Ableton Forum

Hey guys! First post here and new Ableton user... I've done some research on the site for recommendations for interfaces, so I thought I'd make one specific to my setup and price point.

Setup:
13" Macbook Pro 2.53ghz 4gb
Shure SM58 Mic
M-Audio Axiom 49
Price: up to $300

I have the latest 13" Macbook Pro. My preference was to get a firewire interface, but I've read where computers without the Texas Instruments Firewire (mine of which is included) may have problems. I would prefer firewire if it was known to be ok.

Also, I've read where on boxes like the Presonus Firebox people had problems with certain mics. I read where someone with the same mic as mine had to turn the gain up very high to barely notice the sound. Then I read where they have a newer model, the Presonus Firestudio Mobile that fixed that issue.

I know this has been asked plenty of times, and I have looked through the threads. I just want to be sure I buy something that is around $300 or less, as well as compatible with what I have, which is not much.

Thanks for your time,
Del

dELfONiK wrote:Hey guys! First post here and new Ableton user... I've done some research on the site for recommendations for interfaces, so I thought I'd make one specific to my setup and price point.

Setup:
13" Macbook Pro 2.53ghz 4gb
Shure SM58 Mic
M-Audio Axiom 49
Price: up to $300

I have the latest 13" Macbook Pro. My preference was to get a firewire interface, but I've read where computers without the Texas Instruments Firewire (mine of which is included) may have problems. I would prefer firewire if it was known to be ok.

Also, I've read where on boxes like the Presonus Firebox people had problems with certain mics. I read where someone with the same mic as mine had to turn the gain up very high to barely notice the sound. Then I read where they have a newer model, the Presonus Firestudio Mobile that fixed that issue.

I know this has been asked plenty of times, and I have looked through the threads. I just want to be sure I buy something that is around $300 or less, as well as compatible with what I have, which is not much.

Thanks for your time,
Del

i am on an older MBP, and do have a TI chipset, i run very satisfied a presonus firebox, and also use SM57 and SM58 (essentially the same capsule)
with it, next to other mics.

no problems, rock solid, good sound and mic pres at this price point , the volume issue, well i don't know, but there is a mixer panel (some people don't spend much attention to settings there!?) and a software booster... i never had problems.

about the TI chipset, as far as i know, it also works with the agere and other chipsets, lately someone stated it might affect into a little higher latency?

all i can say that for 300 euros, i am more then satisfied, especially because i like rock solid performance, and the card never failed me...

others might have a different experience.

for me this card for the price point gets a double thumbs up.

SubFunk wrote:no problems, rock solid, good sound and mic pres at this price point , the volume issue, well i don't know, but there is a mixer panel (some people don't spend much attention to settings there!?) and a software booster... i never had problems.

about the TI chipset, as far as i know, it also works with the agere and other chipsets, lately someone stated it might affect into a little higher latency?

all i can say that for 300 euros, i am more then satisfied, especially because i like rock solid performance, and the card never failed me...

others might have a different experience.

for me this card for the price point gets a double thumbs up.

I thought you were having massive problems with Live 8.

yes, i had big time, crashes galore, i am only talking about the performance of the firebox here, and since 8.1.1 i only had two crashes, which i could not reproduce... it is OK so far.

SubFunk wrote:i am on an older MBP, and do have a TI chipset, i run very satisfied a presonus firebox, and also use SM57 and SM58 (essentially the same capsule)
with it, next to other mics.

no problems, rock solid, good sound and mic pres at this price point , the volume issue, well i don't know, but there is a mixer panel (some people don't spend much attention to settings there!?) and a software booster... i never had problems.

about the TI chipset, as far as i know, it also works with the agere and other chipsets, lately someone stated it might affect into a little higher latency?

all i can say that for 300 euros, i am more then satisfied, especially because i like rock solid performance, and the card never failed me...

others might have a different experience.

for me this card for the price point gets a double thumbs up.

Thanks for the reply. I started looking at reviews for the Presonus Firestudio Mobile, which is supposed to be an updated version of the Firebox. I noticed where people were having problems with the units DICE II Chipset. I'll have to check out some more reviews, but I do appreciate yours.

SubFunk wrote:yes, i had big time, crashes galore, i am only talking about the performance of the firebox here, and since 8.1.1 i only had two crashes, which i could not reproduce... it is OK so far.

very cool, just checking. it would suck to lose Live.

dELfONiK - I'm in PC, can't really help. I might add that sometimes things just work, sometimes you just get screwed even when you do the research. those are quality sound cards. good luck!

dELfONiK wrote:Hey guys! First post here and new Ableton user... I've done some research on the site for recommendations for interfaces, so I thought I'd make one specific to my setup and price point.

Setup:
13" Macbook Pro 2.53ghz 4gb
Shure SM58 Mic
M-Audio Axiom 49
Price: up to $300

I have the latest 13" Macbook Pro. My preference was to get a firewire interface, but I've read where computers without the Texas Instruments Firewire (mine of which is included) may have problems. I would prefer firewire if it was known to be ok.

Also, I've read where on boxes like the Presonus Firebox people had problems with certain mics. I read where someone with the same mic as mine had to turn the gain up very high to barely notice the sound. Then I read where they have a newer model, the Presonus Firestudio Mobile that fixed that issue.

I know this has been asked plenty of times, and I have looked through the threads. I just want to be sure I buy something that is around $300 or less, as well as compatible with what I have, which is not much.

Thanks for your time,
Del

I had been using ProTools with an Mbox on a Powerbook G4 until a few months ago when I got a MBP similar to yours (2.26 GHz here) and Live. The only straight recommendation I could get from anyone was a Duet and I didn't want to spend $500. A dude at Guitar Center (ugh, I know) recommend the NI Audio Kontrol 1. I picked one up about a month ago and have had zero problems with it. Install was a breeze. It sounds good. $250 plus it came with a bunch of free software (that I will never use).

http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/ ... kontrol-1/