Live Performance Questions, need advice!

[wrlmuzik1]

Can anyone recommend me a decent audio interface/mixer to use with Ableton Live for live performance? I would like to send a lead singer, two backup singer and a percussionist's mics into ableton to be mixed and monitored in the ableton mixer, be able to apply and sequence plug-in effects on those inputs in real time, while playing audio clips, sequences, etc. I used to use an M-audio NRV-10 firewire mixer to do this, but I would like something a little more sturdy, cleaner sounding, and portable. I've heard that MOTU, Onyx and Presonus have products that can do this. Any advice?

Much gratitude.

[Ryder17]

I use an emu 1616m cardbus, it can do all that and more! PMCIA has yet to be beaten when it comes to mobile bandwidth and latency imo.....unfortunately the format is obsolete now but if you have a car slot, i'd look out for one

Paul

[trevox]

I have a MOTU 896HD and it would do everything you want it to, but if you spend a little extra, a lot of people (including me) would recommend RME - something in the Fireface range. Good pre-amps and low latency...

[wrlmuzik1]

Thank you so much guys. I will check out both options. I was also looking at this:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audi ... -interface

Thanks again- if anyone else has any thoughts on this I would greatly appreciate it.

[23kon]

I used to have a emu 1616m cardbus. Great bit of kit but sold it when I got a new laptop without a slot.
I then went and got a little indestructable thinkpad for live performance and it turned out they have a slot
Damn!

[wrlmuzik1]

I noticed the cardbus only has two mic preamps on the front. Any recommendations on a box that has more than 2 mic inputs? Btw- I'm using a MacBookPro 2011 i7 8gb RAM.

[Ryder17]

I used to have a emu 1616m cardbus. Great bit of kit but sold it when I got a new laptop without a slot.
I then went and got a little indestructable thinkpad for live performance and it turned out they have a slot
Damn!

I have been running 2006' toshibas for years and they have done me great however, after searching for so long for something with a little more power (and pcmcia), I stumbled on the dell lattitude e6400. You can pick them up for a couple of hundred quid and they intergrate with the emu perfectly! I fitted a small ssd in mine and it's now an amazing 'live' pc

[trevox]

I noticed the cardbus only has two mic preamps on the front. Any recommendations on a box that has more than 2 mic inputs? Btw- I'm using a MacBookPro 2011 i7 8gb RAM.

The RME Fireface 800 or UFX both have 4. There's a few MOTU's with 4 mic in's and a couple with 8 mic ins (The 896 and the 8pre). I have the 896HD and a Behringer ADA8000 which gives an extra 8 XLR ins/outs - this will work with any sound card with ADAT in/out. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the ADA8000 given it only costs E150 or so.

[wrlmuzik1]

Wow, those are pretty expensive but well worth the price I'm sure. I just discovered the Focusrite Saffire Pro 40, which is a little more in my price range. I'm wondering if it will suffice for sound quality and low latency.

[wrlmuzik1]

Thank you Ryder17 and trevox for your suggestions!

[trevox]

Wow, those are pretty expensive but well worth the price I'm sure. I just discovered the Focusrite Saffire Pro 40, which is a little more in my price range. I'm wondering if it will suffice for sound quality and low latency.

It has pretty good specs for the price, but having never used one, I'm not sure regarding latency. Apparently the pre-amps are pretty good.

And yeah, the prices of the higher end sound cards does get pretty steep! I'd love a Fireface 800 or UFX, but will stick to my MOTU until it breaks down on me - I've had it for probably 10 years and it has never given me trouble, so I may be waiting a while!

[Ryder17]

For what wrlmuzik1 need's there is no need to spend so much! The EMU can handle it and to buy that plus a laptop would probably be not much more than £350! My Toshiba + Emu could handle a stereo click with submix (for drummer) A stereo out (to PA) Two vocal inputs (automated effects to pa) Plus a guitar Send/return through my amp, all well under 10ms no bother.....The Latitude when set up right, can handle even more