Your FireFace800 recordings...

[ThatOlBluesSound]

Hello.

My first post here
I've been perusing the board for a few weeks now and decided to join in.
I just want to start this thread wishing you all good recordings and good things in life.

Now, to my first question / request...

I'm about to purchase a Fireface800, but although I've heard good things about it from people everywhere (read some positive stuff around here too), I've still my reservations.
I'll be doing acoustic stuff for the most part and since I don't have money to throw away right now, I just need to be as close as 100% when I make this buy.
So, bottom line? I would like you Fireface800 users around here to do me a favour...
I'd like you to post some recordings done with the Fireface800 here (or provide links, that'll do too). But, all recordings must be done with the Fireface800 only, no other converters, no other preamps, just the Fireface800. A list of what I'd like to hear please:

1. Acoustic guitar through Fireface800 preamps
2. Classical guitar through Fireface800 preamps
3. Male/Female voice through Fireface800 preamps
4. Electric guitar through Fireface800's Instrument input

A few things though...Try to make it simple, no processing, no EQ, just plain and simple recordings. I'd like to hear what I'll be working with (with a grain of salt, yeah).
And as we know that acoustics, performers, microphones, instruments, etc play a role in the sound you'll (hopefuly !) be presenting here, I'd like you to describe your recording chain. Example: Gibson J-200 --» AKG 414 XLSII --» Fireface preamp. Like that.
If possible (please, please) post .wav files.
Hope you guys can give me a help in my decision.
I strongly welcome everyone and all kinds of setups, good or bad guitars, good or bad bad microphones, nice or nicer voices.

Thanks

[Conz]

May I ask why do you have reservations about buying a FF800? I want one of these, badly, but currently don't have the funds. It will replace my Delta 1010, which I still think sounds awesome (IMO).

Cheers,
Peter

[ThatOlBluesSound]

May I ask why do you have reservations about buying a FF800?

Well, I've read here and other places some people praising the FF800, and at the same time others bashing the preamps...Since I'm doing mostly acoustic stuff I'd like to see (read hear) what I'm getting as I, a bit like you , am short of funds and need to hit the mark with this buy.

[kedbear]

you want great conversion and preamps and are using a mac have a look at metric halo ULN-2. Only 2 TRS/mic inputs though + spdif etc.

[Conz]

Originally Posted by ThatOlBluesSound

Well, I've read here and other places some people praising the FF800, and at the same time others bashing the preamps...Since I'm doing mostly acoustic stuff I'd like to see (read hear) what I'm getting as I, a bit like you , am short of funds and need to hit the mark with this buy.

Hmmm, it's my understanding the preamps are truly fantastic, half the reason I'd get shot of my Focusrite Voicemaster Pro to help fund the FF.

Please let me know how you get on!

Cheers,
Peter

[Mondo]

you see people bashing the preamps because its a higher end unit and people start comparing it to their boutique preamps. and then of course no matter what questions you ask somebody (like the poster a couple posts up) will recommend something completely irrelevant because he just bought it and thinks its the best thing out there.

[Slaytex]

Anyone who says the FF800 pre's suck obviously hasn't used them much. I always use my API's first but have no problem using the FF800 pre's for my toms and other tracks if I need the channels. They are clean and have a good bit of gain, they just don't add anything exciting to the picture.

[minus-sounds.com]

The FF800 pres are clean of noise and uncolored, actually super clean.thumbsup

[gabehr]

Originally Posted by Slaytex

Anyone who says the FF800 pre's suck obviously hasn't used them much. I always use my API's first but have no problem using the FF800 pre's for my toms and other tracks if I need the channels. They are clean and have a good bit of gain, they just don't add anything exciting to the picture.

I completely agree with that. The pres in the FF800 are quite useable. They're not as good as my A Designs or Shadow Hills pres, but I wouldn't expect them to be given that those pres are ~$800 per channel and the FF800's pres are well under half that. I just prioritize. Run the important things through the good pres, and run the remainder through the FF800. All of it comes out sounding good. Just learn the pres and know which mics and instruments work best through them.

Clearly if you've got a rack full of API, Neve, and Great River preamps the FF800's aren't up to par. But if you've got all that, go buy some Apogee or Mytek gear to go with 'em.

The FF800 doesn't quite make it to the high-end mark, but it really stand out in the mid-range category.

(Sorry I don't have any recordings to post right now. The stuff I've done since I bought mine has other EQ's, Comps, and FX in the chain. No acoustic stuff yet. Just wanted to chime in about the pres.)

[ThatOlBluesSound]

I'm back!

Thanks everyone for answering.

Let's see...

you want great conversion and preamps and are using a mac have a look at metric halo ULN-2. Only 2 TRS/mic inputs though + spdif etc.

Thanks, but I've figured the FF800 is the way to go. Expandable, lots of features...the works!

Hmmm, it's my understanding the preamps are truly fantastic, half the reason I'd get shot of my Focusrite Voicemaster Pro to help fund the FF

Yeah! I'm going to lose some weight to fund it too

you see people bashing the preamps because its a higher end unit and people start comparing it to their boutique preamps. and then of course no matter what questions you ask somebody (like the poster a couple posts up) will recommend something completely irrelevant because he just bought it and thinks its the best thing out there.

I thought so, although not having the higher end stuff I've found myself a bit in the dark when I see such comparisons being made...hence my request for a few recordings. But you do have a point there, which sheds some light as to the frame of mind in which these comparisons arise.

