Soundcard/ Firewire or Thunderbolt mixer/recording interface suggestions, please.

AFAIK, UAD's Apollo is the only AI that uses thunderbolt.

I know people like firewire but it seems like a dying breed?

I upgraded for an RME Fireface UFX about a year ago when it first came out, which has FW, USB2 and is compatible with USB3 chipsets (and all kinds of I/O).  I"m happy with it and would recommend checking it out.   Apparently RME is partnering with Sonnet to deliver Thunderbolt connectivity to their audio interfaces as well, but I'm unfamiliar with it.

I agree that Firewire is a dying breed, but there's such a huge install base in the market over the years, I doubt it's going anywhere anytime soon.

Russ

I do not agree it is dying breed. MIDAS Venis F32/24/15, Presonus StudioLive, Behringer x32...

Yes, agreed many audio interface manufacturers are still producing products with FW, but I believe most major PC manufacturers said they're moving away from FW in favor of USB2 / 3 (I think Apple has rumored something simliar, no?).  Either way, it will certainly be around for a long time, given its' large install base - as I said above. 

Personally, I would prefer interfaces with multiple connectivity options instead of just FW, but that's just my opinion.
Russ

Options yes, not all in one unit where you have to pay for ports you dont need. Like they put ADAT everywhere and clami to have 128 ins/outs, when in reality it is only 8 physical.

I bought the FireWire card that looks ok and feels ok. I connected it but did not test it and not sure if it is good one. I would not know how to tell.

  BTW those ADAT optical in connectors are quite handy. If you have another interface that has an optical out then by hooking it up to that connection you can use the extra inputs on the second interface while the main one does all the work. The second interface just works like a dumb pre amp. Obviously you can also just use a digital pre amp with an optical connector. It doesn't have to be an actual ADAT machine. I haven't tried this yet but both my interfaces have the connector so I can add an extra 8 inputs at 44.1khz or an extra four at 96khz. That way if I need to I can record a full band easily with a proper drum mic set up. If I only used one of the interfaces I could still record a full band but the drum mic set up would be very minimal. Also with both hooked up I would have 4 mic pres as opposed to just 2 (both boxes only have to and the rest of the inputs are line ins). The other nice thing is with that connector you could just go and rent a mic pre when you need it instead of dropping big bucks on an interface that already has a ton of pres.  

The Venus boards had some ... quality issues is what I understand.

USB 2 can do 16 in/out tho that drops, I image, w/ higher rates.  Lynx's pcie or USB are a good bet in your price range.  Their 8x8 was going for $2000 w/ usb.  PCIe 16 AES card is $700.  ADAT X2 is $250.

For $2000 you can get the UAD w/ effects.  FW 800 - thunderbolt additional.

There are RME for that much - good stuff too.

Finally, you could get a TC Konnekt 48 for $1000 and add an analog board.  12 in, 10 out and lots of digital connectivety too.

@

AT


The Venus boards had some ... quality issues is what I understand.

USB 2 can do 16 in/out tho that drops, I image, w/ higher rates.  Lynx's pcie or USB are a good bet in your price range.  Their 8x8 was going for $2000 w/ usb.  PCIe 16 AES card is $700.  ADAT X2 is $250.

For $2000 you can get the UAD w/ effects.  FW 800 - thunderbolt additional.

There are RME for that much - good stuff too.

Finally, you could get a TC Konnekt 48 for $1000 and add an analog board.  12 in, 10 out and lots of digital connectivety too.

@

 
 
http://www.intel.de/content/www/de/de/motherboards/desktop-motherboards/desktop-board-dx79sr.html
 
 
thsi audio board -...2 FW ..TI ....my DX 58SO also has TI ....I assume this one also using TI FW chpset

 

karma1959


Yes, agreed many audio interface manufacturers are still producing products with FW, but I believe most major PC manufacturers said they're moving away from FW in favor of USB2 / 3 (I think Apple has rumored something simliar, no?).  Either way, it will certainly be around for a long time, given its' large install base - as I said above. 

Personally, I would prefer interfaces with multiple connectivity options instead of just FW, but that's just my opinion.
Russ

Latest version of apple hardware has usb3 and thunderbolt. Thunderbolt is thier new high speed interface for multiple interfaces such as monitors, hard drives, ethernet etc and can be daisy chained for multiple devices and is compatible with FireWire 400/800 using an adaptor. So FireWire isn't going away necessarily on macs. It's just thunderbolt is the new multipurpose high speed port.