Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

What Audio Interface are you guys using?

VirtualRain

VirtualRain

macrumors 603
Original poster
Aug 1, 2008
6,304
118
Vancouver, BC
For those of you working with recording music, podcasting, screen casting, video dubs, etc... what audio interface are you using?

My previous Lexicon USB audio interface has packed it in and I need to replace it with something.

Cheers! :)
 
Metric Halo ULN-2 +DSP.
Not much better out there in a 2 pre/ 8x ADAT. Routing is absolutely amazing as is the conversion, clock, and pres. Not very cheap but you get what you pay for. And I will be able to open it up and change it to a Thunderbolt+ FW400 interface when I need to (how many interfaces let you change out the backplane and ADD electronics?). Or send it in for Jensen Transformers on the pres or 1 pre. Super flexible. It can work like MaxDSP with basic sound generators you can route and build.
 
Last edited:
I'm in love with my MOTU UltraLite mk3, sure there are cheaper options but I've been using MOTU for a while and this thing has been great.

I use it with a PreSonus Blue pre-amp.
 
digidesign 003r, with the black lion audio signature series modification. :D:D

id buy an apogee if i were in the market now.
 
MOTU Traveler, Grace Design m101 pre, Neumann U-87, and a Telos One digital hybrid phone tap, for podcasting.

My problem is, for the past six years I've been using Soundtrack Pro but, now that Apple seems to have deprecated it, I'm wondering what to use for recording and editing. Am fooling around with the trial version of Adobe Audition, but right away I noticed that there's no (easy) way to add ambient sound -- something I do all the time... Audacity seems to me too buggy (as if STP isn't). Don't want to go with anything more powerful...

Just fyi, my new hexcore seems about 10x faster for routine audio tasks than my early 2008 octocore. A subjective impression, not an actual measurement, but still...
 
Presonus Firestudio. I love it. Lots of inputs, sounds great, works very well with Protools, Logic, etc. Very affordable, especially if you buy used.
 
I have not purchased one for the video studio, but our audio studio is packed with stuff.

Currently, we are using a MOTU 828 MKII with an additional preamp section capable of 22 simultaneous tracks of recording. Our main preamp is a Focusrite ISA One.

But the list of things we have is longer than my arm, and hard to type out...
 
Avid (Digidesign) HD Native Core & 96i,96 I/O,192 I/O

Digidesign HD Core/Accell - Interfaces as above

Digidesign Mix Core Card
Digidesign DSP Farm Card II (x6)
Digidesign 888/24 I/O (x2)
Digidesign 888 I/O (x6)
Digidesign USD Master Clock
Digidesign/Magma 13 Slot Expansion Chassis

Digidesign 002 Rack (Black Lion Mod'ed)
Behringer ADA8000 (x2, Mod'ed to BLA specs)

Apogee Rosetta, Big Ben (Clock), 8000, Mini, etc

MOTU 896

I've used nearly every manufacturer out there and you can see where I'm predominantly at in my own uses

(I don't currently own all of this - historical)

I have not personally used the newer HD I/O's yet

However, any of what I mentioned, I can personally vouche for as effective even for major label work

I will say tho, I think the best and most practical thing I've used to date is the HD Native system on a ballsy Mac Pro - up to 64 I/O and as much native horsepower as your MP throws at it.... It's SIIIIIIIIIIIICK !

and I can slam the crap out of sessions with my Waves Platinum Native and the pro keeps kickin ! !
Who needs TDM ???????????? Ar AAX DSP for that matter... well, I know who, but not me, and I believe it's more of a preference / workflow factor than NEED - why would you destructively process on the way in anyway? Don't you have outboard for that subtle control on the front end anyway?? If not, you should.
 
Last edited:
VirtualRain said:
LOL... is anyone here doing just one or two track recordings?! Anyone with a sub $1000 interface recommendation? :)
Click to expand...

You can achieve good results with a Roland Board acting as you interface...If you Google them in the US, you should find one for under $1000...The BR range have an inbuilt CD drive, but try to find one without. I would sell you mine, but still use it as an interface only...Have a Tascam now, but they run a beyond your budget.
 
TableSyrup said:
I will say tho, I think the best and most practical thing I've used to date is the HD Native system on a ballsy Mac Pro - up to 64 I/O and as much native horsepower as your MP throws at it.... It's SIIIIIIIIIIIICK !

and I can slam the crap out of sessions with my Waves Platinum Native and the pro keeps kickin ! !
Who needs TDM ???????????? Ar AAX DSP for that matter...
Click to expand...

With all due respect, any entry level iMac can run 64 tracks with Waves Platinum. Most of those plug-ins were developed in the days of the G4 and Pentium III and designed to work on those machines. And Waves are exceptionally good at efficient coding, too.

If you wanna stress-test your computer with audio-related stuff, the real challenge is VI's at low latency. I guarantuee that a couple of instances of Omnisphere at a 128 sample buffer can bring a six-core to its knees. Especially if you run it in ProTools ;-)
 
Last edited:
VirtualRain said:
LOL... is anyone here doing just one or two track recordings?! Anyone with a sub $1000 interface recommendation? :)
Click to expand...

Like I said, MOTU is uber-dependable on Mac, and quite reasonably priced. I like my Avid Mbox3Pro, which I suspect to be a jazzed-up M-Audio interface. M-Audio is almost as good as MOTU with their drivers, and on Windows they are probably better.

It also depends on what software you use.
 
Last edited:
VirtualRain said:
LOL... is anyone here doing just one or two track recordings?! Anyone with a sub $1000 interface recommendation? :)
Click to expand...

I picked up an M-Audio MobilePre which came with Pro Tools MP9 for $150. If it's just a hobby, I think it would work perfectly for you.
 
I like my Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 a lot. Have mainly done live recordings with it. A few studio sessions. It may be larger than you need, having 8 mic pres. I've had good luck with the M-Audio Fast Track Pro (USB) in the past, which has two mic pres but several more ins.
 
apogee mono or duet 2 should be sub $1000. They are wonderful tools, I've been using my Duet (firewire version) for ~ 4 years now for "home recording". It is simply.. amazing :)
 
focusrite saffire pro 40.

great soundcard plenty of ins and outs, also comes with a saffire mix control which is fun to use.
 
VirtualRain said:
LOL... is anyone here doing just one or two track recordings?! Anyone with a sub $1000 interface recommendation? :)
Click to expand...

The MOTU UltraLite mk3 is $550 and has a front input, along with a ton in the back, might be a good choice. You can get an "OK" tube pre amp for less than $200 but you may not even need it depending on what you're recording and how you're recording it.
 
Whatever brand you choose, you'll be much better off with a firewire connection than with USB. The latency in USB is often noticeable whereas the latency in firewire is generally not a problem.

I wonder when/if anyone will come out with a USB 3.0 solution???
 
Presonus Audiobox VSL Series

I am currently using the Presonus Audiobox 44VSL, and I am extremely pleased with it. Their zero-latency monitoring is super cool, especially considering you can add effects to the monitor mix. Their 2 input version, the 22VSL can be had for less than $200 and comes with Studio One Artist.

I've previously used their Firepod with good results as well. In addition, I love their DAW - Studio One (upgraded to Pro version). I've used everything from Cakewalk, to Garageband, to Logic Pro, and I greatly prefer Studio One, it is a pleasure to work in.
 
I am a home recording guy and use the apogee ensemble. Looking to upgrade to the symphony. Everyone here saying apogee is fantastic are spot on. Sub $1000 the duet is wonderful.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back