Behringer FCA202 ?

[CaptainClogs]

I'm taking the big leap forward from my AC'97 inbuilt.

Now I know a lot of you here make fun of Behringer, but seriously is this firewire interface any good? I've seen it here (in Australia) for ~$130 new. All I'm mainly concerned about is latency problems - I don't wanna deal with 'em any more!

Has anyone got actual hands-on experience of this device?

What is another option?

Thanks -

[chestwick91]

i am not trying to be rude, but i think nobody has responded because nobody likes there stuff. and for good reason, it sucks, thats why its so cheap...i would say you can find much better stuff with just a little extra cash, and whatever you get will sound better
good luck

[bbe]

i own it. i got it for the same reasons you are looking at it for. its no firepod, but its one hell of a decent interface for the price.

[dirtyp]

I havent used that specific interface but I used some of there mixers and they were comparable to yammaha,mackies cheaper lines. Durability should be more of a concern it should work alright but for how long.

Also I was recently checking out monitors and didnt listen to the truths because of the negative feedback I heard, after maybe the third time the salesman mentioned them I was like heck wit it and they were surprisingly better then the others in that price range.

[CaptainClogs]

Originally Posted by chestwick91

i am not trying to be rude, but i think nobody has responded because nobody likes there stuff. and for good reason, it sucks, thats why its so cheap...i would say you can find much better stuff with just a little extra cash, and whatever you get will sound better
good luck

Thanks, and no your not being rude. But why "it sucks"? I have one of those little UB802 mixers which does fine for me.

I know, I'm no "pro studio" head, but there is a whole underbelly of amateur home recording superheroes like myself who find Behringer gear pretty attractive in price & quality. Maybe it's just an "industry" hatred thing, I dunno...

Anyway...

What are the pros/cons of getting a firepod device, AS OPPOSED to buying a new soundcard, like the M-Audio or something? All I need is a stereo line-in, that's all! And I want to avoid latency problems IF POSSIBLE, when multitracking.

Firepod vs new soundcard... Is it just different means to the same end?

Thanks guys.

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Originally Posted by CaptainClogs

Anyway...

What are the pros/cons of getting a firepod device, AS OPPOSED to buying a new soundcard, like the M-Audio or something? All I need is a stereo line-in, that's all! And I want to avoid latency problems IF POSSIBLE, when multitracking.

Firepod vs new soundcard... Is it just different means to the same end?

Thanks guys.

If you just need a stereo line in then I'd just get a PCI card. Something like the M Audio 2496 (or 192 if you want balanced ins).

Firewire's good for mobility, and sometimes a particular firewire interface just has certain features you want eg. I use a Tascam FW1082 because it gives me 8 ins and a control surface, that it's firewire is neither here nor there to me. People like the firepod because it's 8 mic ins with AD/DA in a 1u strip and it doesn't cost much.

Outside of features it is just different ways of doing the same thing, I've used both and there was nothing between them really.

[CaptainClogs]

Man, that Firepod is like ~>$1000!!! Wtf? I don't need 8 inputs.

The M-Audio 192 card is ~$300-$350.

Behringer's firewire unit is only ~$150!?

Can I really go wrong?

Anyway thanks for all comments, I appreciate your opinions.

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Is that $150AUS? Shit that is cheap, I guess at that price you can't really go wrong, it's almost disposable.

[Change of POETS]

Originally Posted by CaptainClogs

Man, that Firepod is like ~>$1000!!! Wtf? I don't need 8 inputs.

The M-Audio 192 card is ~$300-$350.

Behringer's firewire unit is only ~$150!?

Can I really go wrong?

Anyway thanks for all comments, I appreciate your opinions.

The thing with audio gear is, you get what you pay for... Sounds cliche, but it's completely true.

The reason most of us dislike Behringer gear, is because they use poor parts, and they get poor sound. Will it sound better than the kid in his garage running his radio shack mic into a portastudio? Sure... Will it sound comparable to a Pro-Sumer home studio? Not a chance...

If you're ok with not sounding superb, and settling for mediocre sound, go for it.

[bbe]

Originally Posted by CaptainClogs

Man, that Firepod is like ~>$1000!!! Wtf? I don't need 8 inputs.

The M-Audio 192 card is ~$300-$350.

Behringer's firewire unit is only ~$150!?

Can I really go wrong?

Anyway thanks for all comments, I appreciate your opinions.

where are you buying it from. the behringer FCA202 interface is only $79 at musiciansfriend.

[TragikRemix]

australian currency is a lil different than the USD. like canada vs USD.

its, well, good enough. best way to say it.

[harmolodic]

is it Vista compatible?

[Minion]

Originally Posted by TragikRemix

australian currency is a lil different than the USD. like canada vs USD.

its, well, good enough. best way to say it.

Actually Canadian money is "On Par" with US currency, it was actually worth more than the US dollar last week......

On another note....i just picked up a M-audio Delta 1010lt for $150 which gives you 8 analogue inputs, 2 digital inputs(S/PDIF),Midi In/Out and wordclock.... it is a good deal for a cheap starter system and it lets you expand as you need more functionality....