TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Production Studio
-- lets talk audio interfaces
Pages (2): « 1 [2]

I've got 2 mr816x stacked, works flawless

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN Absolutely right. Steinberg used to make some horrendous interfaces but they got it right with this one. Good mic pres, very good conversion and a shitload of I/O. The only downside is that is costs $700, and unless you need all that I/O, that's $450 more than the echo audiofire 4 or $200 more than Audiofire 8 both of which are comparable in quality and have pretty good mic pres as well.

decided to go with the audiofire 8...

quote:

Originally posted by DJ TL decided to go with the audiofire 8...

Congrats!

I noticed it doesnt have an ADAT port, what would that be used for?

quote:

Originally posted by DJ TL I noticed it doesnt have an ADAT port, what would that be used for?

ADAT connections. ADAT does 8 channels of audio down a single optical cable.

I seriously doubt if you will ever need it.

interesting my computer has no firewire port

quote:

Originally posted by DJ TL interesting my computer has no firewire port

As long as you have an open PCI slot, you can buy a FW card for cheap - just make sure that it has a TI chipset in it for best compatibility with sound cards.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ TL interesting my computer has no firewire port

just get a PCI to firewire card. Shouldn't cost more then $20 for a brand name one.

EDIT: Dave beat me to it!

easy enough. thanks for the replys.

quote:

Originally posted by Raphie I've got 2 mr816x stacked, works flawless

Out of interest, why did you do that instead of just getting something like an ADA8000?

because:
- l like the converters better
- i wanted gain on the pre-amps
- needed additional SPdif I/O for my Benchmark and SSL's
- just because they can stack up to 3 units

did a bit more looking around alot of people are saying great things about the mr816.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ TL did a bit more looking around alot of people are saying great things about the mr816.

dont think that has MIDI just in case you need it, could always get a seperate MIDI interface i suppose..

damn your right, good call on that.

quote:

Originally posted by evo8 dont think that has MIDI just in case you need it, could always get a seperate MIDI interface i suppose..

USB <> midi cable is like 10$

nvm, I have a midi in and out on my controller, I can just chain up my 2 hardware synths and run them through that im assuming.

correct, most usb controllers also have an interface

Im just concerned about the drivers of the mr816 at this point, some people have reported problems with win 7. Also only 2 of the inputs can bypass the preamp stage.

So from what ive gathered:

AD/DA - mr816 is slightly better
preamps - mr816's are better
drivers/stablility - audiofire 8
mr816 has ADAT
mr816 is about $100 more then the audiofire.

wow, i run 2 MR816x on Win7 X64 and Cubase 6 / Wavelab 7 and it runs FLAWLESS, these units get used at least 6-8 hours a day and no single BSOD or performance issues, none....

quote:

Originally posted by DJ TL Im just concerned about the drivers of the mr816 at this point, some people have reported problems with win 7. Also only 2 of the inputs can bypass the preamp stage. So from what ive gathered: AD/DA - mr816 is slightly better preamps - mr816's are better drivers/stablility - audiofire 8 mr816 has ADAT mr816 is about $100 more then the audiofire.

I would agree with this apart from a couple of things:

1, The MR816 is $200 more than the AF8 ($699 opposed to $499).
2, That slightly better conversion is (in use) only on ch. 1 & 2, as all the rest have to go through the pres and a therefore minor coloration as there is no pre bypass (what were they thinking?).

Also, one thing is that I don't think you can run the SPDIF and ADAT at the same time.

I think the issue about drivers is mainly because of the truly rock solid reputation of echo audiofire drivers (i've had mine 2 years and it literally has not flinched once. The MR816 has or had some issues with OSX and I think the win7 drivers are not 100% perfect yet from what i read but they could well have fixed it as Steinberg are on it.

I personally think the MR816 is the best interface at the $699.

In comparison it's just a tiny bit better than the AF8, but then the AF8 is $200 less.

The MR816x can run adat and spdif (RCA) at the same time, or spdif optical + RCA, when using adat + spdif you will loose spdif ch 7+8, but 1-6 work fine

quote:

Originally posted by Raphie The MR816x can run adat and spdif (RCA) at the same time, or spdif optical + RCA, when using adat + spdif you will loose spdif ch 7+8, but 1-6 work fine

Got it now. So I take it the adat and spdif optical use the same port?

Can you hear if there's any audible difference between using the non mic pre channels as opposed to the mic pres for line level signals? Maybe a null test?

Would be really interested to know. I've heard both arguments but in my mind it should not make a difference as I've used the pres and they're damn clean.

The pres could be the big selling point for me right now, as I know there just a gimme really with these interfaces, but I do plan on recording some vocals in the future. Most people have described the mr816 pres as decent, not so much with the audiofire 8.

quote:

Originally posted by Raphie wow, i run 2 MR816x on Win7 X64 and Cubase 6 / Wavelab 7 and it runs FLAWLESS, these units get used at least 6-8 hours a day and no single BSOD or performance issues, none....

I think alot of the compatibility with these interfaces has to do with the motherboard you are using as much as your OS.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN Got it now. So I take it the adat and spdif optical use the same port? Can you hear if there's any audible difference between using the non mic pre channels as opposed to the mic pres for line level signals? Maybe a null test? Would be really interested to know. I've heard both arguments but in my mind it should not make a difference as I've used the pres and they're damn clean.

I couldn't hear a difference either, i will try to see if i can do a null over the weekend, curious too

yes spdif and ADAT share the same port
+ then there is spdif RCA seperately

Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright © 2000-2021, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.