VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

jrkaiser · Guest

I'm tired of fighting the 2 Mackie Onyx Satellite firewire problems and am looking for a quality interface.

The Satellites really sounded clean, but I fight connection issues.

The units don't have problems themselves, it's the FW drivers/problems with Windows and Macs... I'm just dis-enchanted with FW in general.

I'm looking at either USB in, or PCI in... I'm not interested in Firewire.

I'll need 1 each for 2 PC Workstations and something that will work with, preferably interchangeable with, a Mac Mini either USB or, god forbid, Firewire 800.

Any suggestions?

I've seen the E-Mu 1212. E-Mu 1616 and 1616m, the Delta series, any thoughts on these or others? I'd prefer to do mult-ins/outs on at least 1 machine, just a standard l/r in on the others...

Budget is a concern. I'd prefer to get the most for the least... but it's not a killing point.

JK

bobsouer · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:26 am Post subject:

Justin,

I've been very happy with my M-Audio Fast Track Pro. I believe it has both Win (XP and Vista) and Mac drivers, though I use it with a Dell Workstation running WinXP SP3.
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I switched from USB to Firewire about a year ago, and had to change/upgrade my sound card to get good performance.

If you're using the Soundcard that came with your PC, that could be the issue.

My Mac, however, had Firewire that was ready to go and no problem.

tackerman · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:51 am Post subject:

Rob's right... before you ditch FW and your interface try upgrading your sound card.

jrkaiser · Guest

I don't use the internal/built-in soundcard. The Firewire interface is my sound card so to speak...

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

Hey Justin,

Does your FW interface inside your computer - where you plug your Mackie into - use a TI (Texas Instruments) chipset? If not, this may very well be your issue. Buying a new PCI FW card to install inside your computer will cost less than $20....
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jrkaiser · Guest

Hi Tom, I tried that. I've been through 2 cards plus the internal card. I've reloaded the OS, run the MS patches, updated drivers, replaced the cable, I have 2 Satellites and they both work on one computer but only half the time on the other.

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Make sure you have the TI chipset as Tom said, and look at Echo Audio products for affordable solid firewire interfaces that have good converters in them.

I suppose USB is absolutely fine if you're just recording mono voice over tracks as we all tend to do.

I've heard good things about the Onyx line, but read a bit of online angst for some users with the Onyx Satellite...and Mackie definitely were forced to drop the price. There's an awful lot in that box for just $170, and that's a red flag to me.

On which computer does it not work?

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

Ouch!

Sorry to hear the extreme hassles you've been through. I thought about getting a Satellite at one point. On paper, they seemed ideal as a low-cost nice preamp/FW/mixer solution for VO. But then I heard about problems like yours, plus the fact that the phantom power does not put out the full 48W.

I'll let others chime in on what your next best step is. Personally, I've always been happy with my Echo Mia PCI sound card, but that won't work for your laptop of course.
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Gp · Guest

Justin I'm using the E-mu 1212 and have no problems. No firewire either.
And it sounds great.

Let me know if I can help.

That firewire stuff must have issues everywhere. Apple is dropping it altogether from what I hear.

USB 3 is the next big thing....we shall see...

jrkaiser · Guest

Greg, do you know if there is a difference between the 1212 and the 1212m?

I can't get this to work on the mac at all with a FW400-800 adaptor.

The Satellites were a great piece of equipment and, like I said, work great on 1 of my computers, but I waste an hour a week at least fighting with it on the other pc.

I have tried different FW cards with TI chipsets with no luck.

Thanks for the recommendation.

georgethetech · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:46 pm Post subject:

Yes, sadly there are known driver issues with the Mackie Satellite. I would have been using them for my clients, otherwise, because I love the design and features. The EMU 0202 USB is great for a simple 2x2 interface, and the next models up are great, like the 0404. Very quiet, good converters.
For PCI 2x2, the Echo Mia is great, and for more I/O, the Delta 1010 is fantastic and a good value.
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Gp · Guest

Justin sorry I don't know the difference.

Ed Gambill · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 3:17 pm Post subject:

JK

I have been using for sometime an Edirol (Roland Builds It) UA-25. It uses a USB interface. By comparison to other two channel I/Os it’s not cheap. It is built like a tank, solid aluminum case. The new version is UA-25X

The only problem I have encountered is noise in the head phone amp when I crank the gain too high.

Other wise it a durable unite, and it’s USB.

I use my unit with four different computers the only time I have a problem is if the computer forgets the driver. I keep a copy of the correct drive on a thumb/flash drive.
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jrkaiser · Guest

Ed, thanks for the recommendation. I will keep this handy as I research. I really appreciate the input!