VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

chuckweis · Contributor IV Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 136

Anybody have a bang-up recommendation for a Firewire interface? Will be using it for the line inputs to receive the signals from my two separate channel strips/mic prees. Looking for good , clean converters and seem to be on the track of the M-Audio 610 or the Saffire. Anybody using any one of those?.....likes.....dislikes, probelmos....got another option you recommend?

gracias!

georgethetech · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:00 am Post subject:

PC or Mac?
Firewire only, not USB?
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

I use a T. C. Electronic Konnekt 6. It sounds very good. Latency free monitoring, and it's like a little mixer with a big volume knob for your monitors.
I've always been a mixer guy, but this thing cleared my desk.

The preamp, if you want to use it, sounds very good. Quiet and robust.
Sound On Sound did a very positive review of this thing which convinced me to
buy it, and I'm glad I did. $250. T. C. makes some very high end gear.
_________________
www.asapaudio.com

chuckweis · Contributor IV Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 136

Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

Chuck, if you do go FW with a PC, make sure you're using a TI (Texas Instruments) chipset on your firewire card. Will save a lot of headaches in the future. If you're not sure if your PC has a FW card with a TI chipset, then go to www.newegg.com and buy one (they're cheap, probably less than $20). They are extremely easy to install.
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I have the MOTU Ultralite, which is Firewire, running through Windows XP.
It runs around $500.

Works fine, but you definitely need the card with the TI chip, as Tom mentions

chuckweis · Contributor IV Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 136

chuckweis · Contributor IV Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 136

Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

Yes, Chuck, it's that easy.
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

georgethetech · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 5:27 pm Post subject:

Not sure you can improve on the A/D converters of the Lambda without spending a lot more money. Why do you think your A/D converters are the weakest link in your audio chain? Are you getting complaints from clients? Has someone told you your recordings could be improved?
If you are entertaining the idea of adding a Firewire PCI card just to use a simple audio interface, why not use an Echo Mia PCI card? They are super clean, and nothing beats the reliability of a PCI card interface vs USB or Firewire.The M-Audio Delta 44 is another nice PCI based interface with the added bonus of an external I/O box to place close to the rest of your gear.
Another well loved PCI interface is the EMU 1212M, claims to have the same A/D converters of the Digidesign HD192 interface.
I'd choose any one of them before a USB or Firewire interface, if you really only need 2in/2out with no mic preamps, and use a Windows PC with PCI card slots.
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

chuckweis · Contributor IV Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 136

Thanks for the thoughts George. Appreciate the input!

Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

I've had great success with both the Delta 44 and now the Echo Mia. I prefer using a PCI card for the reasons George mentioned (stability, fewer conflicts). But also, you might get stuck with mediocre preamps on many of the FW or USB interfaces.

If you're looking for "broadcast quality" at a reasonable price, I think your best bet is a PCI card, a preamp that cost $500 and up, a good recording environment and a good mic (again, at least $500 most likely). It's an investment that - if you have the goods talent wise and have a voice the market wants - should easily pay itself off. Just takes a handful of gigs to do so, even non-broadcast narration gigs.
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com