Fireface 800 - RANT!!

Dai · Post by **Dai** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 8:56 pm

I have been using the Fireface 800 for the past 5 months or so.
I am very happy with the sound quality, but I have complaints about the ease of use.

Firstly, I find the totalmix software gives me a headache. I can get the basics, but there seems to be so much added functionality that I don't need and it just adds confusion. The manual also seems to be written from a "techies" point of view and much of it goes over my head.

When I purchased an interface I wanted something high quality that I could easily use to record MUSIC, not some tool that I had to spend hours reading up on and would end up stifling my creative flow.

So my question is, will the Traveler give me what I need, or will it just be more of the same? And will I be disappointed with the sound quality difference due to the cheaper components?

Many thanks

sweetjesus · Post by **sweetjesus** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:14 pm

Dai wrote:I have been using the Fireface 800 for the past 5 months or so.
I am very happy with the sound quality, but I have complaints about the ease of use.

Firstly, I find the totalmix software gives me a headache. I can get the basics, but there seems to be so much added functionality that I don't need and it just adds confusion. The manual also seems to be written from a "techies" point of view and much of it goes over my head.

When I purchased an interface I wanted something high quality that I could easily use to record MUSIC, not some tool that I had to spend hours reading up on and would end up stifling my creative flow.

So my question is, will the Traveler give me what I need, or will it just be more of the same? And will I be disappointed with the sound quality difference due to the cheaper components?

Many thanks

man, ive been recording thru an echo layla for 3 or 4 years nobodys complained.. i think ull be fine.

popslut · Post by **popslut** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:17 pm

I run three Fireface 800's on my music PC and to be honest I've never encountered such a well designed, user-friendly piece of equipment in my life.

They sit in the bottom of my rack doing their job impeccably and I find the software interface to be utterly intuitive and self-explanatory.

And they sound amazing. I A-B'd them against the Apogees and could hear no difference whatsoever.

I can't imagine why you'd even need to look at the manual - mine are still in their plastic covers and I've never opened them once.

Plug 'em in and they just work.

What, precisely, are you trying to do that you are not able to?

sparklepuff · Post by **sparklepuff** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:29 pm

I'm no idiot, I read a hell of a lot of manuals, and I completely agree with the OP.

Now, as soon as I got the thing setup, I've never had an issue aside from it somehow reverting back to an old version of firmware and only playing out of the right output for about a week (frustrating as fuck!!!).

I don't even touch the software. I plug things in, sound ends up coming out, and I'm happy. I look at that mixer thing, I've pushed buttons and moved sliders and it's only seemed to cause problems.

I agree with popslut about these things just working, leave the manual and confusing stuff alone. If they have implemented a bunch of added functionality you don't need, don't use it.

Dr Dub · Post by **Dr Dub** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:39 pm

Presonus Firepod! In my opinion the most Hassle-Free Interface.

Besides this - i d love to have a RME and getting into the Manuals....

But seriously, the Presonus even sounds surprising good - if you don t need fancy monitor-routing Stuff - perhaps try it.

We could also swap my Firepod against your Fireface

nolus · Post by **nolus** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:10 am

Dr Dub wrote:Presonus Firepod! In my opinion the most Hassle-Free Interface.

Besides this - i d love to have a RME and getting into the Manuals....

But seriously, the Presonus even sounds surprising good - if you don t need fancy monitor-routing Stuff - perhaps try it.

We could also swap my Firepod against your Fireface

Agreed - the Firepod sounds excellent and is simplicity itself to set up but latency is a bit of a problem IMO.

Using the smallest buffer size on my PC gives > 10mS overall round trip latency (although firepod controll panel says 2mS - eg 4mS round trip).

went to the gypsy · Post by **went to the gypsy** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:44 am

I have the RME FF 800 and I love it, but frankly, the TotalMix interface is a mindfuck. I crack the manual every six-months or so determined to figure the thing out, and I get humbled.

So I just go back to doing what I do because it works.

Totalmix is RMEs version of E8.

-wttg-

muthafunka · Post by **muthafunka** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:50 am

What is it exactly that's giving you grief? Have you tried the RME forum? I do a fair bit of routing and this-and-that with the FF and at the beginning didn't really get it then something suddenly clicked. Used to have a 828 Mk2 and never really got my head around the mixer app., then again, I didn't try too hard.

ilia · Post by **ilia** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:51 am

went to the gypsy wrote:I have the RME FF 800 and I love it, but frankly, the TotalMix interface is a mindfuck. I crack the manual every six-months or so determined to figure the thing out, and I get humbled.

