Should I just get a Fireface800?

[danbronson]

I've been looking at firewire interfaces in the 8 channel/$1000 range. There are a few options with incredible looking features like the Mackie 1200F and Steinberg MR816 (I'm a Cubase user).

They all have important features to me like:
-the ability to expand with ADAT (I will want 12 to 16 inputs)
-near-zero latency mixers (monitoring without latency is a big deal to me!)
-on-board pres (apparently the Mackie and Steinbergs sound really nice)

Some of them boast better features than the RME stuff like better preamps and on-board effects (zero-latency monitoring with reverb would be great).

What they don't have is a reputation for being SOLID. Every interface I look at has an army of people slagging it off because it failed them. The only one I haven't found so far with lots of negative feedback is the RME Fireface800. A lot of people use them and they've been around for a while, so that says to me that any bugs out there have probably been ironed out by now. The FF800 costs almost double what I wanted to spend, but the phrase 'you get what you pay for' usually holds true.

What do you guys think? I'm feeling overwhelmed right now so I need some input! Thanks.

[Reptil]

I'm happy using mine in my synth room at home.
also doubles as a CV-gate interface for analogue synths.
check a second hand one. they rarely break down.
and yes. the reputation for rock solid drivers is deserved.

you could also consider a raydat card, and some other interface.
more $$ though..

[trock]

aside from the ADAT you want...

i sold my RME FF 800 for an N12 and cubase and never looked back

i had 2 FF 800 actually over the years

great piece

but the N12 is less money and i got a whole more with it, and it integrates with cubase perfectly, so for the ADAT option i would go with the MR series

[danbronson]

Hmm, I've been thinking. At this point, I think I will just take advantage of return policies. I'll go for the MR816 first, since it has the best set of features. If that doesn't work, I'll try the Mackie 1200F (I won't need any additional ins/outs + it has 4 headphone outs on the front). If that doesn't work, I'm going with the FF800. If that doesn't work? New computer cause something's wrong!

[jcschild]

HI,

if you need low latency

RME
Echo
Motu
Yamaha/steinberg.

not Mackie!

Scott
ADK

[Raygun]

Big yes for RME! What they have in the Fireface family is unique, IMHO. Very good converters, very reliable AND more than decent mic pre's! And all three RME products I've used have been so reliable I suspect they simply can't fail. I also think that they are a little pricey but really, for what you get it's actually cheap. In any case, they're not expensive..

[daverich]

Originally Posted by jcschild

HI,

if you need low latency

RME
Echo
Motu
Yamaha/steinberg.

not Mackie!

Scott
ADK

strange.

I get lower latency with my onxy 1640 than I ever did with my fireface.

Kind regards

Dave Rich

[Gordon]

Originally Posted by daverich

strange.

I get lower latency with my onxy 1640 than I ever did with my fireface.

Kind regards

Dave Rich

How low is low?

[danbronson]

When you're talking about on-board DSP mixers (which all of these units have), I think 'low' is 'it doesn't even matter anymore'. One of these units I think was 0.7 ms I think? I forget exactly but either way you'd be hard pressed to find a singer who thinks it sounds weird. I suppose it's possible that the delay could be just enough to cause phase anomalies, but as far as noticing a delay goes, it's not likely to happen.

[daverich]

Originally Posted by Gordon

How low is low?

well, the mackie will run at 3ms and functionally so.

I have an athlon 4400 x2.

If I run the Mackie at 5ms however, the latency is noticibly lower than the RME used to be at 5ms. My guess is theres no extra buffer latency added with the onyx.

Kind regards

Dave Rich.

[Sacha]

I would get the FF (and did). It's proven solid and reliable and has worked great for me so far. Totalmix is totalsweet. I don't think you should buy an interface because of mic pres etc., the main criteria for an interface should what it does as an audio card with your computer. You can always get better mic pres / converters etc. later.

