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MAlan · May 30, 2001, 05:40 PM

I'm looking for a simple, firewire audio device that will allow me to have say 4 - 5 channels in to the Mac. I don't want optical inputs just standard 1/4 " jack inputs. Right now I go into my iMac DV/SE's 1/8 " mini jack port from my guitar amp. This works ok but I'd rather have a firewire option. I understand that there is a high end alternative that costs around $800 but that is too expensive for me. I'm looking in the $300 price range. I know that there is something like this for USB but it looks so lame and has 1/8" jacks.

Any help?

iloveloosey · May 30, 2001, 11:38 PM

there is nothing yet

Naplander · May 31, 2001, 04:07 AM

Firewire = expensive
http://www.motu.com do a firewire audio interface

I think Yamaha or Roland do USB audio interfaces which are cheaper and pretty good for the price. As far as I know, these interfaces have 1/4 inch jacks, which are better.

check this out: U-8ST USB Digital Studio here http://www.edirol.it/europe/details....K&code=115

If the link doesn't work just try www.edirol.co.uk

Good luck

MAlan · May 31, 2001, 09:44 AM

That USB solution seems like it is made to work with PC's only...no mac. It seems like it only had 1 1/4" jack plus the XLR input. Correct me if I'm wrong. The price is right though...although still slightly more expensive than I wanted.

However, I don't like the USB interface. I feel it is unreliable. For something like recording music I really want a reliable connection and I know for a fact that firewire is reliable everytime. I have two firewire devices already and I love them. Plus firewire is going to come way down in price now that microsoft has made clear that it prefers firewire to USB 2.0. I was actually thinking of making this thing on my own but I haven't had the time. It would probably take me about a year to complete.

The MOTU 828 interface looks great but is overkill for what I want. I might just shell out the $800 for it anyway. What do you guys think about the MOTU 828. It comes with ASIO drivers so it can be used with the software of your choice. Right now I'm using Cakewalk Metro 5.

-Mike

Professor X · May 31, 2001, 10:57 PM

Originally posted by MAlan:
That USB solution seems like it is made to work with PC's only...no mac. It seems like it only had 1 1/4" jack plus the XLR input. Correct me if I'm wrong. The price is right though...although still slightly more expensive than I wanted.

However, I don't like the USB interface. I feel it is unreliable. For something like recording music I really want a reliable connection and I know for a fact that firewire is reliable everytime. I have two firewire devices already and I love them. Plus firewire is going to come way down in price now that microsoft has made clear that it prefers firewire to USB 2.0. I was actually thinking of making this thing on my own but I haven't had the time. It would probably take me about a year to complete.

The MOTU 828 interface looks great but is overkill for what I want. I might just shell out the $800 for it anyway. What do you guys think about the MOTU 828. It comes with ASIO drivers so it can be used with the software of your choice. Right now I'm using Cakewalk Metro 5.

-Mike

You might want to check out the Ego-Sys u2a box... It's a 2 channel USB interface with digital I/O's as well. I have been using it for about 9 months or so. it works great and has ASIO drivers. I have used it with Cubase, reason, and Logic. It's limited as far as how many tracks you can do at once but has a fairly good sound (after hearing a $10,000 prism convertor, everything else sucks) but pricewise it is in the range you mentioned. I'm going to be selling mine in a month or so to get a MOTU 828 because I need the ability to do 8-18 tracks at once. It's a good little box. I think you can get more info at the Ego-Sys website, or try here: http://www.thinkware.com they sell the u2a to dealers and maybe even direct.

-Prof X

PS if you interested in buying mine used feel free to make me an offer

------------------
icebook 500/DVD 9500 200

www.macanonymous.com

Jun 2, 2001, 01:19 PM

If you can live with one channel, you might try using either the Firewire-based Sony DVMC-DA2 or Dazzle Hollywood media converter with a shareware sound recording software like Amadeus. These converters are for DV signal, but I don't think there's anything stopping you from using just the stereo input portion of them. You'll have to convert your 1/4" jack to RCA plugs, but you can do that with cables or a low-cost mixer. And if it works, for around $300, you get a digital/analog video converter included for free.

Jun 3, 2001, 05:25 PM

also consider the formac studio. it comes with a tv tuner, too.

DV · Jun 4, 2001, 12:35 PM

I'm somewhat in the same boat. The 828 just has too many features that I wouldn't use. And that's the only FireWire solution at the moment. But I have been looking at the M-Audio Audiosport Quattro (go to www.midiman.com), which is a 24/96 USB interface with 4 1/4-inch ins and 4 1/4 outs. It's going for $230 at www.musiciansfriend.com. It seems like a pretty good deal, although I can't find any reviews or anyone whose ever used one, so I'm holding off until I do.

Dallas

MAlan · Jun 5, 2001, 03:16 AM

I see that for now USB is the low cost solution. Can anyone who has used any of these USB solutions please comment on connection reliability during recording. Have you ever had you recording screwed up in the middle for some unforseen problem with your set up. I would buy USB if I got some kind of review that covered topics that I want to hear. I would love to see someone do an experiment while recording use a USB printer or use a USB zip drive...what happens to the recording?

Of course one could argue ... who cares about that since you are never going to use your printer right in the middle of recording. This is a valid point but I'd like to see what it takes to draw enough bandwidth away from the recording to screw it up. I want to determine that if using one of these USB solutions is living on the edge of what is possible for the interface....I suspect it is and is a possible recipe for a bad user experience. For instance, copying one file from the zip drive and keeping a reliable audio connection would be a good test...I suspect that this exercise would lower the bandwidth for the audio just enough that it gets choppy.

-Mike

MAlan · Jun 5, 2001, 03:23 AM

DV,

I looked up that Audiosport quattro. I'm confused...from the picture I only see two audio inputs with and output and direct monitor for each of the supposed channels. Also when I go to the midiman.com web page there doesn't seem to be any mention of this product. It seems like it has been obsoleted. If so I definitely wouldn't purchase this one.

Jul 4, 2001, 04:30 PM

check out Emagic's USB audiobox 2/6. It's inexpensive and reliable.
www.emagic.de

Jul 5, 2001, 03:57 PM

You might also want to look at Tascam's 428: http://www.tascam.com/products/us428/index.cfm

I have a Tascam mixer (TDM1000), and I've been very pleased with it.

killboy · Jul 5, 2001, 06:59 PM

Yamaha will definitely have mLan product released at MacWorld New York.

there is a box that will connect all your old audio and midi to your mac via firwire.

WakaWakaWaka · Jul 5, 2001, 11:16 PM

On a similar note. I'm looking for a box that can record 1-4 tracks away from the computer in a digital format and can then download to a mac via usb or firewire.

I'm looking at some of the pages mentioned but don't need many of the studio functions.

Waka