the ever-popular, "recommend me an interface" thread

omor · 15th September 2006, 08:16 PM

sorry,
I know this is a first post getting started on the wrong foot...
but I just started a real job, making some pretty good money so its time to build that home studio I've always wanted. My roommate is like-minded too so we're going to pool our money for equipment.

Anyway, I've got a Mac Pro on order, should be here any day now. I'm curious what everybody thinks I should do with up to about $2500 put towards an interface. I want 16+ channels in, some decent mic pre's included (with the ability to upgrade and use some outboard pres in the future), and shooting for ballpark of 24bit/192 kHz (not a necessity)

Since the Mac Pro has some space for PCI express cards, are there any good cards out there made for that protocol (maybe RME?) that I'd use in conjunction with probably some preprietary I/O rack with pres. On the mac I'm planning on using Logic Pro for recording, but I've also got a little electronic/tech jazz thing going using ableton live for realtime looping and softsynth and some extra audio processing.

Browsing around, the Mackie 1200F caught my eye, it looks extremely intuitive, tons of I/O...but I've heard mixed reviews about the onyx preamps. I dont live anywhere for me to test stuff out myself and see what I like, nor have I developed an ear for quality yet (all I've got under my belt is 2 quarters of hackjob audio engineering. People always talk big about the RME fireface, I'd have to probably go with the 800, but even then I feel its lacking in some places.

Then there's MOTU, which I have experience with and thought it was alright. Good, cheap stuff that it seemed people liked more when put up against the firefaces in that blind test ran here a while ago.

help me out, any guidance? any overlooked interfaces? any help?

Ricey · 15th September 2006, 08:19 PM

the MOTU is stable, but i much prefer the sound of my Metric Halo 2882. i think the difference is large. their Channelstrip is a great plug as well.

edit: if you need preamps, however, it may not fit the budget...

LewKellogg · 15th September 2006, 09:27 PM

Just a suggestion but be careful about "pooling money" arrangements. You might end up losing a friendship and you'll find those are hard to come by. You can always get gear...

NesNeedsGear · 15th September 2006, 09:55 PM

for $2500 your options are wide open.

I'd go Creamware Scope Professional for that $. You can find it for $1500 and STILL have money left over ($1000) for a top-notch 2channel pre. Toft ATC-2 pre/comp/eq in one, Langevin Dual Mono pre/eq??

RME HDSP hdsp 24/96 also makes a GREAT interface for your budget, plus $1250 left over for a UAD card and a badass 2ch pre. John Hardy m-2??? Apogee mini-me?

good luck with your purchase.

shanabit · 16th September 2006, 04:02 AM

Blindly speaking, I have a MOTU 828MKII and if I had to do it over again, Id get and RME. Great drivers and BETTER build quality IMO.

omor · 16th September 2006, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NesNeedsGear

RME HDSP hdsp 24/96 also makes a GREAT interface for your budget

I've been eyeing these too. can somebody clear up for me if this will work in the PCI-X expansion slots in the Mac Pro? I've heard conflicting things, "they're backwards compatible" and "incompatible" or "compatible sometimes".

I've got a buddy using the Hammerfall Cardbus and multiface, he says it works great and running linux he had his latency way down under 10ms

warhead · 16th September 2006, 04:41 AM

How many tracks at once do you need to record? Do you own a mixer / preamps?

War

omor · 16th September 2006, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warhead

How many tracks at once do you need to record? Do you own a mixer / preamps?

War

I want a simultaneous 16+ tracks. I dont have a mixer or preamps currently. I'd like to do all mixing on the computer so its all available to tweak later, so I'd like to stay away from outboard mixers.

robd · 16th September 2006, 01:26 PM

tho onyxes definitely sound way better than the motus. I can't compare to the rmes, though.

warhead · 16th September 2006, 03:35 PM

I just don't think you could go wrong with an Onyx 1640 with firewire card. Great pres (I use them all the time) and the conversion is quite decent as well. It is a mixer, but that mixer would also allow you to setup monitor mixes for musicians easily and it also could double as the board for any live gigs you have (and you could record those gigs to a laptop).

