I need a portable AD/DA solution.

[bdunard]

I have a Panasonic/Ramsa AD96 and Panasonic/Ramsa DA96 wired into my home studio rack using optical and a RME HDSP 9652. I record using Samplitude and have recently found the need to venture to others studios to record. The problem is most of them use Pro Tools, Radar, Nuendo etc.. So I want to start taking my laptop and HD so that I don't have to go through a bunch of CD burning and importing. I probably will not need more than 2 channels of AD/DA but if 8 isn't a big jump more I would consider it. I want something with good driver reliability (I have had good luck with RME). My laptop has the unpowered firewire bus (S400...i think). I has USB 2.0 and a card bus. I don't need mic pres as I will rack a Great River MP2NV with the unit. I have done some research and I have found:

RME Fireface 800 (I don't need the pres)
Rosetta 200 (have to buy the firewire card)

Is there something cheaper that is getting good reviews. I don't know where my Ramsa's/Panasonic stack up now but I liked them favorably to the earlier apogee stuff.

I thought if I bought the Apogee Rosetta I might just use it at home as well since it would be a sizeable purchase and would quite possibly be an upgrade over my Panasonic's. Any thoughts?

[AdamJay]

since you have cardbus, i would go with the RME Mutiface 2 with PCMCIA Cardbus adapter.

This way you aren't paying for the pre's. It also gives you adat for digital multitracking to and from other people's DAWs if they have ADAT. And its very portable (1/2 Rack).

This bundle runs $950. and for another $269 you can get a PCI Card to use the Multiface 2 in your desktop computer.

[bdunard]

I don't have a cardbus. I have a PCI 9652 HDSP for my tower. At any rate it seems like a much cheaper solution than the Rosetta 200. However, If I did buy the rosetta 200 I could use it at home. What is general feeling of the multiface's converters? I have never used RME converters. Does the new Multiface II stack up any better to the rosetta's, myteks, etc...?

[AdamJay]

Originally Posted by bdunard

I don't have a cardbus. I have a PCI 9652 HDSP for my tower. At any rate it seems like a much cheaper solution than the Rosetta 200. However, If I did buy the rosetta 200 I could use it at home. What is general feeling of the multiface's converters? I have never used RME converters. Does the new Multiface II stack up any better to the rosetta's, myteks, etc...?

sorry i thought i read that you had USB 2.0 and cardbus on your laptop.

The RME is good, not as good as Mytek or Apogee, but better than Motu IMO. it is considerably less than Apogee and Mytek, however.

[bdunard]

Has anyone heard if RME is going to make some sort of smaller fireface? Does anyone make a 4 in and 4 out that isn't edriol or m-audio?

[AdamJay]

the Motu UltraLite is worth looking at.
$550 8 in 10 out.

[bdunard]

I wouldn't be against getting something more expensive if I could use it in my home rig as well as mobile...that being said I would want it to be better than my Ramsa/Panasonic WZ AD96 and DA 96 in my home rig. I have heard that RME might be making a Fireface that is smaller. I am not sure about that though.