Audio interfaces: Firewire 400 vs. USB 2.0 (Focusrite Saffire, TASCAM US 200 + more)

[Doctor Rockter]

Thanks for your recommendation.

So would you say that the SCARLETT has also better converters and pre's than the Firewire-Saffire-series (Pro 14 / Pro 24 and so on) ??

[Masaaki]

USB2.0 interfaces are better for newer PC laptops, particularly if they don't have expresscard slot. Among the one you listed, I also recommend Scarlet 2i2, or Presonus 22VSL. But in your case, you have another great option, Apogee Duet (the first generation, firewire version). You could find used one around $250 in Ebay US, so you should be able to find within your budget. It's portable, and have a nice sound. A gift from ebay stuff?? Well, that's up to you....and her. There are many 'mint' condition listings.

[Doctor Rockter]

So regarding the FireWire 400 port: Is the Focusrite Pro 24 here in advantage over the Scarlett ???

And again the question: Do you know if these units have the same preamps and converters built in?

[Masaaki]

From my experience, owning Presonus Audiobox (USB1.0 version) and Saffire Pro 24 DSP, their preamps are in the same league, but I'll give Saffire a slight edge, but not night-and-day difference. I also want to mention, preamps in these units are not powerful enough to drive low output dynamic mics, like SM7b or RE20. You'll need either condenser mics or gain booster (works via 48v phantom) like cloudlifter.

In terms of the port, FW connection used to give you better performance in terms of low latency performance, as compared to USB1.0 interfaces. FW also allows you to expand via 8ch lightpipe etc. But USB2.0 interfaces got better these days, and I don't think Saffire 24 has a huge advantage over USB interfaces any more. One big difference is expandability via 8ch lightpipe. If she doesn't need expandability Scarlett is the way to go. Preamps of Saffire and Scarlett are probably the same (just speculating, but safe assumption----in the end, preamps/converters in those units are all similar, and don't make differences anyway).

As to the preamp and sound quality, once again, Duet will probably win it among all the interfaces you listed with relatively a big margin. If she's going to use it for interviews, she can plug in RE20 to Duet, and it will give her broadcasting quality voice/sound right away.

[Luke44]

avoid Saffire 6 usb at all costs, drivers are horrible, I still have it but the sound cuts out every so often and I have to restart cubase, it brings me nothing but problems :/

[Doctor Rockter]

Thank you !
I already read in the last hours that the USB 6 is not that great.

But now I am torn between the Scarlett 2i2 and - also due to an incredible offer - the Saffire Pro 24 (Firewire). The Pro 24 would be great because its Firewire 400 connection is supported on the Macbook..

[Travst]

Originally Posted by Doctor Rockter

Thank you !
I already read in the last hours that the USB 6 is not that great.

But now I am torn between the Scarlett 2i2 and - also due to an incredible offer - the Saffire Pro 24 (Firewire). The Pro 24 would be great because its Firewire 400 connection is supported on the Macbook..

I loved my Pro 24. Good quality pres and nice scalability. The mix software is very powerful and flexible as well. If you plan to stay with firewire, I think it is a good choice. I used the ADAT to add an ADA8000 to mine.

[Doctor Rockter]

Which software is delivered together with the Pro 24 ??

Ableton Live Lite 8?

[Travst]

Originally Posted by Doctor Rockter

Which software is delivered together with the Pro 24 ??

Ableton Live Lite 8?

I bought mine 18 months ago and it came with Ableton 7 Light. According to Sweetwater, 7 is still bundled with the Pro 24.

[Doctor Rockter]

And Ableton Live Light is an ok DAW for easy applications like speech/interviews and vocals (over a stereo track)?

[Travst]

Originally Posted by Doctor Rockter

And Ableton Live Light is an ok DAW for easy applications like speech/interviews and vocals (over a stereo track)?

I don't see why not, although my experience with it is limited. I use Reaper.

[Doctor Rockter]

@ TRAVST:

Did you also experience the gain-problems MASAAKI described above?

[Travst]

Originally Posted by Doctor Rockter

@ TRAVST:

Did you also experience the gain-problems MASAAKI described above?

Yes, I had to turn the gain up almost all the way with some mics. However, I experimented with the line/mic settings and switching that option in MixControl often solved the problem.

[TimOBrienFlorida]

Since no one answered your original question:

Originally Posted by Doctor Rockter

[B]1. Which is by your experience faster on an older Macbook Pro: Firewire 400 or USB 2.0 ??

There is no 'faster'. The speed of electricity is the same.

Firewire has a higher CAPACITY. Fw400 can stream well over 100 simultaneous channels at a time whereas most consumer usb2 interfaces top out around 16.

If you are not recording more than 16 channels at a time it just doesn't matter which on you use....

[Doctor Rockter]

Thx for all your help guys!

[machoboy]

I like the Pro 24 a lot. I owned a couple of the Scarlett interfaces and here's something you need to know about any USB interface, regardless of the old USB vs Firewire speed debate, the more USB devices you have connected to your computer the more problems you seem to have both with driver stability and latency. Unplugging my webcam or mouse with my DAW running with my USB interfaces would make windows terminate to blue screen. A lot of people immediately yell "shitty drivers!" without considering that they're simply running into the hardware limitations inherent to USB. While you may not be using webcams or anything while recording, other stuff peripherals may share latency such as usb "midi" controllers and cause similar issues.

Firewire is the middleground I like between PCI and USB. USB has issues in general and PCI cards are just barebones computer hardware that will be obsolete in a year and assume you have a high end preamp to go with it (some day I will go this route when I have an unlimited budget, but not yet).

A good firewire interface is just in the middle with decent speed and decent value, throw in the Focusrite preamps, extra inputs/outputs, and the deals the now a few years old Pro 24 is going for (I got mine for the same price as the Pro 14) and its an easy choice...

[Doctor Rockter]

Yeah, right, Focusrite already told me about this issue some hours ago.

It seems as if the Saffire Pro 24 would be the right choice at the moment..