Presonus Firebox on his Powerbook - Who loves it?

maxi · Post by **maxi** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:42 pm

got notice of some firebox issues
who uses a firebox on his powerbook and loves it? what's your latency? is it stable (onstage and studio use)? can you buspower without troubles? etc...
my setup: powerbook G4 12" 512ram 1.5GHz - ableton live 5.0.2/reason 2.5 ad

Jubei · Post by **Jubei** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:57 pm

Nah....had a bunch of problems with mine. Recorded audio sounded like a bowl of rice crispies. Got me a Focusrite Saffire instead. SO far the thing is killer. No complaints.

Oh by the way i tried 3 fireboxes....so it was not jusst the one.

sqook · Post by **sqook** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 10:37 pm

I've had a firebox for several months now, and it never gave me any problems. IMO, it ran much better than the m-audio stuff that I tried, and I liked not having to use a 3rd-party driver.

This was all on my old ibook, though... haven't tried in on my powerbook, but I don't anticipate any problems.

glitchrock-buddha · Post by **glitchrock-buddha** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 10:48 pm

i just posted my firebox issues on another post here http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28360 , but overall i'm pretty happy with it.

rob

maxi · Post by **maxi** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:27 pm

what kind of latency are you guys running?

4ace · Post by **4ace** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 3:47 pm

I'm with the first poster,My firebox gave me so much hell i had to return it.

Great idea but it just wasn't happening.The audio sounded like rice crispies and i had hell getting the spdif to work at all.

Too bad,cause i had faith in presonus,I've heard nothing but good stuff about their products.

But yeah the firebox sucked on a powerbook for me at least.

glitchrock-buddha · Post by **glitchrock-buddha** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 4:35 pm

that's strange, on my powerbook, the audio has been fine (except low mic levels.. which i haven't figured out the cause yet). but latency is quite good, i have no problem playing my bass or guitar, or singing with effects in real time.

i have a couple little wee issues, but sound wise its good for me. if there was another compact 4 input firewire device that made more sense to me, i would surely return the firebox and pick up the other, but i have yet to find a better alternative for the price range. if the fa-66 had proper 1/4 inch inputs on the back, i would consider that. heard it doesn't have a software mixer too. sapphire only has two inputs, had the 410, it was annoying for various reasons.

if anyone has a better alternative to the firebox, i'd be interested to know before my time is up for returning mine.

cheers,

rob

maxi · Post by **maxi** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 10:41 pm

got the chance to buy one second hand now
was thinking of sticking with a emagic 62 and waiting for motu to make a little FW-box,
but maybe i must give it a try?
in terms of specs the firebox is great for me.

mocker · Post by **mocker** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:10 pm

Been using a Firebox on stage for 2 months now. No problemo except that very high tone noise (but very light) that only occurs when the PB is powered. But live, I don't hear it so I don't care... Its 6 outs are just great for my use : bass through FX on 3/4, Live on 1/2 (some Live tracks on 5/6). I don't use it at home where I've got a MOTU 828 mk2 for the serious shit. This is just the center of my "light and handy gear on-the-road setup" and for that purpose I'm very happy with it. I use it with no power supply, firewire powered : fantastic.
I used to carry a heavy rack with a Lexicon multi FX, an Electrix Repeater and a 828 mk2 + an FCB 1010 foot controller (very heavy) but that's over ! If you're interested, my setup is now :
- Firebox
- RFX midiBuddy, very small (actually the old MidiWizard which handles switches) with controlAid and MidiStroke (to transform PC into notes then into keyboard letters)
- faderFox LV1 (+ LX1 depending on the band) : small and light
- Powerbook 15'
- Cables
It all fits in a rolling bag ! Great for the planes.

I use Live as a looper as well as a DJ tool and to send stuff for the musicians to play along with. Sorry for the long post thought that might help some of you guys in your effort to diminish your gear's weight. It took me time to figure out how to replace the nice stuff I used to carry, but this is so great to play my bass loops inside Live and so much more fun for FX treatment when the overdubs are done !
Cheers

chis · Post by **chis** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:36 pm

Has anyone tried a Firebox on a Win2K box? They say XP only, but still...

kramer · Post by **kramer** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 12:12 am

I had the Firepod. Sold it.
Seemed to cause more ground noise than most interfaces (or made it more high-pitched anyway) and the preamps really sucked for recording drums and acoustic instruments. I figured I'd ditch it before the price goes way down.

thx1138 · Post by **thx1138** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 7:51 am

RME Fireface or a MOTU Traveller for me I think, save save save!

maxi · Post by **maxi** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 7:36 pm

thx1138 wrote:RME Fireface or a MOTU Traveller for me I think, save save save!

hmmm

maxi · Post by **maxi** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 7:37 pm

thx1138 wrote:RME Fireface or a MOTU Traveller for me I think, save save save!

hmmm

bump

Gygaxian · Post by **Gygaxian** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:47 pm

I've got the Firebox running on my XP notebook, and it kills.

Low latency, no problems, and Cubase is not as bad as I thought it would be.

I've run Live, Cubase and Reason through the thing and each app has yet to have one single problem through the firebox.

Bummer about everyone elses problems.