i need recommendations for buying a new audio interface

buzby · Post by **buzby** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 8:08 pm

im looking to buy myself a new audio interface and a bit overwhelmed by choices on the market -me and a friend have been looking at Presonus Firestudio and Firepod - anyone?

thing is that i like to shop at one place when getting equip and when i go to uk i shop at Soundcontrol uk - they have been brilliant with their service - it´s a quirky loyalty -

- they, however, do not deal with Presonus - so i may go somewhere else to get this or maybe someone can suggest something else?

im up for spending a bit of money and want something with very good preamps - i hope to buy myself a SE Gemini mic in the new year and want something that will get the best results with that

cheers - buzby

3rdordertrauma · Post by **3rdordertrauma** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:44 pm

If you can afford it... Seriously look into the RME Fireface 800 or any of there products. I purchased the 800 on a recommendation from the retailer I deal with. I have never been let down by it, very impressed from the start. I've owned a few nice audio interfaces... mostly the Motu stuff (which are very nice also) but the Fireface 800 is easily my favorite. The MIC Pre's on the RME stuff are very nice... converters are excellent! For the money vs. quality I feel its the best product out there.

The Presonus stuff I have never personally owned. I know they have a few pretty attractive interfaces but... I can tell you I do freelance audio consulting for a local music shop... the amount of house calls I go on with people having issues with Presonus Interfaces is shocking. I don't think their drivers are what they should be and the bundled software is a complete joke. But the interfaces I must say have a pretty solid feel.

Whatever the case I'd say don't pinch when it comes to quality even if you had to put off buying a mic for a little while just to get a quality interface you'll be happier in the long run. I'd say for a quality interface probably prepare to pay over $1000 US.

buzby · Post by **buzby** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:56 pm

hey 3rdorder

thanks for the reply and advice

i just been reading up on the RME Fireface 800 - im willing to spend that amount of money for sure but yeah -the SE Gemini mic will have to go on the back burner for a couple of months

also i really like the look of the MOTU traveler -

Cheers

buzby

buzby · Post by **buzby** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:06 pm

3rd order

just listened to Resung remix v2 on your website - anymore of that stuff? - loved it

im just starting in a radio show in Iceland - its on a 6 month trial period but is already getting good interest from the national radio

im gonna do a show soon just on content from ableton users - i d love to play this stuff man

cheers - bzzb

3rdordertrauma · Post by **3rdordertrauma** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:59 pm

buzby wrote:3rd order

just listened to Resung remix v2 on your website - anymore of that stuff? - loved it

im just starting in a radio show in Iceland - its on a 6 month trial period but is already getting good interest from the national radio

im gonna do a show soon just on content from ableton users - i d love to play this stuff man

cheers - bzzb

Thanks for the kind words! Its weird I haven't done much D&B... not sure why. But I had a blast doing that one... I should do more I guess. I'd love to drop you that track... one problem tho, it's a remix and the guitar samples have not been cleared...

BUT I'd be happy to produce some others along the same lines for you! --> def@defeq.com

Did you hear it on my myspace or www.defeq.com ? If you haven't checked out myspace there are a few others up there. Although quite different styles and a bit older... I'd have to say not my personal favorites either. Except for "LooseTooth" i was really diggin that and had planned on a full mix... but have somehow trashed the project folder..

As for the interfaces... I've owned many Motu pieces. The Old 828, the 2408mk3, 24i/o and their midi express XT. I was completely happy with them all! And I must say their new 8Pre looks really damn nice! If you're looking for or have a use for lots of mic pre's that may be an option. The only reason I switched from Motu was purely based on ditching the PCI interfaces, adding midi i/o to ditch the XT, and having a few nice mic pre's in one compact unit. When I said that to my dealer... he strait away responded with the RME Fireface 800. He owned one himself and highly recommended it. He also told me (although I'm not sure how true it is, but I trust his knowledge very much) that the converters and MIC pre's are some of the best in the business. He even dared to compare the converters to apogee converters... saying they are just one (small) notch under apogee's.

