Ableton Live Firewire/USB interface for live gigs?

[ScottAltiz]

Hey guys
After 2 years of not DJing I've decided to get back into it. Being in the NYC area without a car, I'm trying to keep the setup to a backpack full of stuff. I downloaded Ableton 7 demo and used it for 14 days and I really like what the program does. What interface are you guys using to DJ live?
Scott

[vyedmic]

I have in backpack M-Audio Transit. Sounds nice and didn't have any problem with drivers on leopard macbook/windows xp pc.

[ScottAltiz]

I'm looking to get something with at least 2 sets of balanced outputs
anyone else?

[allcentury]

i dj with a motu ultralite, ROCK SOLID on a mac... few issues on PC

[Phaidon]

Native Instruments Audio Kontrol 1

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS : Products : AUDIO KONTROL 1

[plaid_emu]

I second the MOTU Ultralite if you're on a limited budget. If you've got a bit more cash go for an RME Fireface 400. Both are excellent sounding interfaces with solid drivers.

I don't know if Digidesign has improved their drivers or their converters lately but I used to own an Mbox a few years back and that thing was really flaky and just plain bad sounding. It would randomly burst into 190 dB of white noise without any prompting.

This was especially interesting when you're winding down for the evening with the lights low, listening to DroneZone or Steve Roach, about ready to drift into dreamland...................SSSSSHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIISSSSSSSSHIIHISIIIIIIIHHHSSSSSHHHHHHHISSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Scramble to shut down the monitors..........wide awake for the next hour or so.

[monstr]

ECHO AUDIOFIRE 4 (4 ins/4 out) balanced
rock solid on leopard

[Dysanfel]

Apogee Duet has the best D/A converters, is bus powered, and fits in a Crown Royal bag.

[ScottAltiz]

I'm not totally worried about converters.. I'll mostly be doing bars/house parties on crappy PAs. I'd record any 'sets' or 'albums' on our Neve 8868 with PT HD.. that'll sound just fine :p


Anyone use the M-audio 410? Echofire is looking pretty good also

[PHR]

Presonus Firebox, a classic with good enough sonics..........

[bosonhavoc]

+1 for firebox
its small, simple and alot of routing options

+ a built in midi interface which comes in handy

[ScottAltiz]

Audio Kontrol looks awesome. Free synth too.. Tempting

[Phaidon]

Originally Posted by ScottAltiz

Audio Kontrol looks awesome. Free synth too.. Tempting

Yeap! I bought it just to get Massive. You can also do a lot of cool stuff with the main knob on the AK1,such as filter cutoff,res,etc.

[ScottAltiz]

Is it stable? I've heard mixed opinions on usb interfaces..although i had an mbox for 2 years with no major problems

[Hi PHi]

+1 for the Presonus Firebox. I use one to DJ. Affordable. Rugged. Works. The MIDI connection is handy.

The TC Live Konnekt is definitely worth a look, too. It sounds really good to me. It has a bunch of DSP plugins on it. MIDI connection (I'm pretty sure). It also comes with Ableton Lite 6, which Ableton is running an upgrade special on now.

[ScottAltiz]

I get educational discount as I'm an SAE alumni.. The Audio Kontrol is lookin mo betta and betta. I can think of 50 uses for the knob/3 buttons even after adding a control surface. My only concern is the USB. anyone?

[Lessli]

Dunno if this helps...but in almost three years I used RME fireface 800, it NEVER crashed on me. I think that says a lot. I expect FF400 to be just as stable.

[Phaidon]

Originally Posted by ScottAltiz

Is it stable? I've heard mixed opinions on usb interfaces..although i had an mbox for 2 years with no major problems

No problems so far.Very stable.

[reptar]

I DJ with a Firebox, as said already it's rugged and it works well enough, I haven't had any problems using it on OSX. If I were in the market for a new one I'd be looking at the Echo though, seems to have a better rep for the convertors and there's no midi breakout cable to lose.

[Sha'ul]

Originally Posted by plaid_emu

I don't know if Digidesign has improved their drivers or their converters lately but I used to own an Mbox a few years back and that thing was really flaky and just plain bad sounding. It would randomly burst into 190 dB of white noise without any prompting.

do you think this is the same reason why whenever I'd like to sample in Ableton it's naturally ALWAYS in the reds. same with Logic. but oh no, when I open PT it works perfect. I have the Mbox 1 btw, and need confirmation this is my problem so I can throw it out and buy a new interface alredy.

[networkacid]

+1 MOTU Ultralite. Even more fun if you send multiple channels out to a DJ Mixer.

[lhm1138]

Originally Posted by monstr

ECHO AUDIOFIRE 4 (4 ins/4 out) balanced
rock solid on leopard

Yep, Echo Audio gets much love from me.