rme fireface for classical music

[fafalio]

dear friends
i d like to know if RME fireface would be good for classical recordings.
i need neutral converters. i want to buy an audio card to connect to my mac book pro.
sometimes it is said that fireface converters are metalic/coloured for classical recording.
what do you think about this?
thanks Alessandro.

[John Willett]

I do classical recording and I have the RME Fireface 400.

But I have only used the D/A part as I actually record onto a Fostex FR-2 via the Audio & Design DMA-2.

For classical, if you can't afford the Prism Orpheus, I would say that the FF400 is the next best thing. Which is why I got it.

[Mats H]

Originally Posted by fafalio

dear friends
i d like to know if RME fireface would be good for classical recordings.
i need neutral converters. i want to buy an audio card to connect to my mac book pro.
sometimes it is said that fireface converters are metalic/coloured for classical recording.
what do you think about this?
thanks Alessandro.

Hi Alessandro!

My 2 cents: The Fireface 800 is good for recording most things. As most pieces of audio equipment, it performs within it's price range. More expensive converters will sound better, but for what it does, it does it very well. It sounds transparent, though not as smooooth as Lavry Blues, which is one of the few converters I've compared it to.

The D/A is not always entirely pleasant to listen to, a wee clinical and hard upper mid range and very articulate. It perhaps accentuates the upper mids a bit, but if you get it to sound good, listening to the FF800, it should sound really good on better converters. Others have pointed out that the A/D section is actually quite good, comparable to Apogee's Rosetta 800 converter.

I've recorded choirs, symphony orchestras, smaller ensembles, bands, a lot of individual musicians and a bunch of concerts since 2005 and it has never let med down. Totally reliable. Just don't unplug the Firewire cable while recording . I've used it live on a musical as 6 channel strips for FOH, while recording 16 channels of audio simultanously without a glitch. I've used it as a FOH mixer in other situations. I rely on the FF800 as a soundcard, even if I sometimes use other converters for better sound. I bought a Lake People F44 A/D converter recently, which sound better. But for what the Fireface does, it's a very good value, a very flexible soundcard. Perhaps the most flexible there is.

[David Spearritt]

Also take a look at the SK48, I am using it for classical recording at 96k.
StudioKonnekt 48

[Larry Elliott]

David
How do you find the TC Software - there seems to be a few gripes about it. I demoed one of the earlier units in the range and was not too impressed with the software.

Alessandro

Currently I am using a FF400 on my PC rig for choral and small orchestras and I think it represents good value for the price.

Larry

[David Spearritt]

Hi Larry, the TC software is one of the main reasons I sold the Lynx Aurora and bought the SK48. The software mixer is an ergonomic masterpiece, so much more usable than the Lynx mixer.

I have found the software drivers to be unconditonally stable with recording, multitrack at 96kHz, no problem. I have some issues when trying to use the Fabrik plugs in a third party host, ie Wavelab. TC are still working on this. The sound quality is superb.