My $.02

War

ultrasource · 16th September 2006, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warhead

I just don't think you could go wrong with an Onyx 1640 with firewire card. Great pres (I use them all the time) and the conversion is quite decent as well. It is a mixer, but that mixer would also allow you to setup monitor mixes for musicians easily and it also could double as the board for any live gigs you have (and you could record those gigs to a laptop).

My $.02

War

Are the outputs on the onyx mixers still pre-eq?

soundawg · 20th September 2006, 12:48 AM

How about RME?

Fireface 800 with an OctaMic-D should do it!

redddog · 20th September 2006, 03:01 AM

Not the octamic d. Oh no he dit-nt.

The pres that RME make are the one drawback to the FF800. Better options out there IMO.

audioalchemy · 20th September 2006, 04:57 AM

get a fireface (because the conversion rules) it has 4 pres that are totally useable. then you can add pres via the line in or adat in. most pres that have the adat option aren't anything too high end or boutique or whatever but they are good. also get a master word clock. there ya go. simple simple simple.

oh btw,
the motu stuff is killer if you use an external wordclock.
i would stay away from the mackie stuff i have used it and imho it sucks
don't go PTLE unless you have to
good a/d good d/a good clock, treat your room and anything should be fine. remember gear can't replace your ears.

peace, and happy shopping,
Creston

initialsBB · 20th September 2006, 05:58 PM

Here's another vote for the Metric Halo mio 2882. Get 2 of those and you'll have 16 channels of pres and conversion for about $2600. And then if you put in equal amounts of money you each own one.

But if you're just starting out do you really need 16 channels? What are you going to be recording?

Andrew Kinsey · 21st September 2006, 04:32 AM

I second the Metric Halo 2882 IO, IMO their better than the MOTU 828MK2's and also very affordable considering the number of ins & outs. If your on a limited budget have a look at the Hercules FW16/12.

omor · 21st September 2006, 07:37 AM

if i went with something, say a used apogee rosetta 800, do you guys have any ideas for good pres that will keep me in my price range?

Sirocco · 29th October 2006, 06:59 AM

the people are always trashing my fireface's pres

NuSkoolTone · 1st November 2006, 04:12 PM

Where does the Echo AudioFire fall into this?

Everyone keeps comparing them to the RME's, but no definitive conclusions.

SteveE9C6 · 3rd November 2006, 02:24 AM

Quote:

i would stay away from the mackie stuff i have used it and imho it sucks

I am using a Onyx 400F. It does not suck at all IMHO. In fact, I prefer the unit to the FF800.
The pre's are much more useable and the convertors equal the FF800. They are both high end 24 bit /192k convertors to the best of my knowledge. I've got high end pre's that I like on vocals, but i've found the onyx pre's a very clear uncolored pre that works well on acoustic guitars and overheads.

snappydad · 3rd November 2006, 02:49 AM

Metric Halo stuff is fantastic for the Mac. VERY well built and well thought out too. I've had a ULN2 (2 channel) that has become the hub of my home studio and have a 2882+DSP on the way. The 2882 does ADAT on the back too so you can add 8 more channels cheap with something like a Presonus Digimax. There are MANY threads on this site that can inform you, so don't forget to use the search feature here. Good stuff the Metric Halo gear.

One thing to remember: 16 channels is a lot when you start adding up the cost of all those cables and stands and mics etc. Don't forget to figure that stuff into the "price of admission". Good luck with the search!

jeffP

gsilbers · 3rd November 2006, 03:01 AM

motu traveler or 828 with outboard pres with digital I/O. i dunno much of 8 channel pres with digital I/0.

or 2 new motu's 8to pre chained together via firewire.

al though the convertion quality of the RME's are really good. but u'l still need that 8channel pre with digital I/O

Nosound · 3rd November 2006, 03:32 AM

To bad you spent your money on a super PC I would have got a HD standalone like Mackie, Tascam, Alesis recorder and Mackie Onyx 800r and 2 FmR RNP and Sytek and 24 channel mixer and then Cubase, or Soundforge, AA and a control suface and PC with Firewire, Firewire tranfer box for PC editing and push record and not have to scroll thru menus. But hey that's my setup and works good enough for awesome recordings good luck and have fun.

