MOST RELIABLE INTERFACE FOR MAC PROS RIGHT NOW?

[eskay]

I'm about to purchase a 3 Ghz Mac Pro this week but have a huge dilema . I need an interface that is the most reliable and would provide me with the lowest latency for recording and using VST synths.
The computer will be used in conjunction with Cubase, Live, Reason and Pro-Tools. I already have an M Box Pro for Pro-Tools which only being used to edit PT session that people bring me. I will not go the Apogee Symphony rout. At the price point point of getting a symphony card and an ensemble I would rather get a Lynx Aurora 16 with an Lynx AES card. Unfortunately they don't have a PCI Express card available yet. So I'm thinking that maybe an RME Fireface would do the trick for now, then sell it in a couple of months. Hopefully I don't lose much re-sell value. Should I look into MOTU or M-Audio? Or should I do the unthinkable and wait until February to get a Mac Pro, and hopefully Lynx should have a card out by then.

Let me know for you help.
Many thanks.

Spiros Kassimis

[eskay]

bump

No solutions?

[foldback]

Ensemble runs on Firewire and comes complete with everything you need, no extra cards.

[foldback]

I've read quite a few comments about the Ensemble and Max from Apogee posts to this board regularly. You don't need a Symphony to use an Ensemble firewire interface.

Another nice thing about the Apogee equipment that none of those other brands have, when you go to sell it, you'll get 60 to 70 percent of your money back out of it provided you keep it in good condition.

Total cost of ownership is something that a lot fo people don't look at. When you factor in the high resale value of the hardware at the end of your use Apple and Apogee have some of the lowest "total cost of ownership" of any pro brand.

[eskay]

I didn't know that the ensemble runs on Firewire? What is the lowest latency that it can actually deliver? Also a very importantly can it be used as a stand alone AD/DA converter? I understand about Apogee's resale value. I'm also quite shure that a Lynx Aurora wont lose it's resell value as well.

Many thanks.

Spiros Kassimis

[tomdarude]

as you mentioned the Lynx Aurora16...
it sounds amazing (though I only worked a few hours on it)
and I´d say it´s def. more in the AD/DA16x-league
(which rosetta and ensemble are not imo.)

I´d email Lynx and RME (they also have a 32ch. AES-pci card) and ask when to expect a PCIe-version!!

otherwise I get a used MetricHalo 2882 I/O

[eskay]

I know what you mean. Dropping 2k is a lot for the Apogee Ensemble. 500 to 600 dollars more and I can get the Lynx Aurora. I spoke with Lynx and the told me end of January beginning of February. Thanks for heads up on RME. I guess I have to email them. Since it's a new card it might be PCI express as well.

Thanks.

Spiros.

p.s. Man I didn't know that it's taken manufacturers this long to comply to the new PCI format. Apple has been notorius in the last 5 years with OS X to Intel to PCI E. I think now with OSX 10.4 intel and PCI E can we finally have a f@cking system that will be the Host based system we've been waiting from Apple the last 3 to 4 years. I know on the PC side there have been faster host systems, but I just can't wait to for all the dust to settle on the Mac side.

[theblotted]

FF800 works well with MP 3GHz here.

in conjunction with M-Audio FW1814, not so pretty. kernal panics once per week. not so in case of G5.

i leave FW1814 disconnected until i need it.

[eskay]

Originally Posted by theblotted

FF800 works well with MP 3GHz here.

in conjunction with M-Audio FW1814, not so pretty. kernal panics once per week. not so in case of G5.

i leave FW1814 disconnected until i need it.

What app are you running the fireface with? Did you use it with the G5? I know the firewire interfaces take up some processing power from the computer, how does it run with the Intel 3Ghz? I think this might be the best solution for me at the moment.
Many thanks for your reply.

Spiros.

[theblotted]

Originally Posted by eskay

What app are you running the fireface with? Did you use it with the G5? I know the firewire interfaces take up some processing power from the computer, how does it run with the Intel 3Ghz? I think this might be the best solution for me at the moment.
Many thanks for your reply.

Spiros.

Apps:
-Logic 7.2.3
-PT-MP 7.1.1
-DP 5.1
-Reason 3.0.5
-Peak 5.2

yes i used it with G5. with MP, it's not too bad. i still can't get below 64 buffer like some ppl mention 'round here, but i doubt they're using FF800. otherwise, it's very solid.

like i said, becareful of M-Audio; cuz they don't officially support having 2 audio interfaces connected at the same time.

g'luck.

[Søren Bendixen]

Originally Posted by eskay

I know what you mean. Dropping 2k is a lot for the Apogee Ensemble. 500 to 600 dollars more and I can get the Lynx Aurora. I spoke with Lynx and the told me end of January beginning of February. Thanks for heads up on RME. I guess I have to email them. Since it's a new card it might be PCI express as well.

Thanks.

Spiros.

p.s. Man I didn't know that it's taken manufacturers this long to comply to the new PCI format. Apple has been notorius in the last 5 years with OS X to Intel to PCI E. I think now with OSX 10.4 intel and PCI E can we finally have a f@cking system that will be the Host based system we've been waiting from Apple the last 3 to 4 years. I know on the PC side there have been faster host systems, but I just can't wait to for all the dust to settle on the Mac side.

My local dealer (denmark) told that RME will have a PCIe solution ready end of november, but nothing has happened so far. I you get any other information, please post it!
I´m on a mac pro and pretty frustrated too, just waiting..

soebx

[eskay]

I hear you man. I hope RME can do this at in December. This way it will also justify me purchasing a Dual 3 Intel at Christmas. If not I will than wait until end of January or beginning of February. I"m pretty sure we will see new Mac Pros at Macworld in January. I was really hoping that they were introduced now, but that doesn't seem likely.


