Echo Audiofire 12

[antichef]

So, my red NO syndrome is eating me up -- I'm so busy planning for those ACM preamps that I'm overthinking everything that could go wrong -- for instance, It occured to me that when they arrive, I wouldn't have enough analog inputs to connect *all* possible incoming preamp channels. That, plus the G.A.S. state that I'm because of the red NOs, and the fact that there has been this Audiofire 12 at the pawn shop down the street for about 6 months... Ah!... I picked it up. They gave me a power cable and a firewire cable, but that's it - no manuals or anything.

I downloaded the software off the internet (actually, before I bought the unit), and at first, it seemed to throw my MOTU traveler into a tailspin -- the mac wouldn't recognize it, and the display said "Initializing Setup Data" indefinitely, but then I did a factory reset on wall power (couldn't do it on firewire power) and plugged it into a different mac, which recognized it, then it worked again. Just now, I plugged in both, daisy chained on the firewire bus (the Echo uses wall power, so no power issues), and they both show up! I created an "aggregate device" using the mac OS utility, and now I've got 30 inputs in Logic !!! I don't know if I need to clock them together yet -- I'll try that tonight.

Anyway, I've read good things about these -- anybody got one?

 

[redddog]

I have one. It is absolutely fantastic!

I started with a Firepod and while I really liked it when it worked, it rarely worked. It sounded great but the drivers were so damn buggy, I finally gave up on the thing.

Then I went to the Fireface 800. I loved that thing too - except for the pres. It was rock solid and sounded great but the pres were terrible(to me anyway). There is quite an argument brewing between those who agree and those who think they are really good. But for me, I hated them. And the FF800 was so damn expensive that those unused pres were just staring me down and rubbing it in.

So I looked at the AF12. I had heard some about it but not much and I thought I'd give it a shot. I was really looking for a truly modular system so I could swap out or upgrade as it warranted. I have to tell you, I was blown away at how good this thing sounded. It was every bit as good as the FF800 and I thought it sounded better. I then happened about some threads that had a well done shoot-out (infact it may have even been here) that had an AF12, an Apogee AD16x and a crappy behringer unit in the mix. Nearly everyone had the AF12 as better or at least too close to tell while the behringer got hammered. After the units were revealed, most everyone picked the AD16x, of course, but most everyone agreed that the AF12 was shockingly good. But before the results were posted, 90% picked the AF12.

That was it for me. It sounds just as good as Apogee, costs 1/12th(if you factor in the cost of the DA16x)and the drivers are rock solid. Echo has fantastic customer service and they are brisk with their updating. The zero latentcy mixer is very easy and flexible too.

As you can tell, I'm a fan. You will love it. After I got this thing, I vowed that I wouldn't get caught up in the whole exotic conversion racket. There is NO benefit to spending $6500 on AD/DA (for the Apogee) when you can get every bit as good for $700-800 for 24 channels.

Enjoy it and make sure you report back how you like.

 

[antichef]

I like it so far, and it seems to play well with the Traveler, which is awesome -- I wasn't at all sure about that. I'll really be putting it to task when the group buy preamps get here.

I did a poorly executed shootout using a DMP2, two SM81s and a uke, and also one where I put a bass through a whirlwind a/b box (with both channels active) directly into a line in on each unit (no preamp, and the bass is passive -- this isn't how I record, it was just the most reliable way on hand to get the same thing going into both units). The analog paths in the Traveler have been upgraded by Black Lion Audio - they sound *a lot* better than before. As they are, based on this limited testing, I like the AF better for the uke, and the Traveler better for the bass. I can't help but think that it's more of a comparison of the analog stages than it is of the converters/clocks.

During those recordings, I had each unit at 96khz using its own internal clock - they were bundled together with the "Device Aggregator" in MacOS, which makes you choose one device to be the master clock - I don't know if the mac then makes them synchronize across the firewire or what, but I didn't seem to have any clocking issues. Now I'm running them both on an external clock, but I don't notice much of a difference. This is another huge relief - I was prepared for clock hell. It may just be that the different clocks are irrelevant, since both are coming in over firewire and each is a separate core audio device - that's pure speculation, btw, and is probably butt-wrong .

I can post wav files if anyone wants.

 

[Outlaws]

I just got an Audiofire 4 since I am starting to record again. I couldn't be happier with how easy this thing was to setup. If I ever need more ins and outs, the Audiofire8 and 12 are first on my list.

 

[vicenzajay]

I also...

I just got an Audiofire 4 since I am starting to record again. I couldn't be happier with how easy this thing was to setup. If I ever need more ins and outs, the Audiofire8 and 12 are first on my list.

am very happy with my audiofire 4; however, it's worth pointing out that the converters in the Audiofire 8 and 12 are different (i.e. better) than the smaller and more portable 2 and 4 units...just something to consider if someone is looking to buy an AF unit after seeing this thread.

I really appreciate the way Audiofire updates their products as well...exceptional customer service and rock solid drivers.

Jay

 

[Helstra]

Just letting you guys know that some versions of the Audiofire12s do have the same converters as the AF2 and the AF4; the AKM AK4620B.
http://www.echoaudio.com/Support/FAQ.php#8

You might also be interested to know that these are the same converters currently being used in the RME Fireface.

 

[antichef]

wow thanks. Shoot. I put mine in storage a few hundred miles away while I save up and build/secure a studio room in my new house, so I can't check the bevels up-or-down thing -- making me nuts!

ps 2000 posts!

 

[GTRTony]

I've got the Audiofire 8 and love it. In retrospect, I should have purchased the 12, but I ended up finding a used DPS-II so I can extend to 10 tracks if need be.