[MinivanH8R]

I am wondering if there is any Firewire audio recording interfaces available, and where to look for them. I'm thinking about selling my 533 DP and getting a Powerbook, and the thing I use my mac most for is audio production.

I'm looking for some kind of device that has at least 1 audio input, and preferrably even MIDI capabilities...oh yeah, and speed. USB is absolutely out of the question, I can't put up with latency.

So if anyone can point me in the right direction it would make me supa-happy!

[iPaul UK]

You bet there is.. MOTU828



I use one of these in my music studio. It works on my iMac 400 & iBook 600. And it works extremely well at that. It has 18 inputs and 18 outputs, all available simultaneously (8 analogue, 8 ADAT digital on light pipe + 2 spdif). Plus you can stack additional units on the same FireWire bus for even more inputs and outputs. (It will even work with the Apple Sound Manager) It will work at 24bit resolution, and up to 48KHz. Audio quality is very good too.

There is a similar device which has been promised by a company called Metric Halo. Only it's been nearly with us for quite a few months now. And I'm yet to hear of anyone who has actually got one yet.

[ 11-26-2001: Message edited by: iPaul UK ]

[MinivanH8R]

Hey iPaul, that looks great, the only thing it's missing is MIDI.

How does your iBook 600 work with recording? Is it fast enough to keep up with 16 tracks of audio without skipping? When you're recording with the MOTU828, does the sound lag behind while recording or anything?

The reason I'm asking so many questions is because after I sell my current Mac, I'll need to make a decision right away as to what exactly I'm going to buy.

Heh...I'm kinda smacking myself on the head because I bought this big bad a$$ top of the line (was top of the line when I bought it) Dual 533, but was never able to scrounge up the extra cash for more equipment =) If an iBook could do the job just as well as a Ti, I'd probably go for it.

edit: Hey...forgot to ask something very important... I didn't see anywhere on that website if this thing works with OS X, or even if it is going to work with OS X in the future. Do you happen to know?

[ 11-26-2001: Message edited by: MinivanH8R ]

[iPaul UK]

Midi.. USB midi interfaces work perfectly well, and are relatively inexpensive. I have used a couple of different ones with no problems. But I would deffinetly suggest (if you chose to buy a USB Midi interface that is!) that you try to get an interface which comes from the same company as your audio/midi recording software. This makes setting everything up VASTLY easier. And also pretty much guarantee's that everything will work together in the first place.

Audio track count.. In theory the G3 600MHz cpu of the iBook can handle an awful lot more than 16 audio tracks. It should be able to handle double that with absolute ease. The problem though is the hard drive. Virtually ALL laptops, not just Apple ones, have hard drives that are considerably lower in performance than their desk top counterparts. But a well de-fragged iBook/G4 PowerBook will still manage a track count of 8 or a few more. You can improve on this massively by using an external FireWire drive (I have a LaCie 40gig one). It is effects software plug in's that really drain a CPU's Oomph. So this is where a G4 PB would have a bigger advantage over the iBooks. However, I don't use many effects plug in's, as I generally use external hardware effects units. So my iBook has plenty of oomph to spare..

As for lag, I mainly use the 828 on my iMac 400. And even on this relatively lowly specification Mac, I have got latency to under 14ms. So G4 PB's and G3 600MHz iBooks should manage even lower figures. Also, even if you found these low latency figures a problem (which I doubt you would), you do have the option to monitor while you record, directly back out through the 828's monitor outputs, and this means ZERO latency.

OS X. As yet, it is completely unsupported. However, MOTU have a very strong level of dedication to the Macintosh platform. So I would realistically expect MOTU to release drivers and audio/midi recording software in the near future. When this happens, you can expect latency to be seriously reduced even further. Probably well under 5ms!

Plus, the 828 will also work perfectly well on your G4 533, should you decide to keep it.

Another advantage with the 828, is that it comes bundled with some very good software called AudioDesk. Which is basically identical to Digital Performer, only they left out the Midi side of it. But you do have the option to upgrade to Digital Performer for around 50% off the normal price.

Hope this helps!

PS, No I don't work for MOTU! I just think they make good stuff..

[ 11-26-2001: Message edited by: iPaul UK ]

[MinivanH8R]

Thanks a lot, iPaul, you're really helping me out here, and I truly appreciate it!

Well I ran across this nifty little thing called the Delta 44 at www.midiman.com, and already works with OS X. Supposedly, the latency with this unit is next to nothing. It's also only about $400 bucks...

I'm not sure if I will sell my Mac or not, I'm still pondering that, but one thing I know for sure is that I definitely need something better to record with than this P.O.S. Soundblaster Live!

I'm never buying a Creative product again.

Thanks again.

[Naplander]

Hmmm,

We could all really do with a bit more competition in the firewire audio interface market (now THAT was a mouthful!)

No seriously, an 8-in, 8-out firewire box would be awesome...but MOTU have this market held by the testicles.

And check the price on that sucker......ouch.

[iPaul UK]

Naplander, retail price here in foggy old England is £800 inc vat. Retail in the US is $800! So us Brits do get ripped off. However, I orderned mine from Germany, and got it delivered for £645, pretty reasonable I thought.. But they can probably be had even cheaper in the US by now.

As for competition.. Well fortunately the 828 works so well, that I can't see the need for any alternatives. I did read of a 3rd company making similar devices, although it seems to have mysteriously vanished from their website (www.crestaudio.com). So I guess they gave up on the idea? And also there is all the Yamaha mLan stuff. And again, I have not seen any of that reach the stores yet either. But I would guess more FireWire audio products are on the way..