Least reliable firewire interface?

[ffmichael]

looks like not much people like M-Audio's interface!
but I plan to buy it though~ because not much choices to choose in malaysia.... any people can recommend me??
FireWire 410, FireWire 1814 or ProFire 2626??
But I don't need so much I/O from the ProFire though! but just needed some suggestion! Thanks! What about MOTU? is it very good compare to M-Audio? in price and quality. (but dunno the shop got sell it or not though)
peace~

[johnnyjellybean]

I use a Tascam FW1884 with the FE-8 extension and it works extremely well. The converters are really good and I landed up selling my Apogee Rosetta because I found the Tascam converters sounded every bit as good.

[JourneyOfMichael]

Well, after reading through this I have to say that I'm kind of disappointed to not see much mention of Tascam.

I was recently in the market for such a device and did a LOT of research on the topic.

I ultimately decided that the Tascam FW-1082 is by FAR the best bang for your buck. It runs about $550-$600 so it's right in the ballpark of the Firestudio/Motu 8-Pre/Focurite Saffire/etc. ... The beauty of this one as opposed to the others: It's a freakin' DAW controller!

So, you can spend the same amount for a rack-mount unit and get 8 inputs, and that's all, OR you can have 8 ins (10 when you add in the digitals), 8 faders (which you can just slide the bank over to edit up to 32), analog style EQ and Pan knobs, just about anything you need to keep your hand off that evil mouse.

The only drawbacks I've come across:

1. There's only 4 mic pres, so make sure you have some preamps in your rack somewhere.

2. It doesn't have the outputs that your Firepod had, so hardware routing becomes a bit difficult.

I'll also mention that in my research I found nothing but spectacular reviews on this unit from many reliable sources. These reviews were written when the product first came out and cost a grand, and they still said it was the best product for the money.

And now I've stated my defense for Tascam. I mean come on guys, they've been around forever.

One more thing before I go: You did say you're using a PC. MOTU is a Mac-Based company. So unless you're ready to drop some cash on a Mac (which I highly recommend at some point), I wouldn't waste your time looking into them.

Good luck,
-Michael

[lancebug]

Originally Posted by cornutt

Been using a Mk I 828 for several years, with two different Macs. No problems.

Likewise. About 4 years on a secondhand MK I, zero issues for the most part. Sometimes doesn't like to share a firewire bus with a hard drive (i.e. choo-choo training), so I usually use it in conjunction with a usb2 drive. Just silly reliable and I take it on location every so often too.

[UncleAge]

Echo AudioFire 8 = 1 for me. I've run up to 7 in at a time with no pops, clicks or hassles since early November '07. I track about 4-5 days a week on it. I wish everything worked this well with my pc.

Derrick

[Ben F]

Have an M-audio audiophile here, my friend has a 410. Both on Mac OSX. Both have NEVER worked properly. You have to continuously reset the control panel.

The Audiophile also blew up 2 of my laptop motherboards- lucky it was still under warranty.

Since Digidesign acquired M-audio their drivers have become progressively worse.

RME on the other hand- rock solid.

[Tusin]

I am pretty much in the same boat as you. Even tho, I have a near new Line6 KB37 (always been happy with Line6 stuff, all the sounds aren't that great, but they usally have pretty solid drivers etc...) And I am about to break it in half, because of all the issues.

Not sure on the Mac side. But I have been hearing pretty good stuff about the Mackie Sattelite. I guess the drivers used to be really bad, but the new ones have cleared up almost all issues. And I have read that the Mic-Pre's are great. Even better yet, they can be had for $200!

[bulls hit]

Originally Posted by JourneyOfMichael

Well, after reading through this I have to say that I'm kind of disappointed to not see much mention of Tascam.



The only drawbacks I've come across:

1. There's only 4 mic pres, so make sure you have some preamps in your rack somewhere.

2. It doesn't have the outputs that your Firepod had, so hardware routing becomes a bit difficult.

Those drawbacks you mention are exactly why the FW1082 is no good for me. I need at least 6 pres and the two outputs is not enough. And while I like the idea of a controller, in practice it would take up too much desk real estate and IME they're just a pain in the ass to configure. After 5 years I've become very comfortable with mouse mixing & editing

[hummer]

good:

RME. incredibly reliable.
metric halo (mac only). rock-freakin-solid.


bad:

apogee ensemble - sounds great, looks great, awesome feature set... just embarrassingly unreliable, in my experience. sold it and went back to FF800.

[robo_ge]

Thanks for the great posts, It looks like Echo leades the way!!!!

[jchas]

I'm looking at upgrading from 2 Echo Gina's (16 outs) to 2 Echo AudioFire 12's (24 outs.

