Anyone have experience with the M-Audio FW 410?

ddexddexter · Post by **ddexddexter** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 6:23 pm

Just getting started with recording and using Ableton Live. I was told to purchase the M-Audio FW 410. Has anyone used this interface and have anything to say about it? Let me know!

scarixix · Post by **scarixix** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:31 pm

I have Firewire 410 + using it fine with Macbook Pro.

Got it routing 8 1/4" outs for my live set.
Split up my bass / drums / synth + master out.

Never used for recording inputs so no comment.
Have diff system for that. Heh.

I've never had a problem with it.
Fairly small + portable so can carry in laptop bag.

There are also some USB options out there.
Anyway - hope that helps ?

naph · Post by **naph** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:28 am

i had some experience both with my M-Audio fasttrack pro, and with a friend 410.

I'd say you to go elsewhere. These cards are not bad, but we both had some troubles in getting a good latency, and the output is not loud at all. Master and headphone output are too low for my taste on both models. If you want something a bit more serious, maybe with the same money you'll get a presonus (less inputs outputs, so it's up to you)

If you REALLY need many in/out and you can't afford an higher level soundcard, it can do the job and you'll also probably be happy, but keep in mind this is not an Audiophile product at all.

hope it helps.

chris vine · Post by **chris vine** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 3:36 pm

I have one and I have never had any problems with it - apart from it not being recognised by the PC occaisionally

However, take note that over the years quite a few people on this forum have complained about the FW410. Maybe it was their systems? Or was it the FW410 they had?

Anyway, I agree with naph.

101-ism · Post by **101-ism** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:41 pm

I would avoid the 410 completely!!

In my experience: the software is buggy, the pre amps are totally sh!t and I've never been able to get it working perfectly on either macs or pcs.

If your just starting out there must be loads more simple and better reviewed sound-cards out there. Unless you need all the i/o etc.. i would find something more simple. The reason it sucks is that there are trying to offer to much (features) at a low price point.

Hope that helps...

oddstep · Post by **oddstep** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:00 pm

I've got a fw410, I've used it live- for solo sets, for sets where a singer has accompanied me, using a sm58 plugged into one of the preamps, and I've also used it within a multi instrumentalist band setting- where I was lead laptop I guess. Its never let me down, although I suspect if I'd spent more I would have had an easier time. Latency etc: I've never enjoyed trying to MIDIsync it up with a mates Edirol soundcard, but his laptop was incredibly flakey.
It probably is quiet. Fairly well built tho- I've had the painful experience of watching mine fall out of my laptop bag and hit the floor- whilst I was setting up for a gig, worked fine. Its an intensely average soundcard

leonardrock · Post by **leonardrock** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:17 pm

I've been working with mine for a year now. I had some issues when I was working on PC with it losing connection from time to time and some weird level jumps in the software that came with it. I had to reset it pretty frequently to restore signal.

However, since moving to Mac it has worked flawlessly. Aside for an initial setup of my two monitor pairs and a headphone cue (and some other routing/level presets), I haven't needed to go into the software to troubleshoot at all.

I do record with it extensively in many capacities from simple stereo recordings of concerts/rehearsals of ensembles that I play with and/or direct down to multi-tracking projects. It's portable and bus powered (on a mac at least) thus making it very versatile.

I have no complaints about the preamps simply because everything I've wanted to capture with mics or record direct sounds fine to my ears.

I certainly am feeling the need to expand to an 8 or 16 channel interface however I have most definitely gotten my money's worth out of this unit. $400 and I've done a few dozen recordings this year that I am quite happy with. Plus, with all of the outputs this box can send, it works great in a live setting or with a band (which has been a fun experiment for me the last few months!)

Do the research as always....but it gets my vote for being a useful device.

mrbiggs · Post by **mrbiggs** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:17 am

I bought a 410 and had no luck running my turntable through it (awful static) so I returned it. I got a Focusrite Saffire and would recommend this thing to anyone. The LE version as well. $50 more but far better preamps.

hacktheplanet · Post by **hacktheplanet** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 11:06 pm

Buy something else. Do a quick search on this forum and you will find many people who have negative experiences with that box.

computercontrolled · Post by **computercontrolled** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 12:16 am

Ive been using one for two weeks on pc with winxp and works like a charm..i{ve heard cases of loosing up connection but im quite sure must be the computers firewire port, im using ans asus mobo and with intel chipset and i have never ruened into any issue so far idont like m-audio too much though i have an ozone and gives me some trouble sometimes, but i think 410 is a good option unless u have more money to spend look somewhere else

Stan_T · Post by **Stan_T** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 2:00 am

I've been running a music-only PC for a few months now. No internet access, no firewall software, no virus software, etc. That seems to have helped.

The only recent trouble I've had with my outboard peripherals is when I plug them into the wrong USB port.

101-ism · Post by **101-ism** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 12:09 pm

Getting it stable on you mac or PC don't mean that it's actually any good.

Even if it wasn't buggy, and didn't drop out from time to time it's still a sh!t sound card. Too many features at a low price point. A sacrifice of quality for features.

The other problem I incounted when using these was if you use the other firewire port on the 410 for connecting as bus powered hard drive things get loads worse... drop outs in power, hard drive dont always mount etc....

avoid it.

Boo · Post by **Boo** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 3:23 pm

101-ism wrote:Too many features at a low price point. A sacrifice of quality for features.

That's relative to your needs.

Maybe that's what customers of this card search... Most basement producers cannot afford a digidesign or a duende

.

I've been using it for about 3-4 years now and for me has many good features: easy install, config and hey, with a good mixing the sound is just fine.

At least on my system crashes rarely.

Did you check the last driver? There is a neat difference. I'm very happy with that pìece of hardware. It allows me to do the music I do so...

Moosh · Post by **Moosh** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:02 am

have two of them - has some latency issues on recording but couldn't tell if it was the hardware or my software. Overall I would say they are fair
but not must haves.

Atomikat · Post by **Atomikat** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:16 am

I used a 410 for about 3 years and didn't have any problem at all but as I needed more ins and outs I sold it and got the RME Multiface (no regret

)