[trock]

the Yamaha N12 AD/DA was better than the RME FF 800. I played the same sessions, in the same room, same settings, same monitors thru it when i got it and the DA is really really good, better than the FF 800. I heard alot more details especially in the bass that i did not hear before with the 800.

when i record thru it i am using the same mics, the pendulum quarter, la 610, or sebatron thorax i used with the FF 800 and the AD is at least as good, it is not as noticeable as the DA for me, but it certainly is not worse

with Cubase the N12 is as stable as the RME and as well supported thru George and Yamaha

then you get into the other stuff the FF 800 does not have

the eq is really good, the sweet spot morph comp is great, the reverbs are better than the plugs i have, altiverb etc

not to mention the transport controls, the ability to have 3 sets of monitors off it, the aux headphones for a mix set up just for the singer etc, and the ability to connect 3 of them together!

anyway, i loved my RME, but for me and cubase the N12 was a huge step forward

but you will not have the ADAT!

[danbronson]

Originally Posted by trock

...but you will not have the ADAT!

Indeed, and that's pretty important to me. The Steinberg MR816 supposedly has all the same pres, converters, software integration, etc. but lacks the mixer, which I wouldn't use anyway. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong though!

Thanks for the post!

[58lespaul]

One of the Pres on my Firestudio Project crapped out yesterday and I am now looking to upgrade (warranty is over =[ ). If you use Cubase (like I do) I think that the N12 and the MR816 are no brainers. George stated in the massive N12 thread that the N12 and the MR816 have the same converters and pre-amps (aka, Yamaha's top of the line stuff). As someone that is also going to upgrade I have chosen the MR816 over the FF800 for these reasons:

- The MR816 has superior converters to the FF800
- The MR816 has superior pre-amps to the FF800
- The MR816 comes with some excellent additional plug ins
- Full Cubase intergration (huge!)
- And the real kicker... it is cheaper than the FF800...

This makes sense since the FF800 is ancient in technology terms... it was released in what? 2004? I would go with the newer technology. Better bang for the buck =]

[jcschild]

Originally Posted by daverich

strange.

I get lower latency with my onxy 1640 than I ever did with my fireface.

Kind regards

Dave Rich

HI Dave,
normally i repsect what you post but i have to call bull on this.

NEVER on any system have i seen a Makie anything get anything called low lantecy.

i know they have recently improved their drivers but strill now where as good as what i listed.

i can go to 64buffer on an RME, lucky to get 256 with mackie.

Scott
ADK

[daverich]

Originally Posted by jcschild

HI Dave,
normally i repsect what you post but i have to call bull on this.

NEVER on any system have i seen a Makie anything get anything called low lantecy.

i know they have recently improved their drivers but strill now where as good as what i listed.

i can go to 64buffer on an RME, lucky to get 256 with mackie.

Scott
ADK

e.

well,- on my system the mackie works at lower latencies (which in real world terms are lower) than my RME used to.

Same Firewire controller card, same computer.

Dunno what else to say *shrug*

10ms is just about useable on the mackie,- on the fireface 10ms felt like alot of latency.

and like you say,- the fireface will go to 64 buffer,- but in fact the fireface isn't running at 64samples,- it's adding more latency on top - which the mackie doesn't.

I'm not dissing the fireface here btw,- it's a great unit.


Kind Regards

Dave Rich

[danbronson]

Originally Posted by 58lespaul

One of the Pres on my Firestudio Project crapped out yesterday and I am now looking to upgrade (warranty is over =[ ). If you use Cubase (like I do) I think that the N12 and the MR816 are no brainers. George stated in the massive N12 thread that the N12 and the MR816 have the same converters and pre-amps (aka, Yamaha's top of the line stuff). As someone that is also going to upgrade I have chosen the MR816 over the FF800 for these reasons:

- The MR816 has superior converters to the FF800
- The MR816 has superior pre-amps to the FF800
- The MR816 comes with some excellent additional plug ins
- Full Cubase intergration (huge!)
- And the real kicker... it is cheaper than the FF800...

This makes sense since the FF800 is ancient in technology terms... it was released in what? 2004? I would go with the newer technology. Better bang for the buck =]

Indeed, that's my reasoning for trying the MR816 first as well. Reliability is perhaps most important though, and the FF800 has proven itself there. The MR816 gets trashed for this everywhere I look (but it's brand new so I'll cut it a little slack).