It doesnt appear that my computer has a firewire port. I have an Asus CM6850. Should i add a port or just buy a higher end USB interface?

I put a Firewire 800 PCIe card into mine. Check with the UAD site before buying as only a couple are supported. 

I've been using RME stuff for years and it's been great. I upgraded to the Fireface UFX in the middle of last year and feels as rock solid.

A/D converters are sort of a mixed bag of controversy and subjectiveness. I don't believe anyone would disagree with me in that the mics, mic pre's, source (performer and instrument), and your engineering skills are more important, but I believe the A/D converters are not to be overlooked. I've looked hard at the Lynx product line, and they're great. They are pricey, though. If you're losing contracts because your A/D converters aren't all that, and it's causing your work to suffer, then it's time to invest. 

I personally use the latest MOTU 24i/o Core w/PCIe-424, but I've swapped out the Op Amps for something I found to be a bit more musical, and I added an external clock from Black Lion Audio. Between these changes I found the MOTU to quite nice and transients are tracking well. However, don't go this route unless you know what you're doing, and are great at SMT soldering.

My Philosophy: Exponential Cost results in Logarithmic Returns

wormser


Big name studios use Protools. 
lol !

No...not really.. today it only handful producers that still use Pro tools!
If you planing to work in this industry you need something better like Cubase, Sonar X2, Logic, Samplitude, Studio One...
 

Dude Ivey


I'm wanting to get an audio interface so im looking for opinions on the best ones. i dont need a million in's and out's but i want a reasonable amount. In a big name studio what brands do they use? i want the best quality i can possibly get. It has to work with a PC. Suggestions would be great.

You want the best? Here you go...
 
Buy a RME MADI FX

 
http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_hdspe_madi_fx.php
 
 
 
hook up it to a SSL Alpha Link.
http://www.solid-state-logic.com/music/xlogic%20alpha-link/

 
Or
 
Lynx aurora 16
http://www.lynxstudio.com/product_detail.asp?i=1
 
 

.....
 
 
or buy Prismsound Orpheus

http://www.prismsound.com/music_recording/products_subs/orpheus/orpheus_home.php
 
 
it doesn't getter better then that

Dude,

Within your budget is the Prism Lyra, a scaled-down version of the Orpheus with fewer ins and outs.  There are two versions; the higher priced one might be a stretch for you unless you can find it on discount.  But you can't beat the quality of the Prism units.  

Lyra link: http://www.prismsound.com...ubs/lyra/lyra_home.php

The Apollo is a decent option as well.  Unless you run a huge number of tracks, one of these should be able to run as many UAD plugins as you need.  But I will echo the warning about UAD addiction.  It can get expensive.

Other good choices have been mentioned, including Lyra and Mytek.  And a FireWire card is an inexpensive addition to your PC that expands your options.  Have fun!

Cheers,
Eddie

The Apollo is an excellent audio interface... if you have the talent, you can record using it as well as any higher costing interface.... 
 
I recently have installed PT (you know, like the PROs use) and have come to the conclusion that SONAR is just as powerful except in one area.... for the PC operator.... the keyboard shortcuts remind me of watching an expert in EXCEL... CNTL this, CNTL that and viola, 16 tracks set up to record with each input set to an indepent input from the audio interface, all with the favorite EQ and COMP rolled into the inserts. I am sure that there are ways to do this in SONAR but not as a STANDARD as it is in PTs... which helps the PC TECH to go from system to system and do his thing using the same commands.
 
I watched the operator setup a recording session and even though you can do some things in SONAR, it was nothing like watching this dewd play the QWERTY keyboard and have a session ready to do in like seconds.
 
 
It was amazing.... now, the recording didn't sound any better than what you can do with SONAR and the PLUGINS are cheaper too than the TDM versions.
 
Jim

For that specific problem, I would set up a project template with everything selected the way you want

Swiller
RME UCX is worth a look. I have had one for a week or so and whilst expensive, it is rock solid with a round trip of 4.6ms latency in X2. mixing, routng, sound quality all top notch. Very impressed.

At 48 sample buffer at 48Khz I get 3.4 milliseconds reported round trip latency. 1.5 MSec input 1.9 MSec output.
 
I love my RME. It is also Class Compliant which I find handy.
 
And it comes with RME DigiCheck which I use all the time.
 
RME UCX can be used 3 at a time (same with UFX). So that takes you up to a possible 54 channels with 3 UCXs and 108 channels with 3 UFXs. 
 
I know people are excited about MADI, but I don't really understand where all the costs fall.
 
To me, MADI doesn't really make sense. My place is too small to benefit from the very fast transmission over distance. For me 18 in 18 out is enough. Additionally, I have a Tascam 2488 that can be sync'd using the SPIDF on the RME. That puts me at 24 total tracks simultaneously recorded.