Which audio interface works well with Powerbook & Live 4

button · Post by **button** » Thu Nov 04, 2004 10:07 am

I'm considering MOTU 896HD or RME Fireface or Cardbus. Who has had GOOD experiences with a multi-channel interface on a G4 Powerbook? I'd especially like to hear from anyone who has had the chance to compare 2 or more interfaces on the same Powerbook. How does MOTU stack up against M-Audio or RME, for example? I know many people are using Live with MOTU 828MkII, what about 896HD?

button · Post by **button** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:36 am

Umm ... thanks to the 42 people who looked at my post. Nobody using Powerbooks with multi in/out soundcards, I suppose

special ed · Post by **special ed** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:50 am

i got the motu 828 mk2, and it is a nice companion for my powerbook. i would easily recommend it. but also ive never tried an rme. ive owned the first 828 as well, and thought it was great. i had a digigram vx pocket card to, but i thought it was shite, so i sold it for the motu.

button · Post by **button** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:55 am

Thank you so much, special ed. Anyone using the MOTU 896HD?

button · Post by **button** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 9:55 am

... so maybe none of the 100+ people who looked at this post are using a MOTU 896 with their Powerbooks, but what about Digidesign, Edirol, MAudio, Metric Halo, Presonus, RME, Tascam, Yamaha ... ?
The difference between published specs, or the experiences of a PC user running Cubase or whatever, and using these devices with a Powerbook are huge.
There's no substitute for a small comment from another Live user who actually has personal experience with a multi-channel interface

dfusion · Post by **dfusion** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 10:13 am

Echo Indigo cards work perfect. Heard so-so things about 828 series (some people ok, others not ok). Other MOTU audio seems fine. Echo will have a new line of Firewire interfaces out (firewire versions of the 3G Layla and Gina) very soon. Stay away from Edirol. M-Audio firewire seems to be ok, but some users have complained but most pros are using M-Audio that I've seen.

besnard · Post by **besnard** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 7:37 am

I am using the maudio firewire 410 with no problems what so ever with live. Alot cheaper than the 828, but you do get what you pay for in this profession.

button · Post by **button** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 9:23 am

What is the latency like with the M-Audio Firewire hardware? Is it possible to record audio monitoring through Live, or only usable monitoring mic/line input?

besnard · Post by **besnard** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 11:22 pm

It has a set of line inputs, so it is possible to record audio direct if you are using another mic/pre. If you are using the built in pre's, it has a mic/line for you to record through. The mic pre's are not that bad for the price range either.
As far as latency goes, you can have no direct mointoring through headphones (i think, bu have never tried), but in live I am running it at 512 and have no noticeable latency through my monitors. I am sure you could go alot lower depending on your hardware, but I am on a powerbook G4.

Rahlo · Post by **Rahlo** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 1:30 am

I know you've asked for 896 users, and I'm not one, but i will chime in b/c I use my pb with both the 828 and the digi 002 console. The 828 is the ish, bro. It sounds good and works with everything I've thrown at it. I'd imagine similar performance from the 896.

The digi 002 is cool too, but b/c of the way digi does business, it doesn't work smoothly with multiple apps at the same time. If ptle is open, I can't access the 002 with any other app--unless its rewired into pro tools. That, and the 32 track limit are the only problems I have with that unit. It works and sounds good, just like the 828.

Sorry, no experience with rme products.

For about 2 weeks I tried out the yamaha 01x mlan unit. It was just out on the market type new and wasn't quite working smoothly with my set up, so I took it back to GC.

Hope that helps.

Montonn · Post by **Montonn** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 2:31 am

I have the RME Multiface and it works very well with live. I've owned a few interfaces for recording and I find the RME to be my favorite for both speed, stability and sound quality. I had a Motu 896 which I got rid of because i didn't have the room, and the sound quality wasn't as good as the RME. I hear the converters have changed on the Mk2 and the HD units but I haven't had a chance to try them out yet. I've also had a emi 6/2, Mbox, and Apogee mini me which I've also gotten rid of because of latency issues, necessity, and minor glitches. I would definitely recommend the RME Fireface over the 896HD. They are both capable of 192khz recording, but the firewire 800 should improve data transfer and lower the chances of any errors in recording. The converters on the Fireface are top notch. I think RME makes very reliable products. I've used the Multiface for studio and live use and it's been awesome. Looking at picking up a fireface myself before the end of the year. I hope that helps.

Montonn

button · Post by **button** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 9:03 am

Thanks for the information - Montonn, maybe you should check this on- going discussion about the Fireface here:
http://gearslutz.com/board/showthread.p ... enumber=12
Many people seem to be having problems with the Fireface on OSX. I'd like to know of at least 1 person using it successfully with Live on a Mac before I bought one! Most trouble-free reports seem to come from Mac-users with the MOTU firewire interfaces.

muthafunka · Post by **muthafunka** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 9:42 am

Funnily enough got a FF800 recently, still got a 828MK2 in the rack tho. Love the sound of the FF800 but unfortunately haven't had much chance to do a lot of recording through it which where I believe it'll really shine. In terms of setup etc, doing the flash on the firmware is a cinch, just make sure to read any readmes properly. My 2 minor gripes (which oddly might turn out to be clinchers as to whether this unit is swapped out for a 896 or the like), as yet stereo out isn't delivered when using apps such as MPlayer or VLC. RME claim this is the fault of the applications and how they interact w/Coreaudio, who am I to doubt them? I haven't tried mailing MPlayer/VLC folks yet to hear their side of the story yet tho. The other thing-again I have to do some more testing but it seems to be impossible to fine-tweak the gain on a single stereo input from within the unit/software itself. I do a lot of stereo recordings from vinyl and am not able to tweak the output level at source and obviously would rather not record a pair of mono signals and try to get the gain pots set exactly the same to simulate a stereo input.
Really the lesson I've learnt from this is to never take anything for granted, research thoroughly as what would seem to be a given for you may not be for others.

Which audio interface works well with Powerbook & Live 4

Which audio interface works well with Powerbook & Live 4?