Do any of you have experience with 2 boxes running simultaneously?
My machine doesn't have a FireWire card - any recommendations?
Can the 2 AudioFire boxes be daisy chained using their 2 ports?
Have any of you experienced a 'brick wall' or maximum amount of output channels that will work using Firewire?

[ProducerBoy]

Hmmm... my Firebox was rock solid. Now I have an Ensemble that is also rock solid. I've got no complaints!

[lixisoft]

M Audio 1814..........Total JUNK, wonky drivers, clicks and pops.

Replaced it with an RME Fireface 800................Awesome, I should have bought this in the first place. Best drivers, solid, very good sound and decent mic pre's.

I use it to record live shows with 20 to 24 inputs, and it has never failed me.

[lockdown]

echo audiofire 4 here gets a '1' for total reliability. i'm running leopard 10.5.2 on an early 2008 mac pro and unlike other firewire interfaces that can't cope with leopard, this one is doing fine.

[bulls hit]

K thanks guys. Numbers updated...


Just looking at these numbers, OK it's a small sample size but probably still reasonably representative of the real world, there's a few things that stand out:

1. RME. No surprises. They have a great reputation and deservedly so given this feedback.
2. Echo. Dark horse of the pack. Not a single problem reported with their firewire gear. Given how competitively they price their products, Echo would appear to be the pick of the bunch and offer outstanding value. Does a dis-satisfied Echo user exist?
3. M-Audio. From a company that makes great PCI interfaces, their Delta h/w& drivers are legendarily robust, why is their firewire gear so flaky?

[rainy-taxi]

M-audio FW1418 worked well here though the buss connecting thing with computer turned off sucks. Also, the sound itself really sucks. It's wooly, undefined, muddy and not detailed at all. But well it worked so 1.

Presonus Firestudio is the opposit. Sound is very good. Clear, open, transparant, very detailed, good stereo separation and certainly bang for bucks. But the drivers suck and well I have the unit now for a year. And I still have problems with it. Didn't record a single note with it. Its at a repair center now (I have plops all the time at 96 kHz) but Im getting tired of this... its 2 now but I can change that to 3 if everything isn't solved by the repaircenter.

Mackie Onyx Satellite is very good. Its very stable, sounds good and it has solid drivers. Firmware upgrade doesn't recognize the satellite but that can be because the firmware is maybe the latest.
Very solid unit, never a flaw. Very robust and sturdy (I use it also for my macbook at college and in the rehearsal room). 1 for that!

[dannygold]

Originally Posted by jaguarsg

MOTU's drivers are definitely more suited to Macs.
.

Why would you say their drivers are more suited to MAC? Have you had bad experiences with MOTU interfaces on PC, or are you just assuming that because MOTU's DAW only works on MAC?

[CassidyGT]

Mackie 400f here - works flawlessly. Pres are really nice and conversion is excellent. Never had a problam and would recommend.

[the_man361]

for a friends PC (not mine!):
motu (828mkii) - 3 - didnt work at all
presonus (firebox) - 2 - occasionally drops out

for my macbook:
motu (828mkii) - 1 - no problems
presonus (firebox) - 1 - no problems

the firebox belongs to him, the motu is mine. i suspect his computer is particularly dodgy, as he seems to have problems with it accepting interfaces often when we record.

[IonicBreed]

Originally Posted by ffmichael

looks like not much people like M-Audio's interface!
but I plan to buy it though~ because not much choices to choose in malaysia.... any people can recommend me??
FireWire 410, FireWire 1814 or ProFire 2626??
But I don't need so much I/O from the ProFire though! but just needed some suggestion! Thanks! What about MOTU? is it very good compare to M-Audio? in price and quality. (but dunno the shop got sell it or not though)
peace~

I would check out the ProFire 2626 and pray that M-Audio got it right. I had the 410 and it ran stable for a good long time, but the internal power fried my output card. the 2626 can only allow you to grow. As M-audio has their Pre amps on board and they sound Much better than the 410 straight up.

[Jay-]

M audio Project mix IO. I don't mind the cheap pre amps and you can use the ADAT to bypass if you get a good converter, (although I'm thrilled with the entire units sound)

HOWEVER if REQUIRES!!! A TI Chipset firewire card, (preferably Avid approved like ads pyro!

Mine however also requires its own APS power unit!
When any one flushes the toilet or plugs in a tube amp the ting goes bely up!
Some days when there many people in the studio its useless!

I have yet to get the ads pyro firewire interface or the uninterruptible power supply because I happen to be on the road and cant afford the extra 50 pounds!