So I just go back to doing what I do because it works.

Totalmix is RMEs version of E8.

-wttg-

fwiw, I find totalmix quite intuitive if you don't use the matrix view and activate submix. what seems to be the problem?

Illum · Post by **Illum** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:53 am

The Motu stuff seems to be sort of the poor man's RME.

I use 2 ultralites daisy chained together and think they're great (I don't do any ad/da summing with them however, just track in and monitor out).
Cuemix (motu's dsp mixer), while probably being somewhat more dumbed down, does everything I need it to and does it very easily.

popslut · Post by **popslut** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:40 am

If you're running a PC I'd avoid MOTU like the fucking plague.

A quick visit to their user forum will bear this out. I did a lot of research before shelling out £2500 on my FF 800s and although I could have saved £1500 by buying a MOTU 24IO I just couldn't believe the horror stories I was reading about MOTU/Windows catastrophes.

I did encounter a couple of happy users but not many.

The RME software is simplicity itself - I can't imagine why anyone that can use Ableton Live [or any other DAW] would have any trouble with it.

Machinesworking · Post by **Machinesworking** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:42 am

Dai wrote:I have been using the Fireface 800 for the past 5 months or so.
I am very happy with the sound quality, but I have complaints about the ease of use.

Firstly, I find the totalmix software gives me a headache. I can get the basics, but there seems to be so much added functionality that I don't need and it just adds confusion. The manual also seems to be written from a "techies" point of view and much of it goes over my head.

When I purchased an interface I wanted something high quality that I could easily use to record MUSIC, not some tool that I had to spend hours reading up on and would end up stifling my creative flow.

I'm sorry man, but posts like this just perplex me? You buy one of the top of the line interfaces with numerous features and flexibility, and you complain that it isn't "easy".

Jesus people, just get something dumbed down if you require that, but don't complain that a device is too feature rich or technically challenging when it's obvious from looking at the thing that it's a "pro" device, meaning they assume you know what word clock is, what ADAT can do for you etc.

To answer your question though, if you are on a mac, Metric Halo make a nice strait-forward interface in the ULN-2

3dot... · Post by **3dot...** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:06 am

'Total mix ' is DA SHIIIIT!!!!
it's amazing...!!!
the multiface is by far the best interface I had ever used ...

Love the Analyzer on the inputs.....
And ...it Sounds Great...

BTW did u know u can use 'mackie ctrl emulation to control 'totalmix'???
awesome!!!

YILA · Post by **YILA** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:22 pm

total mix is a synch mate...and a LIFE saver for routing....
I havent looked at the manual once since i got it and not had a single problem either!

What specific issues are you having and i might be able to help.

Sales Dude McBoob · Post by **Sales Dude McBoob** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:02 pm

I agree with Machinesworking that you can't buy a complex box like the FF800 and expect it to be utterly simplistic, but you have my sympathy. It's your home studio, which means you are also the home engineer, and the home technician. The home songwriter will often get the least amount of studio time.

Let's keep in mind that the subject of audio is a deep, deep pool. We all do different things with our rigs, and we all have different backgrounds. Some of us failed algebra, and others slept through trigonometry. Thankfully, the gift of creating compelling music can go to any one of us

Think about analog mixers. There are mixers like the Shure SCM410 that are literally a box with four inputs, one output, and five knobs. Then there are desks like the GL2400-32 from Allen and Heath with 32 ins, aux sends, output matrixes, etc. The OP bought a GL2400 that does 50 other things as well. This is often the case with every little component in the home studio. We've all got four Swiss Army knives synced together when we only need to use the bottle opener. It's part of the deal. Drink up.

When I get confused and pissed with my gear I try to turn it off before it gets the best of me and switch instruments. Make creative flow more important than trouble shooting. Honestly, usually the pissed-off-ed-ness gets the best of me and I lose the flow. This post is really just a note of encouragement to myself.

Fireface 800 - RANT!!

Fireface 800 - RANT!!

Re: Fireface 800 - RANT!!

Re: Fireface 800 - RANT!!