the best computer interface less than $400

[dastrick]

I'm a Presonus fan, myself.

Firepod, Firestudio, etc....

[jtomme65]

I did something similar last spring with a mackie onyx and a motu 8pre. The motu is 549 but you might find one used for 400

[mbgr199]

Thanks for all the replies. after reading all your recomendations and research on my own, i come up with three choices:

1) Motu 2408 MKII used $350
2) Motu 8pre
3) Motu ultralite MK3

What do you think?

Thanks

[dgatwood]

Originally Posted by mbgr199

Thanks for all the replies. after reading all your recomendations and research on my own, i come up with three choices:

1) Motu 2408 MKII used $350
2) Motu 8pre
3) Motu ultralite MK3

What do you think?

Thanks

All good hardware.

Regarding FireWire versus USB and driver problems, yes, USB does have more problems. This is mainly because there are a lot of really dodgy USB audio chip manufacturers out there, and some of the crappier audio interfaces use them. And the USB 1.0 audio spec was poorly defined in a lot of areas, making it an ugly mess. Still waiting for real USB 2.0 audio interfaces. (AFAIK, all the "USB 2.0" interfaces on the market today violate the USB specs by using 1.0 descriptors with high-speed devices....)

Usually with the more mainstream hardware manufacturers (M-Audio, Tascam, Edirol, MOTU, etc.), their USB gear should perform adequately assuming your USB hardware doesn't have really terrible IRQ steering (which seems to happens more often than with FireWire, but that may be my own biases coloring my perception).

[Jim Lad]

Usually with the more mainstream hardware manufacturers (M-Audio, Tascam, Edirol, MOTU, etc.), their USB gear should perform adequately assuming your USB hardware doesn't have really terrible IRQ steering (which seems to happens more often than with FireWire, but that may be my own biases coloring my perception).

I'd say "Yes" your own bias is colouring your perception.
Those are 4 top of the line brands which you say "Should perform adequately".
M-Audio for one, is absolutely outstanding at keeping drivers up to date.
USB-1 is oh so ancient history.

[mbgr199]

Hi all,
Life is full of unexpective events.
After all the talk, I went out and bought a used RME ADI-8 PRO 8. I think because I need an audiophile DA/AD converter too. I bought it for $650. Now I have some more questions for you:
1) What do you think about the price for the RME?
2) I have not tried it yet, but what do think about the sound quality of the RME converter? Have you used it before? Can you post your review of the piece?
3) What interface that is best compatible (and cheapest) with the RME converter? The interface need to have:
1. ADAT I/O ( i will use it for watching movie from computer - I need suround sound)
2. have 8 (minimum) balanced I/O (to record church choir)

Please help
Thanks

[johnnymegabyte]

Originally Posted by Jim Lad

I'd say "Yes" your own bias is colouring your perception.
Those are 4 top of the line brands which you say "Should perform adequately".
M-Audio for one, is absolutely outstanding at keeping drivers up to date.
USB-1 is oh so ancient history.

USB 1.1

• for Audio = No, unless only 16/48 Stereo
• for MIDI = OK

[The Cancers]

Well, I'm not entirely certain why you bought the RME.
Seems like the sort of thing you use to upgrade a fairly complete setup.
That being said, I don't think you need an interface with any balanced I/O.
See, the RME is gonna be doing a lot of the work that most interfaces already do, albeit better (I guess. I've never used it or heard it A/B'd with any of the all in one 8-channel interfaces). You don't want to send analog signals into whatever interface you get, because what you paid for with the RME is the conversion of those to and from digital signals.
You need an interface that will go between your computer and your RME.
So you need, basically, a box that has as ADAT inputs and a firewire or usb (or PCI, though I don't know if that's doable with a laptop) connection to the computer.
Since you already have a mixer with preamps, you just need to connect the direct outs from your mixer channels to the analog inputs on your RME, then the ADAT out from there to your interface.
I can attest to the quality of Focusrite products, though not this particular one:
http://www.zzounds.com/item--FOCSAFPRO24
The key here is that little "optical in" on the back. You don't want to send it any analog signals, because it will then do the converting of analog to digital, making the RME an unnecessary part of your signal chain.

If I've got you or your needs or the functioning of the RME wrong here, forgive me, but it just seems like you might have bought a bit of unnecessary equipment.

Then again, you appear to have gotten a great price on it and if I were you, assuming the thing works, I'd flip it for a profit and get one of the many great Firewire interfaces that people have recommended in this thread.
And, FWIW, I'm gonna go ahead and toss my support to the Focusrite Saffire Pro 40, which works great and has given me nothing but pristine sounding audio since day 1.
Good luck, have fun.

[auburncatfish]

I recently bought the E-Mu Tracker Pre. I'm doing basic sing-songwriter recording, but wanted the high vocal quality, but also portability. I'll let y'all know how this soundcard runs once I get it.