USB Audio Interface Recommendations?

suckerformimi · Post by **suckerformimi** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:07 am

I need to be able to have a separate headphone and main mixes. So far the only things I've found are Edirol UA101 and NI Audio Kontrol. I must be missing a few.

UA101 seems to fit my needs. What's the best thing out there? Budget is around $500.

I also need good ASIO drivers. So Tascam is out!

p

hacktheplanet · Post by **hacktheplanet** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:16 am

Is there a reason you're not going with a firewire interface?

suckerformimi · Post by **suckerformimi** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:41 am

I don't want to turn this into a Firewire discussion, but . . .

There's no way to get firewire audio onto my Dell E1705 notebook. It only has an expresscard slot, and there are no firewire expresscards available that work for audio (i.e., that use the TI chipset).

I have a Saffire that works fine with my desktop PC, but not with my notebook and SIIG 1394 ExpressCard.

p

pev · Post by **pev** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:31 pm

Could you pick up a second hand USB MOTU 828 for that much in the states?

~Pev

Dj-Grobe · Post by **Dj-Grobe** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:48 pm

M-AUDIO FAST TRAK PRO !!

Wonderfull sound !! cheap and usefull !!

I use on mac !!

I listen this card have issues on xp, but not really know if that ites real, on osx, its wonderfull, total in + out latency at 24bits 48khz, just 13ms : )

blank · Post by **blank** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:51 pm

Dj-Grobe wrote:M-AUDIO FAST TRAK PRO !!

Wonderfull sound !! cheap and usefull !!

an happy m-audio customers ? on a mac ?

Oh my god !!!!

This is sooooo rare...

Dj-Grobe · Post by **Dj-Grobe** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 2:58 pm

USb mate, firewire and m-audio its abig trouble, well all firewire soudn card i use with mac, i have troubles..........but with usb fast track pro, ................0 troubles !!

I waiting m-audio drivers for vista, i want test with bootcamp + vista+ ableton + mac + fast trak pro : )

zsazsa · Post by **zsazsa** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:22 pm

+1 On the fast track pro. 2 mic pres, inserts, phantom power, 4 outs (can cue your mix), balanced outputs and sounds decent.

Adonis · Post by **Adonis** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:27 pm

Another vote for the Fast Track Pro

or the Conectiv audio interface - it's USB - has a seperate headphone out

as a bonus you get the Torq software and control vinyl - $299

I love the audio interface - it's great for mixing with Ableton

you don't hae to use the Torq stuff but it's a bonus and works great

and yes, some people have had success with M-Audio Products

mbenigni · Post by **mbenigni** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:15 pm

I don't know about mac performance, but I'm really digging the Audio Kontrol 1. It's probably not selling well since it was released right in the middle of the UB conversion fiasco while everyone was seriously hating on NI. But mine works great, and I really like having the little control surface on top. It's a cool set of features - 4 outs, headphone cueing, 48V phantom, instrument in, etc - in a small, bus-powered package.

hacktheplanet · Post by **hacktheplanet** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 12:15 am

Mbox 2?
Or is that a naughty word...

Atomikat · Post by **Atomikat** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 12:35 am

blank wrote:an happy m-audio customers ? on a mac ?

Oh my god !!!!

This is sooooo rare...

I am...I've used M-audio Firewire soundcards with my Macs and no problem at all, they just work fine for me...you just have to find a workaround with some drivers and that's it.

suckerformimi · Post by **suckerformimi** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 8:02 pm

Thanks for these recommendations.

I'm still toward the Edirol UA101. Nobody has recommended it, though. Is there anything wrong with it?

I hadn't considered the Mbox 2. I didn't think I could prelisten with it.

Fast trak looks good, but I need balanced outs. I'd like to go straight into my powered monitors.

p

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 8:05 pm

suckerformimi wrote:Thanks for these recommendations.

I'm still toward the Edirol UA101. Nobody has recommended it, though. Is there anything wrong with it?

I hadn't considered the Mbox 2. I didn't think I could prelisten with it.

Fast trak looks good, but I need balanced outs. I'd like to go straight into my powered monitors.

p

I use the Edirol UA-101. the only problem I have with it is that it doesn't like to be slaved to a midi clock, PC needs to be rebooted, after ~30 minutes it just goes grgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgr and locks up.

Also, the sample rate and buffer size can only be changed when Live is closed.

Decent pre-amps, nice selection of ins and outs.

waderck · Post by **waderck** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 4:49 am

I use it for the same thing..
on a mac.. no problems.
add aggregate device..and voila.

USB Audio Interface Recommendations?

USB Audio Interface Recommendations?

mbox 2 works..