15th September 2006, 08:16 PM	#1
omor Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 12	the ever-popular, "recommend me an interface" thread sorry, I know this is a first post getting started on the wrong foot... but I just started a real job, making some pretty good money so its time to build that home studio I've always wanted. My roommate is like-minded too so we're going to pool our money for equipment. Anyway, I've got a Mac Pro on order, should be here any day now. I'm curious what everybody thinks I should do with up to about $2500 put towards an interface. I want 16+ channels in, some decent mic pre's included (with the ability to upgrade and use some outboard pres in the future), and shooting for ballpark of 24bit/192 kHz (not a necessity) Since the Mac Pro has some space for PCI express cards, are there any good cards out there made for that protocol (maybe RME?) that I'd use in conjunction with probably some preprietary I/O rack with pres. On the mac I'm planning on using Logic Pro for recording, but I've also got a little electronic/tech jazz thing going using ableton live for realtime looping and softsynth and some extra audio processing. Browsing around, the Mackie 1200F caught my eye, it looks extremely intuitive, tons of I/O...but I've heard mixed reviews about the onyx preamps. I dont live anywhere for me to test stuff out myself and see what I like, nor have I developed an ear for quality yet (all I've got under my belt is 2 quarters of hackjob audio engineering. People always talk big about the RME fireface, I'd have to probably go with the 800, but even then I feel its lacking in some places. Then there's MOTU, which I have experience with and thought it was alright. Good, cheap stuff that it seemed people liked more when put up against the firefaces in that blind test ran here a while ago. help me out, any guidance? any overlooked interfaces? any help?

15th September 2006, 08:19 PM	#2
Ricey Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: São Paulo/NYC Posts: 673	the MOTU is stable, but i much prefer the sound of my Metric Halo 2882. i think the difference is large. their Channelstrip is a great plug as well. edit: if you need preamps, however, it may not fit the budget... __________________ http://www.myspace.com/victorrice http://ultrabland.com/site/bios/index.php?id=4 YMMV - Your Money May Vanish

15th September 2006, 09:27 PM	#3
LewKellogg Gear interested Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 20	Just a suggestion but be careful about "pooling money" arrangements. You might end up losing a friendship and you'll find those are hard to come by. You can always get gear... __________________ Lew Kings Mill Audio "Oh that magic feeling. No where to go"

16th September 2006, 04:41 AM	#7
warhead Jai guru deva om Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 7,766	How many tracks at once do you need to record? Do you own a mixer / preamps? War __________________ Warren Dent Email: warren (at) frontendaudio (dot) com Front End Audio Sells Gear Tuesday Testers: Hear the Gear Shootouts Product Videos on YouTube: Overviews of Gear

16th September 2006, 03:35 PM	#10
warhead Jai guru deva om Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 7,766	I just don't think you could go wrong with an Onyx 1640 with firewire card. Great pres (I use them all the time) and the conversion is quite decent as well. It is a mixer, but that mixer would also allow you to setup monitor mixes for musicians easily and it also could double as the board for any live gigs you have (and you could record those gigs to a laptop). My $.02 War __________________ Warren Dent Email: warren (at) frontendaudio (dot) com Front End Audio Sells Gear Tuesday Testers: Hear the Gear Shootouts Product Videos on YouTube: Overviews of Gear

15th September 2006, 09:55 PM	#4
NesNeedsGear Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 540	for $2500 your options are wide open. I'd go Creamware Scope Professional for that $. You can find it for $1500 and STILL have money left over ($1000) for a top-notch 2channel pre. Toft ATC-2 pre/comp/eq in one, Langevin Dual Mono pre/eq?? RME HDSP hdsp 24/96 also makes a GREAT interface for your budget, plus $1250 left over for a UAD card and a badass 2ch pre. John Hardy m-2??? Apogee mini-me? good luck with your purchase.

16th September 2006, 04:02 AM	#5
shanabit Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 902	Blindly speaking, I have a MOTU 828MKII and if I had to do it over again, Id get and RME. Great drivers and BETTER build quality IMO.

