Fireface 800 Vs Metric Halo 2882: Same but different question

Surreal · 20th March 2006, 03:21 PM

i am about to buy a macbook pro and an interface.

from what i have found in forums and reviews, the fireface as nicer pres (on quieter sources) than the 2882 but the A/D converters are close. i also like the instrument ins on the fireface. however, i am ensnared by the idea of a completely mobile (battery powered) rig.

i am sold on the 2882, but would i be better served buying the fireface and then getting something like the firebox for bus powered recording?

and of course i would like to hear what (in your opinion) sounds better on each. and if someone has some insight into it, is the tradeoff on the pres worth being bus powered?

Jimbo · 20th March 2006, 05:07 PM

How about the ULN-2? If you only need two analog channels, it's the way to go.

I've got one (bought used off of GS) and love it.

The preamps are excellent (definitely high-end) and the front panel monitor & headphone pots are very handy. Also, the unit works great bus-powered.

The ULN-2 preamps are the same basic preamps as the 2882, but have an analog gain stage providing 65 or 60 db total gain. From what I understand the preamps on the 2882 only have enough gain for loud sources going into a sensitive mic. They have more than enough gain for instrument/line inputs.

The preamps on both the 2882 and ULN-2 are very transparent -- great for omnis where you want the sound of the room to come through clean. I really like the ULN-2 preamps a lot. The DI is excellent as well.

- Jim

Surreal · 20th March 2006, 05:44 PM

the thing is i need more than 2 channels. i thought of the firebox because i could use it bus powered and it is cheap enough to buy with the fireface to use away from power outlets.

Surreal · 20th March 2006, 08:19 PM

bannerj · 20th March 2006, 09:40 PM

If you need to track quieter sources and can't have any out board preamps then you will be frustrated. I love my 2882 because of the converters and all the flexibility of the routing, but I have some great outboard that makes up for the quiet pres.

hammerfall · 20th March 2006, 09:48 PM

I wouldn't really think of "bus-powered" as a feature. If your notebook is on battery, it's going to discharge it quite a lot faster. If the notebook is plugged in, you might as well plug in the interface too.

Surreal · 20th March 2006, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammerfall

If the notebook is plugged in, you might as well plug in the interface too.

yeah...i know..but...but...

it's cool ... (i know it is halfway silly, but i want to perform in the subway at times and it would be interesting to have the ability to record that.) i've heard pretty consistently that you get about 2-2.5 hours powering the 2882, which is alright...and i will have 2 batteries.

i guess my real problem is that i want SOMETHING to record with when away from an outlet. i live in NY and am on the move for a large part of my day.

henryrobinett · 20th March 2006, 10:51 PM

Yeah man, I hear you. 2882 is way too cool. I have some Millennia pres so the pres don't bother me any. I love that thing.

Jimbo · 21st March 2006, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammerfall

I wouldn't really think of "bus-powered" as a feature. If your notebook is on battery, it's going to discharge it quite a lot faster. If the notebook is plugged in, you might as well plug in the interface too.

I've gotten about 1.25 hours stereo taping a live performance on the side of a hill at a festival using phantom power. I don't think that is bad at all! My laptop battery was only a month old at the time though. I don't know how it would hold out now.

Besides, the ULN-2 has a TRS connector for an external field/location battery. Those things should keep it running for quite some time! Next time, I'll be packing one of those.

- Jim

alloysound · 6th June 2008, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammerfall

I wouldn't really think of "bus-powered" as a feature. If your notebook is on battery, it's going to discharge it quite a lot faster. If the notebook is plugged in, you might as well plug in the interface too.

Not to belabor this, but I can't imagine a situation where you would NOT plug your laptop in a place where there IS an outlet to plug in your interface...

swafford · 6th June 2008, 01:14 PM

I've never had a problem with the pres on my 2882. I'm sure there are situations where there isn't enough gain available, but I have yet to encounter one. I would first look at what kind of mics I was using in what kind of situations and get a feel if the 2882 will deliver what you need - the MH list is a good resource for that. I have both a ULN and a 2882 and apart from headroom, I don't hear a lot of difference in the meat of the pre.

The second thing I'd look at is support and product outlook.

owlmonkeys · 10th June 2008, 02:46 AM

Quote:

The second thing I'd look at is support and product outlook.

