E-MU 1820M crapped itself - Need a new interface - Suggestions plz

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mrbowes

mrbowes

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My 1820M died, which is sad because I really had a good 3 years working with that device. Quality was amazing for the money.

Now, I think I want something portable. I don't care about onboard pres because I've got quality outboard. I originally considered getting a 1616M, but my gut tells me that's a bad idea.

I want the best AD/DA for the money because I'm not ready to buy Apogee/Aurora/Lavry conversion.

I need a minimum of 4 analog inputs and outputs because I use my outboard for mixing.

I would like a firewire interface so I can be mobile.

I've been looking at a bunch of interfaces and feel the following two are my best options:

Mackie 400F
Yamaha i88x

I will be using this on PC desktop (Dell) and a PC laptop (IBM).

What would you do?

Thanks.
 
i'm strongly considering an echo audiofire as my next interface. you might want to check them out too.
 
Any reports on the AD/DA in the Audiofire? That's my biggest concern.
 
All I can suggest is the Presonus Firebox...it's the only one I've used...unless you want me to recommend the Creative SBlive!
 
If you change your mind, I'll have an EMU 1820 for sale in the next couple weeks. I'm going Mac.
 
mrbowes said:
My 1820M died, which is sad because I really had a good 3 years working with that device. Quality was amazing for the money.

Now, I think I want something portable. I don't care about onboard pres because I've got quality outboard. I originally considered getting a 1616M, but my gut tells me that's a bad idea.

I want the best AD/DA for the money because I'm not ready to buy Apogee/Aurora/Lavry conversion.
Click to expand...
I'm presently considering the 1616m, so I'm wondering what makes you not favorable to it? I thought this line of interfaces has outstanding A/D D/A converters, and just so you know, for a paultry 25 bucks or so, you can buy an adapter to allow you to plug that PCMCIA into a PCI slot.

Tip
Also, I've heard that some firewire units run better if you bypass the firewire power and use a walwart if the box has one. The idea seems to be to give better power to the mic pres for better levels as some PC's don't have the best power left over for firewire connections...

Got suggestions for nice mic preamps? I would prefer tube. Maybe an outboard 4-8 preamp unit...
 
What part died? I'm willing to give up the 1820M audiodock I bought for a 1212m. Hell I even willing to sacrifice the 1212m.
 
mrbowes said:
My 1820M died, which is sad because I really had a good 3 years working with that device. Quality was amazing for the money.

Now, I think I want something portable. I don't care about onboard pres because I've got quality outboard. I originally considered getting a 1616M, but my gut tells me that's a bad idea.

I want the best AD/DA for the money because I'm not ready to buy Apogee/Aurora/Lavry conversion.

I need a minimum of 4 analog inputs and outputs because I use my outboard for mixing.

I would like a firewire interface so I can be mobile.

I've been looking at a bunch of interfaces and feel the following two are my best options:

Mackie 400F
Yamaha i88x

I will be using this on PC desktop (Dell) and a PC laptop (IBM).

What would you do?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

If you're thinking of getting a 400F check the Mackie Forums for known compatibility issues with your particular computers and chipsets. I couldn't get my Onyx 1220 Firewire to work with my desktop, but it works very well with my laptop, and apparently there are some real horror stories about these kinds of things.
 
That motu traveller is nice it may be mor than you need though.
 
mrbowes said:
Any reports on the AD/DA in the Audiofire? That's my biggest concern.
Click to expand...

Don't know how it would compare to the 1820M exactly, but I'm using a Echo Layla 3G (same converters as the AudioFires) and am VERY pleased with the results. Echo makes some great products for the money that are underrated.

These interfaces use the Cirrus Logic CS4272 chips for both A/D and D/A, not the beloved AKM, but to my ears I'm hearing a nice stereo field, and defined lows and highs. You're getting roughly 113-114dB of dynamic range for inputs and outputs.

I think you'll find that when people talk about Echo, it's a good conversation.

I know your biggest concern is AD/DA, but in case your wondering, Echo drivers are pretty solid too. Maybe that doesn't even matter...
 
warble2 said:
Don't know how it would compare to the 1820M exactly, but I'm using a Echo Layla 3G (same converters as the AudioFires) and am VERY pleased with the results. Echo makes some great products for the money that are underrated.

