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In the market for a relatively simple inexpensive audio interface
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| Owsey2008 |
Friendly greetings.
Once again, my Presonus Firebox has hit the dirt and now bears the infamous red light. I know people who have yet to encounter any problems with their units, so I'm guessing my PC just isn't cut out for the job. I know next to nothing about AIs, but I have a faint notion that Firewire is to blame
I have the unit under warranty for another couple of years, so I'm going to sell the thing once it's repaired.
Now, I'm hunting for an uncomplicated and cheap interface, preferably USB. I'm not looking for pristine DACs, or amazing preamps - just something solid, reliable and bang for the buck. One thing I do require, however, is the option of 48V Phantom Power for my Rode NT1-A. Oh yeah, I'll also be recording some Electric Guitar.
So, in a nutshell I'll be needing an interface with:
- 48V Phantom Power
- An input to record Guitar
- And obviously a place to plug my monitors in
I really wouldn't like to spend over £100, but I'm dubious that I'll get anything under that barrier. Ah well.
Folks, give to me your knowledge.
Thanks a lot! |
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| Zombie0729 |
| considering you're not really looking to upgrade you'd just be looking at similar spec items to what you have with problems just like everyone else has. Can you sell yours and then spend another $100-$200? |
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| kevin shawn |
I have an audio kontrol 1 but it's about $200. Maybe you could find a good deal...super solid and sounds clean :)
LINK |
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| nortek |
| RME Fireface UC or Motu UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid (USB&FW), or try any of the dj-software-soundcards. |
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| Owsey2008 |
Anthony, unfortunately I can't go any further than the money I'll make from selling it. Let me tell you what actually happened:
I plugged a pen drive into a USB port to obtain some work files. Sometimes when I plug it in, the Firebox will rapidly switch from blue to red until I remove the pen drive. That didn't occur this time, but when I restarted my PC the Firebox remained a constant red. When the unit first failed a few months back, I didn't have the pen drive anywhere near my PC - I simply turned it on one day to find it had randomly decided to fail.
When I received the unit back from the warranty repair they told me that the mainboard had been replaced. I'm assuming that's also the issue at hand right now.
I thought USB, although not up to speed with Firewire AFAIK, would probably be more reliable due to the whole "hot plugging" issue. IIRC, people are very weary of doing this to FW (?)
Thanks for the recommendations so far! |
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| Owsey2008 |
| quote: | Originally posted by nortek
RME Fireface UC or Motu UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid (USB&FW), or try any of the dj-software-soundcards. |
Way out of my price range! |
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| nortek |
| ive had two interfaced burned myself due to crappy firewire technology. those where Echo Audiofire 2. i have AF4 now and have had AF12 too, both of those without any problems, most likely because they have powerbutton which the AF2 didnt have. i think the rule is to stay away from firewire powering and devices without powerbutton. btw you could get some dj-soundcards. cdj350, xone2d, vestax vcl100, native-intruments traktor/serato devices etc etc, all of those are USB. put up the same thread in dj booth and you will get some answers there too. |
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| Owsey2008 |
| Okay, at least I'm not the only one with bad experience. I'll most certainly look into the aforementioned soundcards. Thanks! |
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| nortek |
| that one looks interesting specially with output level gain thing, which many of these lacks. |
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| Owsey2008 |
| Thanks, man. I really like the look of that. |
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| Final Call |
great interface! i'm using one right now as we speak. |
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