It has to be Metric Halo, I've never gotten better or faster support from anyone. Also, with the +DSP options, internal patching, Console Connect etc, that MH keep releasing for their two interfaces, it is pretty clear that they take a lot of pride in backing their products, also given that the 2882 had been around for seven years and is still completely relevant. And you cannot even compare the software mixers/routing between the two (not that anybody was doing that), the Fireface mixer is complex to operate without really offering much flexibilty of routing whereas the MH software that comes with both boxes is a separate product in itself, with ridiculous potential for patching and signal processing.

And the Pres are good.
And the converters are nice (not quite Pristine, but pleasant)
And it's bus-powered (IF you happen to find yourself on the subway)
And it fits perfectly under a Macbook pro.
And it has Totall Recall.
And it is very easy to set up with Pro Tools.
And I said so.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Metric halo 2882/ Fireface 800	jaffa	So much gear, so little time!	3	10th August 2006 03:42 PM
conversion-metric halo 2882 or rme fireface?	joshelevator	So much gear, so little time!	13	4th May 2006 02:54 PM
who has done A/B test with RME Fireface vs Metric Halo 2882	livingstone	High end	3	19th March 2006 07:50 AM

20th March 2006, 03:21 PM	#1
Surreal Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 102	Fireface 800 Vs Metric Halo 2882: Same but different question i am about to buy a macbook pro and an interface. from what i have found in forums and reviews, the fireface as nicer pres (on quieter sources) than the 2882 but the A/D converters are close. i also like the instrument ins on the fireface. however, i am ensnared by the idea of a completely mobile (battery powered) rig. i am sold on the 2882, but would i be better served buying the fireface and then getting something like the firebox for bus powered recording? and of course i would like to hear what (in your opinion) sounds better on each. and if someone has some insight into it, is the tradeoff on the pres worth being bus powered?

20th March 2006, 08:19 PM	#4
Surreal Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 102	-Up-

20th March 2006, 10:51 PM	#8
henryrobinett Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 4,996	Yeah man, I hear you. 2882 is way too cool. I have some Millennia pres so the pres don't bother me any. I love that thing. __________________ All the best, Henry Robinett

6th June 2008, 01:14 PM	#11
swafford Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio USA Posts: 182	I've never had a problem with the pres on my 2882. I'm sure there are situations where there isn't enough gain available, but I have yet to encounter one. I would first look at what kind of mics I was using in what kind of situations and get a feel if the 2882 will deliver what you need - the MH list is a good resource for that. I have both a ULN and a 2882 and apart from headroom, I don't hear a lot of difference in the meat of the pre. The second thing I'd look at is support and product outlook. __________________ http://myspace.com/jeffscottroberson

20th March 2006, 05:07 PM	#2
Jimbo Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Scrappleland Posts: 883	How about the ULN-2? If you only need two analog channels, it's the way to go. I've got one (bought used off of GS) and love it. The preamps are excellent (definitely high-end) and the front panel monitor & headphone pots are very handy. Also, the unit works great bus-powered. The ULN-2 preamps are the same basic preamps as the 2882, but have an analog gain stage providing 65 or 60 db total gain. From what I understand the preamps on the 2882 only have enough gain for loud sources going into a sensitive mic. They have more than enough gain for instrument/line inputs. The preamps on both the 2882 and ULN-2 are very transparent -- great for omnis where you want the sound of the room to come through clean. I really like the ULN-2 preamps a lot. The DI is excellent as well. - Jim

20th March 2006, 05:44 PM	#3
Surreal Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 102	the thing is i need more than 2 channels. i thought of the firebox because i could use it bus powered and it is cheap enough to buy with the fireface to use away from power outlets.

20th March 2006, 09:40 PM	#5
bannerj Gear addict Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 426	If you need to track quieter sources and can't have any out board preamps then you will be frustrated. I love my 2882 because of the converters and all the flexibility of the routing, but I have some great outboard that makes up for the quiet pres.

20th March 2006, 09:48 PM	#6
hammerfall Gear Head Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 57	I wouldn't really think of "bus-powered" as a feature. If your notebook is on battery, it's going to discharge it quite a lot faster. If the notebook is plugged in, you might as well plug in the interface too.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread: