I want validation.

horselesspaul · Post by **horselesspaul** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 2:03 am

If you're tracking fewer than 8 or so tracks of audio simultaneously then go for the Fireface 400. I have both and the added featutes and the excellent mic pre's on the Fireface make it a must have for the money.

Paul.

D K · Post by **D K** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 6:33 am

you can't go wrong with rme.
if you want another pre for flavor, i'd suggest something with some reeal good eq on it too, just to take advantage of some analog shaping on the front end.
i'd suggest that as well as the summit considering a chameleon labs 7602 pre...
i am going to buy one after using a friends numerous times for various instruments
and voice. tape op gave it a sparkling review as well, it's basically a neve clone that hits the mark, and has great eq.
http://www.chameleonlabs.com/
cheers

Pitch Black · Post by **Pitch Black** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 12:14 pm

quandry wrote:The only downsides I see in buying a 400 over a multiface is the lack of midi I/O on the 400...

The FF400 does have MIDI I/O - 2-in/2-out. They're just on the back, on a breakout cable.

After a simillar amount of time as Quandry with the Multiface/PCMCIA, I've just sprung for a FF400 for my MBP.

It's got a slight quirk, in that it will occasionally lose (sync? contact? connection?) a couple of times an hour on my Tibook 800MHz, causing glitches in Live, and a total audio engine overload and stop in Logic. I am assuming that it's because my OSX system drive is rather full, and some swap files are getting moved around on the firewire bus, causing overloads. Just a hypothesis - I know I should have more free space for OSX, I'm still waiting for my new MBP, so hopefully it will clear up on a fresh, lost of free space virgin install. I'll keep y'all posted.

Otherwise loving the sound of the FF400 and it's pre's.

for[e]sight · Post by **for[e]sight** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 2:04 pm

quandry wrote:The only downsides I see in buying a 400 over a multiface is the lack of midi I/O on the 400, but obviously there are many ways to overcome that

the fireface 400 does have MIDI I/O. according to the RME website it is:

2 x MIDI I/O via breakoutcable (4 x 5-pin DIN jacks), for 32 channels low jitter hi-speed MIDI

http://www.rme-audio.com/english/firewire/ff400.htm

digitalex · Post by **digitalex** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 2:19 pm

I'm also looking at the ff400 and the multiface, but heard that rme will not be supporting macintel drivers for the multiface. haven't confirmed this yet, but i will be checking soon.

tribalogical · Post by **tribalogical** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 5:07 pm

a little late in the game to reply perhaps, but one important factor not seen mentioned yet is this: PCMCIA isn't 'bus powered'... you'll need mains wherever you go... if this is a 'mobile rig' that needs to operate without them, you need to reconsider.

I went back and forth for a long time between FW and the multiface/pcmcia option. I landed on FW in part because of these two reasons:

- I liked the fewer parts (and setup) involved. FW = 1 box + a cable, done. PCMCIA = box + cable + pcmcia card + mains cable.....
- Bus power. FW had it, the pcmcia option didn't.

just a couple of thoughts

in either case though, RME products are great... can't go wrong with the quality, and the fireface pres are fab...

peace,
tribalogical