ben_blue · Post by **ben_blue** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:21 am

yo

i have the EMU 1820, and it has performed flawlessly for 2 years. solid, and affordable, and AWESOME converters.

one of the variations of that would be equally so. mine is the PCI version.
bb

3rdordertrauma · Post by **3rdordertrauma** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 9:38 am

ben_blue wrote:yo

i have the EMU 1820, and it has performed flawlessly for 2 years. solid, and affordable, and AWESOME converters.

one of the variations of that would be equally so. mine is the PCI version.
bb

Fo shizzle... I have heard good reports from owners of the EMU stuff, if you're on a budget.. But I was more under the impression he was after something firewire, with eight or so mic pre's....? Am I right buzby?

Also with the EMU stuff for the laptops in the range of $400 US and the RME Fireface for example at $1200 US there is a reason there is a $800 dollar price gap. Quality mics pre's, converters, flexibility, i/o options, durability, Etc. Etc. You really get what you pay for. I'm not saying EMU is not a great interface, I'm sure for 90% of people needs it fits the bill nicely. But I've yet to see one in professional studio.

buzby · Post by **buzby** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:46 am

ben & 3rd

yeah - i more looking for something along the lines of a firewire unit with excellent preamps - im calling my regular store today to get a price on the RME and MOTU

mr 3rd - (you know if you were saying that with an Irish accent you´d be called mr. turd!) -

i heard the track at defeq.com - have nt visited your myspace yet but will do later

cool if you are into producing some other stuff man - thanks - maybe i could be the first to air it - be in touch man

buzby

buzby · Post by **buzby** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:59 am

hey 3rd man

any comments on the FIREFACE 400 - if there is no difference from the 800 except less mic inputs then it suits me - wondering if it it the same preamps as the 800

gonna read up on it later

cheers bz

buzby · Post by **buzby** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 11:06 am

3rd

just browsed the 400 really quick - im running out of the door so did nt read it all too well

only 2 mic inputs !! - but can operate as a stand alone - see what you think man if you have time

cheers - bz

3rdordertrauma · Post by **3rdordertrauma** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:52 pm

To be honest bz I'm not sure. I had a quick look at the specs of the ad/da's and there are some slight differences. But honestly I don't know what they mean. I would say they are very close and you probably couldn't go wrong with any RME product. Its very possible the 400 is better in some ways because it was released after the 800. Allowing them to fix any short comings of the 800.

But in the states there is only a $200 dollar difference between the 2. Portability comes at a price... If you're looking into the 400 to save money I'd say go with the 800 because its not much more. If you're looking into the 400 because you prefer something more portable.. then I'd say its a good choice.

buzby · Post by **buzby** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 2:49 pm

3rd

i got a quote on prices between the 400 and 800 from the shop in the uk and the price difference is just over $600

i dont really need 8 mic inputs (at the moment) and portability is always something i look at - anyways - gonna do my maths and read up some more -

thanks for the help man - stay in touch about the tunes yeah

bz

ps - if you have time check out my website - quite a bit of the news is old on there hope to get it all changed sometime in the new year - hoping to release a cd with just traditional Yolngu Australian Aboriginal material next year as well as news about the radio show

buzby · Post by **buzby** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 2:51 pm

hey 3rd

your location is SoCal

that´s not Soquel - California is it?

bz

buzby · Post by **buzby** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 2:56 pm

forget it - just checked out your myspace - its san diego - i stayed in Soquel for about 6 months

like the serotone track im listening to - vocals sounds a bit like a guy called vicecooler that played in Iceland once

cheers - bz

3rdordertrauma · Post by **3rdordertrauma** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 3:11 pm

Very cool... I'll have to go through your site in more depth later. Its a bit funny... I'm from San Diego but I been living in eastern Australia for the last 2 years. I've always been very interested and curious about aboriginal music. When I was a kid for some reason I always wanted to go live with an aboriginal tribe in the bush.