These interfaces use the Cirrus Logic CS4272 chips for both A/D and D/A, not the beloved AKM, but to my ears I'm hearing a nice stereo field, and defined lows and highs. You're getting roughly 113-114dB of dynamic range for inputs and outputs.

I think you'll find that when people talk about Echo, it's a good conversation.

I know your biggest concern is AD/DA, but in case your wondering, Echo drivers are pretty solid too. Maybe that doesn't even matter...
Click to expand...

I second this FWIW ... and I've actually had decent results with the built in pres as well. Not my first choice, but definately usable
 
bigwillz24 said:
What part died? I'm willing to give up the 1820M audiodock I bought for a 1212m. Hell I even willing to sacrifice the 1212m.
Click to expand...
What's not to like about your emu? Do you just not want it cause you have better, or is there a reason you are so unattached to it?
 
1Way said:
What's not to like about your emu? Do you just not want it cause you have better, or is there a reason you are so unattached to it?
Click to expand...

Simple, great hardware, shitty hardware/software implementation.
 
Stay away from the i88x. I still have not got mine to work and I have put it on the back burner until I get a new OS load. The damn thing sounds GREAT on paper and I have no doubt the pres are fantastic, but the fucker is a bitch to get to work!

I am currently using an Alesis IO|2 which I like very much. Easy to install, intuitive to use, with SPDIF, MIDI, direct in, inserts, and mic pres that drive my SM7B. The IO|2 is USB, the larger models are FireWire.

For what it's worth.
 
bigwillz24 said:
Simple, great hardware, shitty hardware/software implementation.
Click to expand...
I was hoping for something that I can evalutate. I am seriously considering buying an Emu unit, either the 1616M or the 1820M. More likely the 1616M which is supposed to be quite similar to the 1212M...

What part of the software implementation do you not like?

Do you not like the supplied studio recording software that comes with the hardware?

Or is there specific performance problems with whatever studio software you have used it with? If so, what are they and what recording programs have you tried?

In other words, is it a low level driver problem, or something that could be amended somehow?

Also, a bit about your PC, what type/class, PC/MAC, recent/older, OS, enough RAM?

Please clarify about the issues/problems you have.

I'll be checking back in as the Emu's are tops on my list for what to get (likely today!).
 
I'm presently considering the 1616m, so I'm wondering what makes you not favorable to it?
Click to expand...

Well, let's see...if you bought a new car from brand X three years ago, and it suddenly died last week, and you have no warranty and a bunch of idiot customer service reps offering no good advice, would you buy another car from brand X?

I wouldn't.

The E-mu's are great on paper, and sound good when they work. It's the when part that gets me. On top of that, I felt like I seriously got dumber when I was talking to their customer service reps. Total idiots. I've learned that there's a lot more to a product than tech specs. I want developers frequently on the message boards helping out, consistent and stable driver updates, and solid customer service. E-mu fails on these notes.

I bought the Yamaha i88x. I know there are compatibility issues, but I've researched the firewire chipsets on the mlan forums. Hopefully I won't have any issues, but if I do, I'll just sell it and break even - no biggie. It looks like an awesome unit for the money. Plus, the mlan community is very positive and active.

Got suggestions for nice mic preamps? I would prefer tube. Maybe an outboard 4-8 preamp unit...
Click to expand...
That's a totally different topic and totally depends on your budget. You could blow $500 or you could blow $25k on 8 pres. Depends on your needs.
I'd get a killer dual channel pre (Tube Tech MP-1a, A Designs MP-1, Hampton, etc) and then fill out the rest as needed.
 
mrbowes said:
Well, let's see...if you bought a new car from brand X three years ago, and it suddenly died last week, and you have no warranty and a bunch of idiot customer service reps offering no good advice, would you buy another car from brand X?

I wouldn't.

The E-mu's are great on paper, and sound good when they work. It's the when part that gets me. On top of that, I felt like I seriously got dumber when I was talking to their customer service reps. Total idiots. I've learned that there's a lot more to a product than tech specs. I want developers frequently on the message boards helping out, consistent and stable driver updates, and solid customer service. E-mu fails on these notes.
Click to expand...
Thanks much for the info! I'm currently more about Presonus Firebox/Firepod, but then I'll be looking for a hardware mixer interface...
 
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