OK! Just picked up a Forte! Spent quite bit of time digesting mikeriversaudio's extensive 21 page whitepaper/analysis of the Forte, which you guys should have
http://mikeriversaudio.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/focusrite_forte_review1.pdf as well as his equally comprehensive review of the PreSonus AudioBox 44VSL...
http://mikeriversaudio.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/presonus-audiobox_44vsl_review_mikerivers.pdf That guy is huge!
Got a good price, $389/$425 inc. tax from my local GC and a wonderful new magami $50 mic cable for $25... out the door total of $450... my buddy notes you stole yours for $300... it's below their cost!
Haven't returned the 44VSL yet...so I can really explore the diff... I know already I'm going to miss the amazing 4.9 latency and superior/awesome direct monitoring based on their DAW which is just kickass... but the specs are no where near the Forte and I assume I'll feel that immediately...
By the way, the most telling quote from Mike...worth sharing:
..."any mic, old condenser, new condenser, dynamic, or low output ribbon, that I connected to the Forte sounded as good as I can remember hearing it. As a sanity check, I connected my Great River MP-2 preamp to the line inputs of the Forte and switched mics back and forth between it and the Forte mic inputs. Although they sounded different and I liked them equally well. I wouldn’t have any reservations about using the Forte mic inputs for any job that it can handle."
BTW, the Great River MP-2 Preamps are a couple grand if you can find one...
Ok... 'nough data... now for the ears... see ya later!!! (and I gotta work tomorrow...OY!)