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Audio interface for use with Mac and Logic (pg. 2)
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| DJ RANN |
OK, I don't want to spend loads but at the same time I don't want to go too cheap.
I think the problem is I used to work in pro audio retail years ago, and you really learn first hand how much bull is put out there by manufacturers, and what kit actually sounds good in real life.
At the time (compared to a lot of other brands) M-audio were offering amazing value and decent quality (delta 1010 for instance). There was no one on the market offering 10 I/O for less than $500, and they were petty stable (again in comparison to other brands). I also used a audiophile for years on my old PC, never once had a problem and for the money you couldn't get a soundcard that sounded anywhere near as good.
I'm on an Imac now, so it has to be USB or Firewire (preferable as I'm not using the fw port(s) for anything) and I don't need ant mic pre's. I don't really do much recording anyway and frankly, IMO, apart from the higher end interfaces such as apogee, motu etc., the cheaper brands make really noisy pre's, and you're better off using a dedicated stand alone mic pre.
I also know that I really won't need more than 4in 4out. Yes the fireface 400 looks noce but the $1000+ pricetag doesn't. The traveller is overkill (I don't need that much I/O) and DC offset issues have no place in a (my) studio.
Anyone used the Focusrite Saffire LE? Yeah, I'm paying for 2 x mic pres that I probably won't use but then again at $249 it sounds like a decent deal.
Also it seems like the Echosystem audiofire 4 would fit perfectly in
terms of specs? |
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| sot |
i got a saffire LE and immediately returned it for a apogee duet.
mine was defected and none of the in's and out's were working and it had some static sound come through my monitors which wasn't due from the cables that i hooked them up with.
the duet has been perfect so far. the pre's are fantastic and it integrates perfectly into mac osx and logic. |
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| Beyer |
| I have the TC konnekt 8, and it works really well with leopard/logic 8. And it sounds fantastic! :) |
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| cammaxwell |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lolo
why don't you just keep using your konnekt interface? TC's good. |
Yeah, I'm thinking to stay put with the Konnekt too but I wanted to get some feedback. I have a pretty short window to exchange it for something else if I do.
My budget form now is the $500-$600 range. I'm really tempted to go with the Apogee Duet but I know the lack of hardware input scares me a little... |
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| Lolo |
| quote: | Originally posted by cammaxwell
Yeah, I'm thinking to stay put with the Konnekt too but I wanted to get some feedback. I have a pretty short window to exchange it for something else if I do.
My budget form now is the $500-$600 range. I'm really tempted to go with the Apogee Duet but I know the lack of hardware input scares me a little... |
then keep your konnekt, honestly, soundwise, I've never been disappointed by any tc electronic unit. |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by cammaxwell
My budget form now is the $500-$600 range. I'm really tempted to go with the Apogee Duet but I know the lack of hardware input scares me a little... |
+1, I know it probably sounds incredible but the duet is so expensive for just stereo in and out. In fact it's probably going to be the best sounding 2in/2out interface on the market.
By the way are there any echo audiofire 4 users out there? |
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| Eric J |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RANN
+1, I know it probably sounds incredible but the duet is so expensive for just stereo in and out. In fact it's probably going to be the best sounding 2in/2out interface on the market.
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In that price range, yes. However, the common perception and the word from Apogee is that the DAC in the Duet is not on par with the Ensemble or even the Mini DAC. This makes sense as those items are in a different price bracket. The quality list goes like this, from low to high:
- Apogee Duet
- Apogee Mini-DAC
- Apogee Ensemble
- Apogee AD/DA X Series
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| Jim Carson |
| I recommend The Tascam US122L. Check it out. |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jim Carson
I recommend The Tascam US122L. Check it out. |
Thanks for the suggestion but I have a lot of experience in providing tech support for it's predecessor, the US122, and frankly it was the biggest POS, ever launched on the audio market. I will have to have a lot of convincing before I ever look at another tascam product, let alone it's newer version. |
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| Jim Carson |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RANN
Thanks for the suggestion but I have a lot of experience in providing tech support for it's predecessor, the US122, and frankly it was the biggest POS, ever launched on the audio market. I will have to have a lot of convincing before I ever look at another tascam product, let alone it's newer version. |
I never had any problems with the US122, it always worked great with my Mac Powerbook G4.
I can tell you I would not recommend a Presonus Firebox or Line 6 Toneport UX1. The Toneport has problems with white noise static on the mic input. The Presonus Firebox colors your sound and overall is just a piece of crap.
The Tascam US122 has worked great for me and for a lot of people over at Icon Collective. With any gear I guess there is going to be problems every now and then. |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jim Carson
I never had any problems with the US122, it always worked great with my Mac Powerbook G4.
I can tell you I would not recommend a Presonus Firebox or Line 6 Toneport UX1. The Toneport has problems with white noise static on the mic input. The Presonus Firebox colors your sound and overall is just a piece of crap.
The Tascam US122 has worked great for me and for a lot of people over at Icon Collective. With any gear I guess there is going to be problems every now and then. |
Hang on, there's a very big difference between the US122 and US122L. I don't know the L, but I have so many returns for defective US122's we basically stopped giving tech support for them when someone said they had a problem. We just gave them a new one and hoped that one wouldn't have a problem (and often they did).
I'm sure they learnt from it, but I'm not going there. |
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| Jim Carson |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RANN
Hang on, there's a very big difference between the US122 and US122L. I don't know the L, but I have so many returns for defective US122's we basically stopped giving tech support for them when someone said they had a problem. We just gave them a new one and hoped that one wouldn't have a problem (and often they did).
I'm sure they learnt from it, but I'm not going there. |
Yes, I am referring to the original US122. I never had any problems with it. I am recommending the US122L because it is the latest version and it is something I plan on buying since one of my friends has it and loves it. I am using the Toneport UX1 right now since Guitar Center was out of the US122Ls when I went in last week.
It sounds like maybe there was a bad batch of US122s. |
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