Fairly Cheap Mac Audio Interface?!

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drummersteve

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Hi,

I don't know if the above actually exists (the fairly cheap part). I don't want something fairly cheap that will sacrifice any quality!

Here is my situation:

I have a MacBook and a Mac Pro. I would like something which can possibly be used with both (maybe firewire or USB) but also open to suggestions about PCI interfaces for the Pro. I have an electric piano USB/MIDI output, and a microKORG with its MIDI. It would be cool to have both of these hooked up at the same time. Also some sort of audio input, both line-in and XLR, but more importantly line-in. And then obviously outputs too (stereo).

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Steve
 
Only advice is to avoid the FIREBOX. It won't work on bus power when attached to any of the Intel Macs because the FIREBOX interfaces aren't 1394a spec compliant, and it generally isn't a good idea to use a power supply on devices like that when attached to computers that provide bus power.
 
drummersteve said:
Hi,

I don't know if the above actually exists (the fairly cheap part). I don't want something fairly cheap that will sacrifice any quality!

Here is my situation:

I have a MacBook and a Mac Pro. I would like something which can possibly be used with both (maybe firewire or USB) but also open to suggestions about PCI interfaces for the Pro.
Click to expand...

PCI is pretty much out for the Mac Pro. It has PCI Express (PCIe) exclusively, and there are very few PCIe audio devices out there (and all high end, AFAIK).

Sent from my iPhone
 
Hi,

I was aware that the Mac Pro wasn't your standard PCI card - what I meant was is there anything that can be fitted internally (as opposed to an external USB type device), I was just unsure on what it was now called (PCIe, thanks for that!)

In terms on how much to spend, i guess it depends on what I get for the money. For a basic Audio I/O, and MIDI, and maybe XLR, i guess around £200 would be nice? I spent that on my M-Audio Delta 1010lt (for my PC) which had 8 I/O plus XLR plus MIDI. So to spend more on something which essentially will give me less would upset me. If thats what it takes i guess I don't have much choice....

So yeah, £200 - £250ish?

Thanks!

Steve
 
drummersteve said:
In terms on how much to spend, i guess it depends on what I get for the money. For a basic Audio I/O, and MIDI, and maybe XLR, i guess around £200 would be nice? I spent that on my M-Audio Delta 1010lt (for my PC) which had 8 I/O plus XLR plus MIDI. So to spend more on something which essentially will give me less would upset me. If thats what it takes i guess I don't have much choice....
Click to expand...

You won't get less. Any converters (well, really the preamps and line amps and other analog components) on a modern interface are going to sound a lot better than the 1010LT. The difference in recording quality between the 1010LT I used to use and any of my current interfaces is readily obvious. :)

I'm a big fan of the MOTU 8Pre, though the cheapest I could find it in the UK was about 359 pounds. Maybe you'll have better luck, as I'm used to searching for U.S. prices....
 
Hi,

Thanks for the input. I was looking for something which was less Audio-Intensive. By that I mean, it has 8 pre's... I would only need one pre-amp for one mic possibly, and then a line in? that would be all i really need!

Thanks,

Steve

Have just seen that Native Instruments have an interface - Audio Kontrol 1. Any views/opinions on this interface?

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
I use a MOTU Traveler, and I'm very happy with it. If that is too fully featured for you, MOTU also makes a smaller unit called the "Ultralite".
 
Hi,

These all look like very nice interfaces, although they are all a little more than I need! There must be something out there with slightly less features? Any comments on the Native Instrument Interface I mentioned?

Thanks,

Steve
 
magic_joel said:
I've been looking at getting a Digidesign Mbox 2 Mini

looks alright, and it works with macs also

It's pretty much has the least of everything you can get!
Click to expand...

Is Pro Tools a requirement? The reason I ask is that IMHO, MOTU is a company folks swear by, while Digi seems to be a company people swear at. :D

For low end gear, I'd have a look at the Edirol FA-66 and FA-101. Several people whose opinions I trust think that they build good hardware. As an added advantage, if the drivers suck, you can scream at Apple. :D They're a German company, so you probably also will have a favorable exchange rate compared with the U.S. price....

There's also the Echo Audiofire 4, but I don't have any opinion on it either way.
 
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