Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

[ratherdashing]

There was a thread on this a while ago that got deleted due to a few disagreements that got out of hand. I'm a bit scared to bring up the topic again, but I am actually in the market for one of these things.

I'm looking for a good Firewire audio interface that will be paired with a new Mac and primarily used with Logic Pro. I want eight audio inputs minimum, and expansion capabilities would be nice. Number of mic pres is not really important since I prefer to use the ones on my mixing console instead, but I would consider more than two pres to be a nice-to-have. 24bit/96kHz minimum. MIDI input would be nice-to-have as well, but far from essential.

I currently have my eye on the FireStudio Project, but I am far from decided on it. Budget is not set in stone, but the $500 ballpark is what I'm thinking. Also open to buying used if I can get what I need.

Thanks!

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

Used Metric Halo or Focusrite liquidwould do the job!
I will have the same setup this fall actually ,so I was looking and asking around already!

 

[supernosher]

Re: Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

It wasn't deleted... it's right here:

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=159162

Actually it WAS deleted, for a short while, but someone brought it back.

Just a fair warning, I would stay away from anything Presonus.

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

I've got my eye on the MOTU 8pre. From the specs it looks like a great interface; very expandable, lightpipe support, and pretty cool features all-around. MOTU's mac drivers are supposed to be great too.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MOTU-8-Pre-Audio-Interface-?sku=240408

 

[B2D]

Re: Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

It wasn't deleted... it's right here:

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=159162

Actually it WAS deleted, for a short while, but someone brought it back.

Just a fair warning, I would stay away from anything Presonus.

I had Scott F put out the fires and resurrect the thread because there is some good info in there.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

M-Audio Profire 2626 would be my vote, in all honesty.

 

[supernosher]

Re: Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

I had Scott F put out the fires and resurrect the thread because there is some good info in there.

Ahhhhhh that's what happened...

 

[dystrust]

Re: Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

I've got my eye on the MOTU 8pre. From the specs it looks like a great interface; very expandable, lightpipe support, and pretty cool features all-around. MOTU's mac drivers are supposed to be great too.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MOTU-8-Pre-Audio-Interface-?sku=240408

I can attest to how solid MOTU's Mac drivers are. I've been using a MOTU 828 mkII with my Mac Pro and it's been nothing short of amazing. However I'd stay away from the 8-Pre interface. I've heard that the preamps aren't the same ones used in their higher end interfaces, and it's outputs are very limited. I would recommend an 828 (mk II or III) or any variant of the 896. Once I'm needing higher track count, I'll be adding an 896 to my setup.

 

[C-Martin]

Re: Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

Just a fair warning, I would stay away from anything Presonus.

Just curious but why stay away from Presonus? Not that i own one of their audio interface but from what i heard and seen they seem to be pretty reliable atleast, i'm kinda stuck on using pro tools so i wouldn't use anything other than digidesign or m-audio and as Virtual kevorkian said the ProFire 2626 would def be my choice if i where to buy a new interface.. for the moment im quite content with my delta 1010 (rack unit not the cheap ass lt version), hasn't failed me yet, pci with practicly no latency problem ever and sounds pretty **** decent.. if you have heared my lamb of god covers. They definitely offer some good quality gear for the money if you get the right stuff, even if alot of people bash their products...

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

I've heard that the preamps aren't the same ones used in their higher end interfaces.

I just gotta say...

What do you expect from a company's more affordable offering? Corners gotta be cut somewhere .

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

Just curious but why stay away from Presonus

Ignore him - he just feels the need to blame the quality of his recordings on something, apparently. I've gotten fine results with PreSonus gear, and so have many others. Hell, the ADL preamp they make is actually really really **** good, and I know guys who've taken it over Neve/API channels.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

PS: Why 96khz? I honestly don't see a need for anything but 44.1/88.2, unless you're doing film work (DVD audio is @ 48khz).

CD's are all 44.1khz in the end... the dithering process from 48 to 44.1 can and often does introduce artifacts - it's not a clean ratio. 88.2 to 44.1, on the other hand, doesn't have these issues, as it's a clean division by 2.

Not to mention the horsepower it takes to run high sample rates vs 44.1, and the negligible (at best) benefits from a higher sample rate.

