02 pm

Ah that is OK Porp, we all have our favorites. My PS use is because of the games that arent on the others. Aside from that I am kind of a Sony freak for some gear, never had a bit of their stuff go bad yet.

But indeed, Nintendo is kool as well. If I could afford it I would have one of each. Maybe not. Yes I would, who am I kidding.

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