Audio Interface

[GuitarmanTRC]

I've never owned an Audio Interface and I've been weighing my options out. I have one small 4-pin Firewire port on the front of my computer, but other than that all I have is USB 2.0. I've heard that using a 4-pin connector with Firewire audio interfaces can cause problems. Does anyone know anything about this?

I was thinking about the Presonus Firebox as my first Interface. If not the Firewire route, then I was thinking about the M-Audio FastTrack Pro. [USB 2.0]

Can anyone help me out here? Thanks.

 

[MISTERQCUE]

For simplistic recording, the Fast Track Ultra is an excellent interface that
provides 6 analog & a stereo spdif options at 24 bits sampling @ 96khz and easy connectivity via USB. A plus for the FT Ultra is it's 4 pre's compared to
PreSon's 2 mic/instrument inputs and limited to a dynamic range of only 110dbs.
I guess I prefer FT Ultra's match with ProTools LE vs PreSon's Steinberg Cubase software.

 

[keithersgsx2003]

For simplistic recording, the Fast Track Ultra is an excellent interface that
provides 6 analog & a stereo spdif options at 24 bits sampling @ 96khz and easy connectivity via USB. A plus for the FT Ultra is it's 4 pre's compared to
PreSon's 2 mic/instrument inputs and limited to a dynamic range of only 110dbs.
I guess I prefer FT Ultra's match with ProTools LE vs PreSon's Steinberg Cubase software.

yea but what about the Fast Track Pro. I would like one of these as well....and there 80 dollars cheaper than the ultra.

 

[vijsolo]

The thing with small FireWire port is that you will need external power supply to use pahntom power.

In general USB interfaces are less expancieve than FireWire ones with the same features.

If you aim for the M-audio you I would also recommend

M-Audio Fast Track Ultra USB because of the Octane preamps.

If this one looks expencieve for you, you could probably look at

Lexicon Lambda Desktop Recording Studio

Cheerz!!!

 

[TimOBrien]

I've heard that using a 4-pin connector with Firewire audio interfaces can cause problems. Does anyone know anything about this?

The 4 pins carry all the data.

6pin Firewire ports also carry electrical power. You don't need them (and most PCs dont provide bus power for firewire ports anyway...you just have to use the wall-wart to power the interface.)

Been using a 6-to-4pin cable on my Motu828mkII to my laptop for years with ZERO PROBLEMS.....

 

[Basick Musick]

Question...
If you get the Fast track, does it work with any DAW, or just certain ones?

 

[TimOBrien]

The only sequencer program that is hardware-fussy is ProTools. (they use hardware as copy-protection dongles.)

Everything else talks to the ASIO drivers that come with all interfaces.
The ASIO drivers talk to the interface, so there is no 'box X won't talk to program Y" anymore...