Ableton Forum

Hello. I need a very simple USB audio interface to use with Live on a mac laptop.
All I need is one 1/4" output (maybe 2 in the future)
So I would prefer a simple 2 channel unit...midi is not necessary since I already have a midi interface.

On paper the M-Audio MobilePre is perfect for me. But I have read that it often has audio dropout problems. Any experience with this particular unit?

Any recommendations? I just want the most stable unit possible so that I will have no problems when performing live.

Thanks for your help!

you don't want a usb interface. You want firewire... especially on a mac because then you can get bus powered

Look at Audiofires, I use an Audiofire2 live all the time with 0 issues

timothyallan wrote:you don't want a usb interface. You want firewire... especially on a mac because then you can get bus powered

Look at Audiofires, I use an Audiofire2 live all the time with 0 issues

thanks for the feedback, Timothy. The reason I was looking for USB powered is just convenience. I am using the firewire port on my laptop for my hard drive...so USB would just work better for me.

Any other opinions?

timothyallan wrote:you don't want a usb interface. You want firewire... especially on a mac because then you can get bus powered

I second that. In my experience, Firewire is more stable than USB. I have no experience with the Echo Audiofire series, but my local music store recommended them to me as well.
I eventually purchased the Yamaha GO46 and have no problems at all. Might be too big and feature-rich for you though.

nessiecansado wrote:

The reason I was looking for USB powered is just convenience. I am using the firewire port on my laptop for my hard drive...so USB would just work better for me.

You should consider daisy chaining your Hard Drive with a Firewire Audio Interface. Then you don't need a USB device.

I have just posted a topic asking for feed back on this issue http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=82116

gjm wrote:nessiecansado wrote:

The reason I was looking for USB powered is just convenience. I am using the firewire port on my laptop for my hard drive...so USB would just work better for me.

You should consider daisy chaining your Hard Drive with a Firewire Audio Interface. Then you don't need a USB device.

I have just posted a topic asking for feed back on this issue http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=82116

I was thinking of that. Is that stable? Does it matter what order the daisy chain goes in? Should the hard drive be connected directly to the computer and then chain off of that?

Since everyone seems to think firewire is the better option...which firewire devices do you guys recommend?

nessiecansado wrote: [...]

On paper the M-Audio MobilePre is perfect for me. But I have read that it often has audio dropout problems. Any experience with this particular unit?

Any recommendations? I just want the most stable unit possible so that I will have no problems when performing live.

The M-Audio MobilePre looks similar to the M-Audio USB Audiophile which I owned before I purchased the Yamaha GO46. Quality of the M-Audio unit was not very good as it sometimes produced distorted sound. Switching it off and on again usually solved this problem, but it was simply getting on my nerves. Drivers that came on CD were outdated, but their latest drivers worked fine. My local music store also did not recommend M-Audio interfaces...

nessiecansado wrote:

I was thinking of that. Is that stable? Does it matter what order the daisy chain goes in? Should the hard drive be connected directly to the computer and then chain off of that?

Did you check the link in my post. MOTU claim to have tried several brands of Hard Drives with their gear in a FW daisy chain. It appears that there are issues if one of the devices is bus powered, but it could be solved by the order of the chaining. Apart from that, there does not appear (so the claims I have seen suggest) that order is an issue. All of the info I have seen on the net so far states that daisy chaining is one of the plusses of Firewire, that its interface allows it. I'm still looking for examples though.

gjm wrote:nessiecansado wrote:

I was thinking of that. Is that stable? Does it matter what order the daisy chain goes in? Should the hard drive be connected directly to the computer and then chain off of that?

Did you check the link in my post. MOTU claim to have tried several brands of Hard Drives with their gear in a FW daisy chain. It appears that there are issues if one of the devices is bus powered, but it could be solved by the order of the chaining. Apart from that, there does not appear (so the claims I have seen suggest) that order is an issue. All of the info I have seen on the net so far states that daisy chaining is one of the plusses of Firewire, that its interface allows it. I'm still looking for examples though.

i would suggest running your audio interface thru the 9pin firewire port, my motu runs thru that, freeing up my 6pin firewire for my hard drive.

i actually just sold my m-audio audiophile usb, i never liked the thing, i can't very much vouch for it, but it does however match things you are looking for. it was always stable and a great starting interface.

I have the motu ultralite buspowerde at the macbook. The I have connected a firewire drive (not buspowered) to the motu. Works fine, only flaw is that the sound drops out for a moment whenever the harddrive gets connected/disconnected.

I've tried a lot of interfaces over the course of time. You're looking at USB. I did not see Firewire as any more stable. In my main area I use an RME Fireface 800, and I searched for a while to find something that would run in a secondary area and that would be stable.
I use Windows, though. I was not impressed with the Mobile Pre. I'd go for the Fast Track Pro if considering M-Audio.
Otherwise, checkout Native Instruments Audio Kontrol 1.
Another excellent option with SPDIF I/O is the Edirol UA25.

If you're looking at the FastTrack Pro that I was considering selling.

Minty-fresh and never gigged out.

Works great, but I need to go FireWire to open up the left-side USB port on my MBP for my Line 6 gear.

Drop me note directly if interested - will sell for decent price.

drew

acroberts at gmail dot com

Cheapest:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4 ... rface.html

It has RCA as opposed to 1/4" but you can use adapters.

If you can get a used Fast Track Pro at a decent price you'd be way better off.

...it's brand new and has USB 2.0 connectivity:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/F ... -main.html

Mine is arriving on my doorstep today. Anxious to try it out - I am using Vista 32 Bit with Live 7 - hoping my nuts swell up when using it.

Daddy?! wrote:...it's brand new and has USB 2.0 connectivity:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/F ... -main.html

Mine is arriving on my doorstep today. Anxious to try it out - I am using Vista 32 Bit with Live 7 - hoping my nuts swell up when using it.

Please report back!