Ableton Forum

I'm using a macbook, running live 8, and looking for an audio interface that has the following features:

1) Headphone out for cueing

2) Midi and TRS inputs for recording

3) Balanced TRS outputs

4) 24 bit

5) USB

6) under $300

Basically I am looking for an all-in-one audio interface I can use during performance, but also for recording samples from other instruments when I am producing.

I had all but concluded the M-Audio Fast Track Pro was the best bang for my buck, when someone on here told me that he had terrible problems with the drivers for a long time after Mac updated its OS.

What do you think?

Actually I'm using the Fast Track Pro Audio Device winth Live 8 and works great!!! The sound is clean with a balanced bandwidth. . .

maybe the soundtrack pro will work well for you, but on mine there is (drivers ?) problems as well...
I'm actually thinkingto change to something different, probably firewir, when I got some more money.

I have two problems with it :
-a very thin noise, that other people experience as well, regarding their support forum.It only starts when there is audio streaming.
-some weird distortions depending on how I set up the preferences.

check their forum for example this thread : http://forums.m-audio.com/showthread.ph ... ine-16-bit and their moderator answer : disable time machine, disable airport network, start up item, wash your hands, etc ...

here is a guy having the same problem as me about the high pitched noise : http://forums.m-audio.com/showthread.ph ... -track-pro
http://forums.m-audio.com/showthread.ph ... tput-noise

sounds like a ground loop but i ve tried lots of different combinasion of electric outlet, cables, usb hub, etc...

that s just two examples but there is lots more.

Again, you might be lucky and experience no problem with it.

i went to an audio store and talked to an expert on audio interfaces. he told me that the fast track and fast track pro have issues, but that the newer and higher end m-audio interfaces, such as the fast track ultra were redesigned from the ground up and are high quality. Well, for $400, you would hope so right?

anyway, after much research, i have concluded I'm gonna buy the presonus audiobox usb. the general consensus is that this thing is the best bang for the buck for my needs. I'll update this thread after I test it out.

Well, I'm looking for an interface too (I'm selling my Mbox 2 Pro Factory, because I don't need Pro Tools at all), same specs as what you're looking for, and the PreSonus Audiobox seems to be a bad idea if you want a headphone out for cueing. The "main out" and the "phones" outputs share the same stereo channel. For cueing in Ableton or Traktor, you'll need at least 4 outputs (or 2 stereo channels), otherwise it's gonna be a pain to set up properly.

I'm actally looking for an Edirol UA-101, but it costs $400. Check for the Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, too.