Which audio interface?

[FatOldSun]

Hello.

I'm currently looking for a audio interface. I'm going to use it with a Mac (iMac) and it's just going to be used in my home studio. I'll use garageband at first, but I will move on to another software later on.

What I need is an interface with at least 2 inputs (XLR/jack combo inputs). I want it to have headphone out, I would also like to have MIDI connectors and I would like it to be firewire.

Here are the candidates that I've got for now:

Lexicon IONIX FW810S
Lexicon I•ONIX FW810S | Sweetwater.com

Whats good about this is that it looks like it's buildt like a rock, it got everything I need and more, and it looks to me like I can't go wrong with it. I have not heard anything about it yet though.

MOTU 8pre
MOTU 8pre | Sweetwater.com

I was recommended to look into this one. I can't say I'm impressed by the build quality. Please tell me what you think, or share your experience.

Apogee Duet
Apogee Duet | Sweetwater.com

This one looks very promising as it's really made for a Mac. But it does not have MIDI ins/outs and it have less inputs than the Lexicon and MOTU. Please share your experience with me.

TC Electronic Konnekt 24D
TC Electronic Konnekt 24D | Sweetwater.com

This is the one I was looking into at first, because a friend of mine got one. It have all the basics (including MIDI), but it lacks build quality.

I'm not buying any interface that costs more than the Lexicon ($700).

Please let me know what you think. All answers are much appreciated.

Cheers
Anders

[Gharper23]

Apogee Duet

[remo]

Originally Posted by Gharper23

Apogee Duet

[inthere]

Apogee Duet has a huge advantage in sound quality over the others. You can buy a midi interface for about $70.

[FatOldSun]

Cheers mate

I think I might go with the Duet, but I would like to know if anyone have any experience with the Lexicon. What do you think about it?

[dragonxking]

you may want to consider the new presonus firestudio mobile.
I don't know if it sounds better than the duet, but it was cheaper, and had excellent specs so I took the plunge and bought one.

[DavieB]

I certainly wouldn't get the MOTU, because their clocks are no good. They also sound clouded. I owned one for a while, an Ultralite, and the recordings I made lost alot of air. I got a RME Fireface 400 next which was alot better in that price range. All round a much better unit for a similar price.

[OceanMan]

i have the motu8 pre, and I have no complaints whatsoever. pres could be better in the midrange but certainly arent bad. Good if youre looking to track drums, live band, ect. I am however looking to sell it so I can go fully Pro tools with a 003 +

[hpp99]

I can only comment on the Duet, and only compare it to other cheap interfaces I have owned before (some Alesis and M-Audio).

To me it looks like the Duet really gives you a better sound than the other interfaces in that price range. If you can live with two channels, no digital I/O and no MIDI interface (as inthere mentioned, you can get that for very cheap separately) then it is absolutely the ticket. It's also very sturdy, portable, bus-powered, and well integrated in Garage Band.

Butch Walker recorded half of the vocal tracks of the last "Pink" album with a Shure SM7B run into a Duet in a hotel room.

[FatOldSun]

Cheers mate

I'm starting to like the Duet.

[Ca$h Marty]

Originally Posted by dragonxking

you may want to consider the new presonus firestudio mobile.
I don't know if it sounds better than the duet, but it was cheaper, and had excellent specs so I took the plunge and bought one.

Looks like a cool little box - nice feature set to the price point. If you ever want to do more than two tracks could be a nice way to go. If you only need two tracks Duet all day!