Yes it pisses me off! but I believe it just needs the extra kit.
However it replaces so much junk in the studio!

TO bad it don't work with out the uninterruptible power supply!!!! Makes me pissed but any good studio would have one any way but this box was designed for mobile recording so they have forgot something!

(PC not Mac)

[bulls hit]

OK thanks guys. Numbers updated & I've done a ranking

[cdpaudio]

For what it is worth, I am on my 3rd Motu Travler. It works fine (out of the box), then after a few months there is this crazy noisy that comes into 3 of the 4 mic pres. No matter what configuration and nothing connected. I do not abuse my gear, nor use it every day. I have looked into this problem on another Motu focused forum and it seems to be a common problem.

If this one goes out, when I get the replacement back from Motu - which will be the 4th unit (they are good at replacing things fortunately), I am selling it right away. I will be purchasing the RME FF800.

Bottom line, the Traveler is hit and miss. I am encouraged that others have used it flawlessly - and that is what is keeping this false hope inside of me that each new unit will work fine. Hopefully 3rd time is a charm. But, if I could rewind - I would have went straight for the FF800.

BTW - MacBook Pro with AudioDesk 2.11

[jeronimo]

Audiofire 12 on Macbook 2Ghz Duo Core running 10.4.10.
It's running great here, never had a problem!!!

[bulls hit]

Thanks guys, rankings updated.

Motu drops to 3rd= with Mackie

[Memphlow]

Originally Posted by jchas

I'm looking at upgrading from 2 Echo Gina's (16 outs) to 2 Echo AudioFire 12's (24 outs.

Do any of you have experience with 2 boxes running simultaneously?
My machine doesn't have a FireWire card - any recommendations?
Can the 2 AudioFire boxes be daisy chained using their 2 ports?
Have any of you experienced a 'brick wall' or maximum amount of output channels that will work using Firewire?

Yes I run 2 Echo AudioFires with a my Macbook Duo 2 Gigs of RAM and It works flawlessly. I have mine synced with a BNC cable so I only use on firewire port. I have had mine maxed with 24 tracks and experienced no issues.

[Oldschoolwax]

RME FF800 has been rock solid for me, I am using it mainly on a Mac Pro, but use it on windows systems as well as an internal Windows XP drive on the Mac, never had a problem with it.

I can crash OS X ( Tiger, haven't tried crashing it on purpose with Leopard yet ) by switching on the interface after the OS has started sending audio out to another device ( like the internal speaker ) after not seeing the Fireface. This only happens when I start using audio output while the interface is powered down. I don't think this has anything to do with the RME drivers, but with the way OS X handles the switch over situation. I have never had a single problem while actually recording with the Fireface. It's now being used exclusively on an eight core running Leopard, and has been working flawlessly.

[jeronimo]

Originally Posted by Oldschoolwax

RME FF800 has been rock solid for me, I am using it mainly on a Mac Pro, but use it on windows systems as well as an internal Windows XP drive on the Mac, never had a problem with it.

I can crash OS X ( Tiger, haven't tried crashing it on purpose with Leopard yet ) by switching on the interface after the OS has started sending audio out to another device ( like the internal speaker ) after not seeing the Fireface. This only happens when I start using audio output while the interface is powered down. I don't think this has anything to do with the RME drivers, but with the way OS X handles the switch over situation. I have never had a single problem while actually recording with the Fireface. It's now being used exclusively on an eight core running Leopard, and has been working flawlessly.

I turn my Echo AF12 on after the computer all the time. I even open DP with internal IO, turn AF12 on, then config DP to use the AF12.
Never had a crash.
The system is so stable that I'm scared.

[Oldschoolwax]

Originally Posted by jeronimo

I turn my Echo AF12 on after the computer all the time. I even open DP with internal IO, turn AF12 on, then config DP to use the AF12.
Never had a crash.
The system is so stable that I'm scared.

It would only do it after a program was using the audio output actively. If I didn't have audio playing it was fine. Still haven't tried to do it with the new box ( I also had a defective quad core Mac Pro that was just replaced by Apple, so that could be part of the problem too. Just thought I'd mention that I did have that issue, but that it did not create any actual recording problems. )

[Heartfelt]

This is great. Yes I have an AF4 and treat it as plug and play all the time and as long as windows recognizes it, there are no issues. Sometimes, I have to use a diff FW port on the card but it never is finicky. I record for hours at a time at live events and it is rock solid.

I am glad to hear about multiple AF12's... on a laptop, no less.

I aspire to do 3 on a new PC build. This thread gives me even more confidenc in the AF gear.

Lovin it...