So what are the best current firewire audio interfaces?

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skylightron
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2011/11/22 20:18:47 (permalink)

So what are the best current firewire audio interfaces?

So what are the best firewire interfaces out there? I'm talking about ones that are above $300. Especially ones that have a good track record with Sonar in particular. List your 2 or 3 choices and the one you think is the best and why you think it's the best.
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    Beagle
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    Re:So what are the best current firewire audio interfaces? 2011/11/22 20:48:07 (permalink)
    MOTU & RME

    I have no direct experience with RME, only experience with dealing with people on these forums helping them with problems for the past 6 years.

    I own a MOTU.  the MOTU I own is hybrid - works in firewire or USB, but I run it in firewire because I can get lower latency in firewire on my system.  It's solid - great drivers, clean pres, low latency drivers.  I have 8 analog I/O and 2 digital I/O, 2 mic pres with 6 line inputs, lots of flexibility and 1/2 rack space for $550.

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    Guitarhacker
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    Re:So what are the best current firewire audio interfaces? 2011/11/22 21:21:28 (permalink)
    I have a Focusrite Saffire firewire interface. If I had to buy an interface now, I would buy a USB interface. 

    It's getting harder to find computers with firewire ports on them. When they do have them, the chip set becomes a critical issue. TI chip sets are really what you want to have. If not, it can be a hit or miss scenario if it will work properly or not.

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    IronSound
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    Re:So what are the best current firewire audio interfaces? 2011/11/22 22:56:20 (permalink)
    Hello... I'm new at this... with owning only one brand at this time... I bought a Presonus Project... and bought Sonar6 PE... using it with windows7 64 bit... coming from audio tape decks to this is really amazing... Since i'm a solo songwriter/musician...

    Anyway... using a TI chipset pci card, unit linked right up to sonar and I was recording right away... I learned a few days later not to use/turn on the Presonus Universal control/Mixer software and just hook right into Sonar without it... to avoid pops/clicks/stops, that software/mixer program creates. 

    I now have 32 tracks running smoothly at 24 bit 48KHZ on my first project... and learning my way around Sonar... all inputs/outputs/MIDI are accessible thu Sonar with a click of a Mouse... Like I said I'm new at this, and don't know the numbers comparing them to other Units, like others would, But just my ears,  But my first Buy from Presonus was a great step up from 8-track analog as a Solo Musician... Mainly no more Ping-Ponging, fast revisions and NON-Destructive RE-Takes.
    post edited by IronSound - 2011/11/22 23:01:48
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    Starise
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    Re:So what are the best current firewire audio interfaces? 2011/11/23 10:58:35 (permalink)
    Guitarhacker


    I have a Focusrite Saffire firewire interface. If I had to buy an interface now, I would buy a USB interface. 

    It's getting harder to find computers with firewire ports on them. When they do have them, the chip set becomes a critical issue. TI chip sets are really what you want to have. If not, it can be a hit or miss scenario if it will work properly or not.


    +1 on what guitarhacker said. interface manufacturer forums are filled with peeod' customers who bought firewire interfaces and plugged them into non TI FW ports and are crying the blues now..............I use a presonus Firestudio and it works flawlessly with my TI FW chipsets.

     Most home recordists can get by with usb. Obviously the Roland brand of interfaces will probably have minimal if any problems when using Sonar. Many on this board are happy with Octacapture. Honestly after assuring initial compatibility with your system most mid level interfaces are plenty good enough for making nice recordings. Improvements are made to digital jitter and improved S/N ratios as you get into the more expensive hardware. These things do make some difference, but honestly its usually the recordist standing in the way of a good recording.
    post edited by Starise - 2011/11/23 11:06:05

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