USB Based Interface for new Macbook without FireWire

[iamnotacowboy]

Sooo with the new Macbooks and Macbook Pros released today, I've run into a conundrum. I put my year old Macbook Pro on eBay last week, because I wanted to "downgrade" to one of the new Macbooks. (i just like the smaller size of the macbook and only need two pres) I run a Macbook Pro and the Apogee Duet. Well, as you probably all know by now, the Macbook now has no FireWire port soooo what in the hell am I going to do?!?!? I would prefer to get the new Macbook and sell the Duet and buy a comparable interface that would work with USB, but does that exist? I love th Duet and it's worked well for me, but I just don't want to shell out the extra grand that I would have to, to purchase another Macbook Pro given the hit I took on the eBay auction. Long story short.....

USB interface with two pre's comparable to the Duet?

[Fredrik]

If you only need stereo in/out I believe you can use optical sp/dif on the i/o of the macbook.

[chrispick]

The new 15" Macbook Pro has Firewire 800 I/O. You can use a bilingual cable to connect Firewire 400 devices to an 800 input, I believe.

EDIT: Oops! My bad. I totally misread your original post. Well, I guess my info is here for anyone else wanting to know.

[iamnotacowboy]

Right, but I'm trying to get the 13" Macbook that doesn't have FireWire. I suppose I could look for a 2 channel pre and go into the input of the system, but I was hoping for a system similar to the Duet which could also be powered form the computer etc.

[Fredrik]

You could get the white macbook that has the FW port, it got an update as well AFAIK.

[henryrobinett]

Why don't you get an older model? I would dream of buying a mac without firewire. You should be able to get a great deal on older models.

[iamnotacowboy]

But then I wouldn't have the hippest newest computer?!?! But seriously, I usually buy a new computer every year and sell it as the warranty ends. They generally hold their value enough that I come out pretty good as I exchange for the new one. I may just have to stick with the LARGE laptop and get one of the new Macbook Pros. I was just hoping there might be something out there USB that would solve my problem.

[henryrobinett]

I don't think there's nearly the amount of professional quality usb compared to firewire.

An older model still has a warranty. Even the refurbs have a one year warranty.

[iamnotacowboy]

True. I'm trying to find USB interfaces now and nothing seems to be standing out. I'll probably just get the new Macbook Pro if I can't find a proper interface. This thing is only for songwriting, but I've gotten used to the Duet and it's converters.

[cephas]

just saw the older ones at an apple store going for $999 brand new

[cephas]

as fyi....
i just spoke to a few of the sales guys at apple and they told me as far as they know. the macbook white $999 w/ firewire 400 will still be available for sale in the future (it is not being discontinued) as far as they know...
duets the way to go (they even sell it at the apple store now)

[RichS]

Just a point...

If you're going to buy a MacBook and a new USB interface, wouldn't that be close to the cost of a MacBook Pro and just using the Duet you already have? Even if there's a couple of hundred dollars difference, over the useful life of a laptop (5-7 years), maybe it amounts to $50-75 a year. I assume you earn some money recording. What's the problem here?

Besides, going with the MacBook Pro, you get firewire 800/400, USB 2.0, and more importantly, an Expresscard/34 slot that will give you plenty of options for somewhat "future-proof" connections.

Saving a little money now might cost you a lot more down the road.

[mrhenry76]

you can always buy a PCMCIA card with a firewire 400 port ... so you can use th apogee ...
it's not like havin' a port on the laptop, but better than havin' none!

[RichS]

Originally Posted by mrhenry76

you can always buy a PCMCIA card with a firewire 400 port ... so you can use th apogee ...

The new MacBook doesn't have a PCMCIA slot.

[mandoman]

I'd recommend tracking down a used (now discontinued) Apogee Mini-Me w/USB option if you want a decent usb interface for the new macbook.

The other suggestion was pretty good too, ie, use the optical in and get something like a Grace v3 with optical mod if you want a really high-end pre/converter, but that'll cost some serious coin.

If you wish to stick with the duet, I'd either get the $999 macbook as suggested or buy a refurb previous generation MBP.

[007]

Originally Posted by iamnotacowboy

But then I wouldn't have the hippest newest computer?!?! But seriously, I usually buy a new computer every year and sell it as the warranty ends. They generally hold their value enough that I come out pretty good as I exchange for the new one. I may just have to stick with the LARGE laptop and get one of the new Macbook Pros. I was just hoping there might be something out there USB that would solve my problem.

Hmm...I've read each one of your replies and still can't figure out what you're trying to accomplish, more like why you're trying to re-invent your wheel. I mean, yeah, the new Macbooks are cute, and you would like something a bit smaller, but seriously, it doesn't sound like you need it. So, I hardly see this whole conundrum as a problem. You're willing to sacrifice a great interface, the Duet, with an already very capable laptop, your Macbook Pro which is only a year old, for a laptop that is marginally smaller, but has no FW ports, and hoping to find a decent USB interface to pair it up with, essentially adapting a brand new recording setup around around them and going full circle, at which point you'll stare at the whole thing and think "wow, was this worth it?". Seems like a 2 step forward 3 steps back kind of approach.

You mention you buy a new computer every year? That I don't get, but it's none of my biz, to each his own. My personal thought on this is keep your Duet, keep your Macbook Pro if it hasn't sold yet, and if it has, just get another Mac with a FW port and keep making music. Unless I'm the one who's not reading into this properly (and if I am I apologize), zoom out and look at the big picture of your said conundrum.

[mandoman]

It sounds like he already sold his MBP. That's too bad.

Personally, as sexy as the new macbooks are, as a firewire musician, I'd boycott buying the new macbook until apple fixes them by bringing back firewire. Yeah, that's pretty unlikely I know, it really sucks.

Regardless of the firewire issue, I wouldn't buy the new machines anyway unless you like being a beta tester. The new nvidia chipset is not proven, and I hear the new MBP use the Agere/Lucent firewire chipset on the MBP which have been problematic for some people.

Not sure what I'd do in your situation - probably keep the duet and buy a refurb last gen MBP (yes, sucks that is virtually the same computer you just sold, but you can get those pretty cheap now and you'd have your new full year warranty).

Whatever you decide, don't let it stop you from making music!

Originally Posted by krou

You mention you buy a new computer every year? That I don't get, but it's none of my biz, to each his own. My personal thought on this is keep your Duet, keep your Macbook Pro if it hasn't sold yet, and if it has, just get another Mac with a FW port and keep making music. Unless I'm the one who's not reading into this properly (and if I am I apologize), zoom out and look at the big picture of your said conundrum.

[henryrobinett]

It seems like the tail wagging the dog to me.

This is what I hate about manufacturers deciding for the end user. YOU decide what you want and how you will work, to a somewhat limited degree, based on what's available. But because Apple does away with firewire, I can only guess temporarily, someone goes along with the program and sells off what isn't compatible just to have the latest??? To me it's nuts. But maybe I'm nuts.

[chickenbackside]

It smells to me like Apple is going to release some kind of proprietary Logic hardware interface by killing off firewire...

Forces people to use Logic if they want to use a portable Apple computer.

Also applies to the video side of things...

[macleodgrant]

this type of move from apple just annoys me. i mean we have such limited options as it is because we chose to use apple stuff!

they're most certainly not accommodating for their user base properly!