You must be loving the Dual 3 though man. I can't wait until I get my hands on one!!!!!!!

[FFTT]

At this point, I would hang in there just a bit longer.
Quite honestly that could mean waiting till spring 2007.

I think the Mac Pro is the right machine, but I would hold of IF you can until
Apple releases the first Quad Core Mac Pro, then compare your options.

So many things will be coming together in 2007.

UB applications and plugins, PCI-e cards and the very strong likelihood
of price drops on the current Mac Pro line-up once the Quad Cores make their debut.

Those savings alone could determine which interface you can afford.

At the very least, I would hold off until MWSF in January
to see what that "just one more thing" might be.

[Switchcraft]

Mbox2 pro with logic works great for me.

[Søren Bendixen]

Originally Posted by eskay

I hear you man. I hope RME can do this at in December. This way it will also justify me purchasing a Dual 3 Intel at Christmas. If not I will than wait until end of January or beginning of February. I"m pretty sure we will see new Mac Pros at Macworld in January. I was really hoping that they were introduced now, but that doesn't seem likely.


You must be loving the Dual 3 though man. I can't wait until I get my hands on one!!!!!!!

oooooh yeah. It goes by the name MONSTER..
Only problem is when you work on other computers - they´re just too slow!
soebx

[theblotted]

Originally Posted by soebx

oooooh yeah. It goes by the name MONSTER..
Only problem is when you work on other computers - they´re just too slow!
soebx

i got the exact same MP. i can mos def attest to this

...but still wondering why i can't go below 64 buffer in Logic. must be FF800...?

[pianoman]

Originally Posted by eskay

Should I look into MOTU or M-Audio?

Spiros Kassimis

If you're considering MOTU or M-Audio, you might also want to consider Presonus.

[6strings]

MOTU are generally first on the block with mac updates (including support for Intel macs). Can't do better for mac support, IMO.

[theblotted]

Originally Posted by 6strings

MOTU are generally first on the block with mac updates (including support for Intel macs). Can't do better for mac support, IMO.

actually, waited long time for MOTU drivers or DP5.1 to come out for Intel mac.

RME on the other hand, came out with driver even before Intel was officially released.

[FFTT]

I keep wondering who offers the BEST 2-4 channel I/O for my analog tracks.

I want a way to take the signal out of my DAV BG-1 direct into my system
without using my ProjectMix I/O

I'd rather not be forced to use the pad if I can avoid it.

I'm also wondering if ProTools will recognize the signal if it's not coming through
an M-Audio interface.

[pace]

I saw apogee's symphony card with a rosetta 800 running on a mac at a local guitar center and it was running at a 32 sample buffer!!! plus its available for pci-e or pci-x.

[Switchcraft]

I am running all of my sessions at 32 now with mbox2 pro. I am getting some crashes because of Stylus RMX tho, its still beta.

[pace]

how is the latency running logic on digi le hardware? i've heard that there is horrible latency when using the digi core audio drivers with logic or any other daw.

and running at 32 sample buffer is working? a friend of mine can't get that working with a 002 at 32 samples. any ideas?

[C.Lambrechts]

Originally Posted by foldback

Another nice thing about the Apogee equipment that none of those other brands have, when you go to sell it, you'll get 60 to 70 percent of your money back out of it provided you keep it in good condition.

Didn't you forget to mention that in order to actually be sure that you DO get thta kinda percentage (60 to 70) back you probably would have to sell it within 6 months of purchase and hope that in the meantime not some kind of new model came out ?

[Switchcraft]

32 works for me on digi hardware.

[theblotted]

Originally Posted by FFTT

I keep wondering who offers the BEST 2-4 channel I/O for my analog tracks.

I want a way to take the signal out of my DAV BG-1 direct into my system
without using my ProjectMix I/O

I'd rather not be forced to use the pad if I can avoid it.

I'm also wondering if ProTools will recognize the signal if it's not coming through
an M-Audio interface.

FFTT,

PT won't recognize signal unless coming thru M-Audio interface. you can, go via digital into M-Audio also (spdif, adat, etc.)

if you're using the pad, then you must be going thru the preamp. have you had a chance to talk to guys @ M-Audio to bypass it? it still surprises me that the line-in option is using the preamp gain stage.

[FFTT]

I think I can use just the one instrument input bypassing the preamp stage.

Apparently M-Audio figured that most users would be content with the M-Audio preamps, not really considering the possibility that some users might prefer to use better gear through it using the M-Audio as a convenient dongle.

What would I need to take advantage of the Toslink connections between the
PMIO and my G5? And any other device?

[kudzu]

15"MacBook Pro, Core2, 2.33Ghz, 3Gb Ram, 160Gb HD - Logic Pro 7.2.3 - RME FF800 ... Location recordings all week this week ... ROCK SOLID ... no issues ... Man, these machines have muscle !!! ...

[pace]

Originally Posted by Switchcraft

32 works for me on digi hardware.

Hey Switchcraft, please tell me what mac you have and how much processing you can run? I'm asking because a buddy of mine has a 2.66 mac pro and ha cannot get logic running at a 32 sample buffer with more than very very minimal processing.

Thanks for the info.

[Switchcraft]

I have a mac Pro 3 with 5 gigs, but I have not opened up any big sessions in a while at 32. I will try and let you know.