Hi all,
I've read many other threads about the "best" firewire audio interface and several reviews. I am looking for some more advice by the more experienced people on the board, it would be awesome to get some more input - thanks a bunch in advance guys and gals!
"Background:"
After years of no music production I am in the process of getting set up for it again. Music styles: "House/Dance/Electro" plus occasional "soundtracks" for short films. I am quite familiar with applications from Final Cut Studio 2 etc.
KIT list so far:
- currently a Dual 1.8 GHz PowerMac G5 w 4 GB RAM, but new 8-core Mac Pro "Early 2008" coming soon (waiting for the damn NVidia 8800GT card to become available!) with 2GB RAM (+8 GB RAM later)
SOFTWARE:
Reason4 (I won this, so I will probably use it via ReWire for synth-instruments)
Ableton Live 7 or Apple Logic 8 (or both, Logic has become so cheap in comparison to Version 7!) - haven't finalized that yet (love the whole new Logic Studio 8 but a good friend and successful producer recommends Live - I'll have a shoot-out betweenthe two soon
)
Controller/"Input device":
I plan on getting something like the Novation ReMote SL25 compact.
Or, if I win the lottery, something like the Euphonix MC Mix, but let's not digress...
AUDIO INTERFACE - this is the biggest question mark at the moment
I have read up on / narrowed it down to:
- Native Instruments Audio Kontrol 1 (USB)
- PreSonus Firebox (FW)
- Apogee Duet (FW)
- MOTU Ultralite (FW)
The Audio Kontrol 1 is apparently quite good, although I don't see any use for the knobs and clicks and the fact that it is USB is not really winning me over... With all the claims that USB2 is almost as fast as FW400, I never seem to get that for other devices, and I intend to use the software instruments and effects of Live/Logic a LOT, so I reckon FW would be on the safer side?
I've read good reviews but recently mixed feelings about the PreSonus Firebox, a lot of people seem to be having Firewire issues, although it does not seem to be happening on the Mac Pro's from what I've read.
I love the flexibility of the MOTU, but honestly I will hardly ever record more than 1 Mic / Vocals / 1 Guitar, so the Apogeee Duet should be fine...
have I just answered my own questions?
What I really want, even though I am a bloody beginner, is great sounding equipment, notthe least that I love listening to good quality music through iTunes too, and I understand a good FW Soundcard can help immensely here too, compared to the built-in "soundcard"+"headphone jack".... obvious as it is, huh?
I will search the threads for my last question: choosing headphones for initial mixing... (I know, I know... but I can't place mega monitors in this room, my neighbour downstairs would go bonkers, sorry!).
THANKS!
Jonas
I've read many other threads about the "best" firewire audio interface and several reviews. I am looking for some more advice by the more experienced people on the board, it would be awesome to get some more input - thanks a bunch in advance guys and gals!
"Background:"
After years of no music production I am in the process of getting set up for it again. Music styles: "House/Dance/Electro" plus occasional "soundtracks" for short films. I am quite familiar with applications from Final Cut Studio 2 etc.
KIT list so far:
- currently a Dual 1.8 GHz PowerMac G5 w 4 GB RAM, but new 8-core Mac Pro "Early 2008" coming soon (waiting for the damn NVidia 8800GT card to become available!) with 2GB RAM (+8 GB RAM later)
SOFTWARE:
Reason4 (I won this, so I will probably use it via ReWire for synth-instruments)
Ableton Live 7 or Apple Logic 8 (or both, Logic has become so cheap in comparison to Version 7!) - haven't finalized that yet (love the whole new Logic Studio 8 but a good friend and successful producer recommends Live - I'll have a shoot-out betweenthe two soon
)Controller/"Input device":
I plan on getting something like the Novation ReMote SL25 compact.
Or, if I win the lottery, something like the Euphonix MC Mix, but let's not digress...
AUDIO INTERFACE - this is the biggest question mark at the moment
I have read up on / narrowed it down to:
- Native Instruments Audio Kontrol 1 (USB)
- PreSonus Firebox (FW)
- Apogee Duet (FW)
- MOTU Ultralite (FW)
The Audio Kontrol 1 is apparently quite good, although I don't see any use for the knobs and clicks and the fact that it is USB is not really winning me over... With all the claims that USB2 is almost as fast as FW400, I never seem to get that for other devices, and I intend to use the software instruments and effects of Live/Logic a LOT, so I reckon FW would be on the safer side?
I've read good reviews but recently mixed feelings about the PreSonus Firebox, a lot of people seem to be having Firewire issues, although it does not seem to be happening on the Mac Pro's from what I've read.
I love the flexibility of the MOTU, but honestly I will hardly ever record more than 1 Mic / Vocals / 1 Guitar, so the Apogeee Duet should be fine...
have I just answered my own questions?
What I really want, even though I am a bloody beginner, is great sounding equipment, notthe least that I love listening to good quality music through iTunes too, and I understand a good FW Soundcard can help immensely here too, compared to the built-in "soundcard"+"headphone jack".... obvious as it is, huh?
I will search the threads for my last question: choosing headphones for initial mixing... (I know, I know... but I can't place mega monitors in this room, my neighbour downstairs would go bonkers, sorry!).
THANKS!
Jonas