Anyone who says the FF800 pre's suck obviously hasn't used them much.

Another thing that crossed my mind on a few posts...

The FF800 pres are clean of noise and uncolored, actually super clean.

Actually, super clean statement. Thanks

Run the important things through the good pres, and run the remainder through the FF800.

Hum...Oh doubt, thy shadow dost remain... Important things? Hum...Let me put it this way, having to resort only to your FF800 for a routine recording (those you make a living of...?) would you say the quality of the recordings would be distinctly inferior?

Clearly if you've got a rack full of API, Neve, and Great River preamps the FF800's aren't up to par. But if you've got all that, go buy some Apogee or Mytek gear to go with 'em.

I don't unfortunately.

Sorry I don't have any recordings to post right now. The stuff I've done since I bought mine has other EQ's, Comps, and FX in the chain. No acoustic stuff yet. Just wanted to chime in about the pres.

No problem, hopefully some will turn up. Anyway, big thanks are in order for taking the time to express your views. This goes to all of you.

Let the recordings enter...

[gabehr]

Originally Posted by ThatOlBluesSound

I'm back!

Hum...Oh doubt, thy shadow dost remain... Important things? Hum...Let me put it this way, having to resort only to your FF800 for a routine recording (those you make a living of...?) would you say the quality of the recordings would be distinctly inferior?

Let me put it this way: there is a clearly noticeable difference between a truly "high-end" preamp and a fireface 800 preamp. Running an electric guitar or vocal mic (male and/or female vocals over rock and alternative music) through a Mono GAMA has an "energy" or "electricity" to it that I can't get out of the FF800. For acoustic guitar and bass, I love the sounds of the P1/Pacifica. It's fuller, punchier, and has a nice clarity to it on the acoustic.

The FF800 sounds a heck of a lot better than the pres in the other gear I owned before it, though. Compared to the FF800 pres, digidesign gear or Mackie mixers or any other mid-grade preamp sounds thin and flat. They sound almost washed out to me by comparison.

I would say Slaytex put it best... they clean and have the gain you need to get a good signal, but they don't add anything. They don't give you "magic". In my opinion they're a perfect middle ground. Not a thing bad about them, but nothing that's gonna knock your socks off time and time again (after the initial wow of new gear wears off).

The fireface's strengths lie in other areas, though, IMHO. The A/D and D/A converters made a huge difference for me. I couldn't hear how great my other gear sounded until I ran them through quality converters. Also, the routing flexibility combined with just about every kind of input and output you could want (sans AES/EBU) is fantastic. RME just did a very thoughtful job of engineering the whole product, and I think it shows.

My last thought is basically this: It works for me because I need to be able to run 8-10 channels at a time into my rig, and needed the good quality A/D plus several very useable preamps. If I were solely going to be tracking 2 channels of acoustic guitar and/or vocals, I would probably buy a Pacifica or Great River preamp and a Mytek Stereo 96 ADC and just run the digital output of that into any cheap PC interface (since you're bypassing all the analog stages and most of the digital circuitry at that point as well). I realize that rig would cost about $1000 more than the fireface 800, but for that purpose you're not gonna outgrow it.

For what it is, and for the money, the FF800 really is great. But it all depends on your total needs.

[ThatOlBluesSound]

gabehr, man, you absolutely rock! Thank you very much for that very detailed answer.

[BlueFireStudio]

What DAW software will you be using? I myself have been looking in to the FF800.

[kedbear]

you see people bashing the preamps because its a higher end unit and people start comparing it to their boutique preamps. and then of course no matter what questions you ask somebody (like the poster a couple posts up) will recommend something completely irrelevant because he just bought it and thinks its the best thing out there.

I have the fireface 400. Not a word of bash left my keyboard.

I only recommend the ULN-2 if the inputs are enough because the pres are quiter and have more gain and are therefore more widely usable.

Nothing wrong with the fireface, just a question of whether you need the extra inputs/outputs or the little bit extra with the pres. Whatever is more important. Just a suggestion to look at.

[ThatOlBluesSound]

What DAW software will you be using?

Hi all.

Software? Probably PT. Kinda setup like gabehr, Fireface with LightBridge.
But who knows...I might go with Reaper also, also a great DAW! Been using it for a while and I very pleased with it.

[jdier]

happy with my FF800. sounds about like my Aardvark Q10. Preamps might be a little nicer. More clear. We are not talking huge differences though. Used a presonus firepod too. FF800 sounds marginally better than that.

[cebec]

I've been using a FF800 for almost a year and like it more, generally, than my previous interfaces: it sounds better for my music (analog synthesizers) and is more flexible, and I can run it with lower latencies and at 64 kHz, if I choose. I've used, in order, an Event EZBus, Echo Layla24, E-MU 1820M, and 1616M.

[Digamma]

Hi ThatOlBluesSound,
Ive been using a fireface800 for my last few recordings, and am extremely happy with it, considering its price. Its a smart buy in my opinion. the Pres are very usable. I A/B'd them to my sytek pre's which are very clean also, and they weren't too far off. And the fireface conversion seems to be good enough for most mid level production. I dont have any simple acoustic samples right here, but you can check out a couple of recent songs done through the FF800 here:

Dalma Productions
(Listen to "Two Questions" and "Mirovia")

All of it was mixed and mastered ITB, no outboard except for the sytek pres.
Cheers