The best external audio interface??

[Kraig]

ATTN: Soo / Mateo / Akeel / Stimulant-J / all other audio peeps.

I know this has been talked about on several threads, but I kinda want the info in one area!

Curious to know what is the best external Firewire (preferred) device for Mac's? I plan on hooking this up to my MacBook pro to begin the painful process of ripping my vinyl, recording sets among other things.

I know M-Audio makes some great devices, but you all have mostly tried everything at some point.

Thanks in advance.

[NinjaBoy]

I've used an Edirol for years, and have always loved the results.

What's your price range? If it's just for ripping vinyl, you don't need the best and an M-audio would do you nicely.

[dj_soo]

I wouldn't go with m-audio. My M-Audio firewire audiophile is giving me all sorts of problems after only about 3 years and I haven't even been using it very heavily.

Edirol sounds like a nice option tho...

edit: also - it depends on what you're using it for? If all you need is to rip vinyl, you can do that simply with your Serato box.

[NinjaBoy]

I used mine as a mobile recording studio with my laptop for radio/concerts. I haven't even had so much as a hicup, despite being dropped, in smoke filled enviroments and more.

The thing is housed in a solid metal casing, I wouldn't be suprised if you burried the thing, dug it up a week later and it would still work.

I bought it for mobile use, but over the last year it's stayed in my studio, still going strong after almost three years.

I also wanted to add, M-audio isn't known for making great interfaces, just good cost vs features.

[dj_soo]

btw, ask Mux what he thinks of M-Audio external gear. I was fully satisfied with my M-Audio box until just this year where it started flaking out non-stop and made recording mixes a bigger pain in the ass than it usually is...

[Kraig]

Hmmmm this seems perfect - EDIROL FA-66 24Bit/192kHz FireWire Audio Capture :: Overview

[NinjaBoy]

Yup, that's the firewire version of what I have. Great for recording, although I haven't really had a chance to test the midi (I hate midi).

[Kraig]

Oh and if all I was doing was ripping vinyl this would be a great device as well - iKEY Plus : iKEY-audio.com

[-evil-duerr-]

i use an edirol ua-25 for soft-synthesis/production at home and laptop djing out at events. It was just over 350$ and has been serving me well ever since I got it.

[Revolver]

right now i use a maduio fasttrack pro.

i purchased it for the exact purpose that you want to use it for.

obviously when i want good recordings then i use my pro-tools digi002 with a good mic pre infront.

personally i wouldnt go anywhere near the m-audio mic pres. there just god awful to record too.

[Digital Over]

MOTU 828 MKII...Still love mine to bits! Bout $1,200 after tax....Pricey yes, but imo, you get what you pay for... RME also makes some really classy stuff too, big fan of the hammerfall card. :) As revolver said, the digi002 will def help you achieve some great sound processing too.

[Royal_Phunk]

edirol and hammerfall those 2 already mentioned would be my top 2 especially hammerfall. Make sure the company has plans to put out 64bit drivers to take advantage of the computing upgrades to come. Enjoy your soundcard hope we hear some kraig productions soon!

[P.A.R.T.Y]

Echo products have always been exceptional.
Check it out: Echo Digital Audio Corporation

I'm using a creative sound blaster which I got on Craigslist for $50. It plugs right into my PC card and sounds pretty damn good. I wouldn't do any serious recording, but the 24bit playback defeats the on-board sound card hands down. Here's what I'm using:
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook with THX Certified Sound, CMSS Technology and SoundFont Support for unsurpassed audio on your notebook.

[Kraig]

The Edirol Firewire card is dope. Looking forward to really putting it through it's paces.

[Kraig]

Saving up now for my next purchase = BIAS Peak Pro 5 with SoundSoap 2.

[Bryan M]

Peak pro is beautiful to work with. i love everything about it so far.

good luck with the soundcard search :)

[Kraig]

Originally Posted by Bryan M

Peak pro is beautiful to work with. i love everything about it so far.

good luck with the soundcard search :)

Already got one! Picked up the Edirol... works beautifully.

EDIROL FA-66 24Bit/192kHz FireWire Audio Capture :: Overview

[dj_soo]

Originally Posted by Kraig

Saving up now for my next purchase = BIAS Peak Pro 5 with SoundSoap 2.

honestly find soundsoap pretty useless, but Peak is awesome.

[Kraig]

Really? I've heard it's one of the best signal processing apps out there... especially for Macs.

[Maxxyy]

Depends on the price, if you really want the best, do not think about m audio, but the price can be infinite. i use a rme fireface 400, sounds absolutely fantastic, very very clean sound, but i use for production, it has 8 inputs and 8 putputs, you probably do not need that, but the quality and the drivers are much much better than m audio products, it has 2 mic inputs, and you can enhance the inputs via adat. i bought it in germany and it cost me approx. 1000 €. though absolutely worth it, lots of headroom and the totalmix internal mixer is just awesome, allows you to remain very flexible with your routings. decent price considering the quality.

RME: Fireface 400

[FireWire]

For a somewhat decent price - you can get either the Edirol FA-66 or the FA-101 (Google them):


FA-66:



FA-101:




I myself have the FA-66 and am EXTREMELY happy with it. In fact, I freakin' love this thing. It produces and records crystal clear sound, and it never has any problems/glitches/hang ups/communication errors - ever!

Doesn't work in Vista though... no drivers yet (although I don't have Vista cause it's gay, but I just know that from a friend).

[NinjaBoy]

Hey Firewire, your a little slow on the draw. We solved this problem.

Dumbass.

Originally Posted by Kraig

Already got one! Picked up the Edirol... works beautifully.

EDIROL FA-66 24Bit/192kHz FireWire Audio Capture :: Overview