If 24/44.1 is good enough for guys like Ben Grosse, Mutt Lange, Randy Staub, CLA, Colin Richardson, and Andy Sneap, I'd say it's good enough for just about anyone.

 

[supernosher]

Re: Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

Just curious but why stay away from Presonus? Not that i own one of their audio interface but from what i heard and seen they seem to be pretty reliable atleast, i'm kinda stuck on using pro tools so i wouldn't use anything other than digidesign or m-audio and as Virtual kevorkian said the ProFire 2626 would def be my choice if i where to buy a new interface.. for the moment im quite content with my delta 1010 (rack unit not the cheap ass lt version), hasn't failed me yet, pci with practicly no latency problem ever and sounds pretty **** decent.. if you have heared my lamb of god covers. They definitely offer some good quality gear for the money if you get the right stuff, even if alot of people bash their products...

eh... I am pretty sure you're using Pro Tools LE. ehhh......Am I right? DuDe, I HATE that program - It's sooooooo limited and confining. HD is a different story...

As far as Presonus, they rarely beat out the competition in the collective internet communities. I think the only decent offering may have been their FirePod, but I found them (the FirePod) to have weak drivers and bad build quality. They sound fine for the money, but I won't elaborate on that any further... Also their BlueTube preamps were like the biggest flop ever. I don't have the means to try out everything, but I would just stay away from them based on my experiences. I mean drivers and build quality are pretty much the most important things in my book.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

PS: Why 96khz? I honestly don't see a need for anything but 44.1/88.2, unless you're doing film work (DVD audio is @ 48khz).

CD's are all 44.1khz in the end... the dithering process from 48 to 44.1 can and often does introduce artifacts - it's not a clean ratio. 88.2 to 44.1, on the other hand, doesn't have these issues, as it's a clean division by 2.

Not to mention the horsepower it takes to run high sample rates vs 44.1, and the negligible (at best) benefits from a higher sample rate.

If 24/44.1 is good enough for guys like Ben Grosse, Mutt Lange, Randy Staub, CLA, Colin Richardson, and Andy Sneap, I'd say it's good enough for just about anyone.

Actually, I might want to try film audio someday. I know a few people who are into film and I've always been keen on doing soundtrack work. Good tip about the dithering ratios though - makes perfect sense.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

I am talking about build quality and their drivers, not sound because I've heard some pretty dynamic recordings done with FirePods...

AND just 'cause someone takes a Presonus over a Neve doesn't mean it's BETTER... It might just fit the bill, or hell... maybe they're human... I mean who doesn't make mistakes?

Haha alright dude - suit yourself. No use in resorting to personal insults, though!

 

[SpaceShipOne]

Re: Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

If the occasional driver problem doesn't bother you, the saffire pro series is great in all areas, and now cheaper because of a new model. But those drivers can get screwy once a month or so. But for the price and quality, I say it's worth it. Focusrite!

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

Focusrite SaffirePro 26 I/O. Considering the budget, you won't get anything with a better price/performance ratio. You can also find MOTU 828MKII interfaces around $500. The Saffire has better converters and 8 decent preamps - the 828 has better drivers. You decide. In my experience, the first place of solid performance goes for ECHO Layla 3G. It's PCI but there are FW units as well that are great, too.

Neither failed me, not even once, anyway. If you set your OS right and get rid of all unnecessary data junk that stands between your interface and computer, these interfaces are solid and bullet-proof.

M-Audio ProFire 2626 might be great as well, but I have no experience with that. I really liked Octane preamps (I mean the stand-alone Octane 8 ADAT pre with M-S mic option).

The only PreSonus I've worked was a FirePod and I have a negative overall experience because of them not-so-solid drivers. The sound was okay but every 30 minutes some problem appeared.

44.1 to 48 conversion: Interesting problem. There was a small 1999 RCS converter proggy that did flawless job... Anyway, a 44.1KHz / 16bit recording with good mic placement, good microphones and good preamps and of course a thinking sound engineer behind the desk... er... keyboard and mouse will bring immensely better results than any 1024KHz / 64bit recording without experience.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Let's try this again: 8+ track Firewire audio interface?

i use a hercules 16 in 12 out firewire interface, 24 bit, i payed about £200 for it so thats about $300- $350 it does the job but you do need a good computer to use it