16th September 2006, 01:26 PM	#9
robd Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 650	tho onyxes definitely sound way better than the motus. I can't compare to the rmes, though.

20th September 2006, 12:48 AM	#12
soundawg Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Surrey BC Posts: 430	How about RME? Fireface 800 with an OctaMic-D should do it!

20th September 2006, 03:01 AM	#13
redddog Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,271	Not the octamic d. Oh no he dit-nt. The pres that RME make are the one drawback to the FF800. Better options out there IMO.

20th September 2006, 04:57 AM	#14
audioalchemy Gear maniac Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 186	here ya go get a fireface (because the conversion rules) it has 4 pres that are totally useable. then you can add pres via the line in or adat in. most pres that have the adat option aren't anything too high end or boutique or whatever but they are good. also get a master word clock. there ya go. simple simple simple. oh btw, the motu stuff is killer if you use an external wordclock. i would stay away from the mackie stuff i have used it and imho it sucks don't go PTLE unless you have to good a/d good d/a good clock, treat your room and anything should be fine. remember gear can't replace your ears. peace, and happy shopping, Creston

20th September 2006, 05:58 PM	#15
initialsBB Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: LA Posts: 747	Here's another vote for the Metric Halo mio 2882. Get 2 of those and you'll have 16 channels of pres and conversion for about $2600. And then if you put in equal amounts of money you each own one. But if you're just starting out do you really need 16 channels? What are you going to be recording?

21st September 2006, 04:32 AM	#16
Andrew Kinsey Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: London Posts: 599	I second the Metric Halo 2882 IO, IMO their better than the MOTU 828MK2's and also very affordable considering the number of ins & outs. If your on a limited budget have a look at the Hercules FW16/12. __________________ Best Wishes, Andrew Kinsey High End Audio Equipment Specialists In the UK & Europe

21st September 2006, 07:37 AM	#17
omor Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 12	if i went with something, say a used apogee rosetta 800, do you guys have any ideas for good pres that will keep me in my price range?

29th October 2006, 06:59 AM	#18
Sirocco Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,483	the people are always trashing my fireface's pres __________________ Drum Sounds Used On Billboard Hits, Countless Tracks, & By Top Producers

1st November 2006, 04:12 PM	#19
NuSkoolTone Gear maniac Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NY Posts: 221	Where does the Echo AudioFire fall into this? Everyone keeps comparing them to the RME's, but no definitive conclusions.

3rd November 2006, 02:49 AM	#21
snappydad Gear maniac Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: High Desert Posts: 217	Metric Halo stuff is fantastic for the Mac. VERY well built and well thought out too. I've had a ULN2 (2 channel) that has become the hub of my home studio and have a 2882+DSP on the way. The 2882 does ADAT on the back too so you can add 8 more channels cheap with something like a Presonus Digimax. There are MANY threads on this site that can inform you, so don't forget to use the search feature here. Good stuff the Metric Halo gear. One thing to remember: 16 channels is a lot when you start adding up the cost of all those cables and stands and mics etc. Don't forget to figure that stuff into the "price of admission". Good luck with the search! jeffP __________________ The world of 'Gandharvas', wherein sound, as in song and music, is the prevailing quality of existence. (Tibet)

3rd November 2006, 03:01 AM	#22
gsilbers Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,308	motu traveler or 828 with outboard pres with digital I/O. i dunno much of 8 channel pres with digital I/0. or 2 new motu's 8to pre chained together via firewire. al though the convertion quality of the RME's are really good. but u'l still need that 8channel pre with digital I/O

3rd November 2006, 03:32 AM	#23
Nosound Gear maniac Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 182	To bad you spent your money on a super PC I would have got a HD standalone like Mackie, Tascam, Alesis recorder and Mackie Onyx 800r and 2 FmR RNP and Sytek and 24 channel mixer and then Cubase, or Soundforge, AA and a control suface and PC with Firewire, Firewire tranfer box for PC editing and push record and not have to scroll thru menus. But hey that's my setup and works good enough for awesome recordings good luck and have fun.

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