Interface suggestions (i know there is a thread about this somewhere sorry)

  • Thread starter Thread starter JRCnorth
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JRCnorth

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Hi. I mainly record to analogue gear so im not quite in touch with anything digital.
However a friend of mine wants a good interface, ive tried lending him an alesis multimix 16 firewire but with a lot of trials it just seems to not seem to work with el capitan.

So he wants at least an 8 channel interface that will cope with mac updates or instead even one of those preamps that have a firewire output.

I would just love a good reccomendation on what to get thats fairly cheap. Or if anyone could shed light on the alesis problem of not working with el capitan as it was working absoloutely fine with the last computer it was on only a month ago.

Thanks
 
Is he locked into using Firewire? That type of digital transfer type is going the way of CDs and USB1.

How many mic preamps does he need (how many tracks at once does he want to record)?
'Cheap' is relative - what's his budget?
 
I dont think he really minds i just was always told get a firewire interface when i first started looking at digital. Whats the best port to use now? Hes using a macbook pro.

He wants at least 8 simeltaneous to record at the time.

The budget in your neck of the woods would be around $600
 
Hi JRC, I think the successor to the Tascam US1800 is probably his best bet (can't recall the exact mod# atmo!)
I shall dive off now for speccs and prices. One point, if he hopes to keep up with Apple OS changes in the future, a snowball in H would stand a better chance AFAICS!

Oooo! Question for the Boffs: Is Boot Camp still viable and if so can the macmen run W10?

Tascam US-16x08 | DV247. Can't find an SoS review but I am sure they did it recently. All good IIRC. Definitely has mac drivers tho' I have read bad things about el cap!

Run him $300 ish. Can't think of much else with 8 mic inputs until you get to MOTU and RME prices?
And yes, Fussywire has virtually gone and whilst some folk seem to do ok with a Tbolt adaptor it is a bit of a kludge IMHO.

Dave.
 
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Thanks. For your $300 it costs £300 over here. I will look at it.

What is the best input that you can use?

As i said im an analogue guy and only use an ipad for things like this and all ive ever seen is macs in studios. My friend also has a pc so would it be best to switch over to that? As ive heard that the new mac pros cant take audio cards. Or would it be an option to looking for an old mac pro that can be set back ten years and then try the multimix 16 or even put an audio card in it eventually.
 
Thunderbolt is the current state-of-the-art Mac connectivity. It's fast, provides power, and can be daisy-chained. Bt the interfaces that can actually use it are a bit pricey. The most budget-minded Thunderbolt interfaces that I can name off the top of my head are the Focusrite Clarett series. Not exactly cheap. And of course you'd need a computer with a Thunderbolt input.

The most common connectivity right now is USB. It's fast, stable, and found on most computers (can't really speak for Macs...they tend to dance to the beat of their own drummer). If his computer has at least USB2.0, then yeah that Tascam US-1800 is a good option. But it's been discontinued, which means that driver support for it will dry up before long. Its replacement is the Tascam US-16x08, which runs between $250-$300. It has 8 mic preamps and another 8 line inputs so it could be paired with an outboard preamp that has 8 preamps and 8 analog outputs.
 
Ok that seems to make a lot of sense.

Would trying an older mac pro and the current alesis multimix be a good idea price wise as what ive heard out of the alesis sounds great. He is trying to record drums remotely for clients so would this older setup have any issues with stems being sent across?
 
Just being the guy I am, I have a hard time recommending using deprecated computers. Several guys here are happily using old computers running old versions of operating systems. I'm just not one of them. If you're shooting to get an older computer to run a vanishing connector, I'll have to defer to the guys around here that are successfully doing so.

If it were me, I'd look to run a USB audio interface and forget trying to use a FireWire mixer.
 
As Tadpui says, the newest connection now is ThunderBolt but, again as he says, expensive. Then the really big advantage of TB apart from the potential for vast track counts, (and clamping you to macs!) is very low latency. Now, I do not know the guys recording MO but I would not have thought very low latency a requirement when m'tracking drums?

The new kid on the Tascam block is the US20-20 a USB THREE interface. Gets a very good rep in August SoS and gives decently low latency using USB 3.0 with Windows. At time of going to press there were no USB 3.0 mac drivers but the writer's MacBook worked fine with USB 2.0.

Eight mic inputs and a potential 8 more via ADAT plus the oft forgot MIDI ports. Around £380.

I would have no problem with running old hardware on an old OS/computer IF I ALREADY HAD THE HARDWARE. But it is a very different thing I think to BUY IN a legacy setup?

From all my reading, here and other forums the Tascam multitrack AIs have been very solid, unfussy performers over the years. The US 20-20 reads much the same. If I were looking for a mtrack AI, no brainer!

Dave.
 
JRCnorth said:
Ok that seems to make a lot of sense.

Would trying an older mac pro and the current alesis multimix be a good idea price wise as what ive heard out of the alesis sounds great. He is trying to record drums remotely for clients so would this older setup have any issues with stems being sent across?
Click to expand...

Depends on the Alesis - does it send separate USB signal for each input track, or only a stereo USB signal?
 
Thanks. Would the tascam us1641 be a good cheaper alternative as it says it runs with el capitan?
 
The alesis is firewire. As far as i know it seperates the tracks in the daw so kick on one snare on 2 etc.
 
JRCnorth said:
Thanks. Would the tascam us1641 be a good cheaper alternative as it says it runs with el capitan?
Click to expand...

The 1641 was a stalwart 8 track unit, many happy PC users but I don't know how it faired on macs. Have you looked on the Tascam site to see if there are el cap' drivers?

Dave.
 
Thanks so you say you can work wiith old gear and get stems sent and send them back to the other person that wants them?

Also would anyone rate the tascam us1641 as we,re lookinng for as cheap as possible? Thanks
 
Why "as cheap as possible"? I understand people don't want to get ripped off but remember the "ha'poth o tar" factor!
If this is an ongoing requirement surely it is worth investing a bit of mooolar into it? Then there is the point that legacy gear WILL fall off the available drivers cliff at some point. Go for an old cheap interface and the next Apple incarnation could leave you spending again. Going for the 20-20 means you are likely future proofed for at least a few years!

Dave.
 
It was just more as cheao as possible as he cant really afford one so after earning a few bucks for recording drums for other people and then upgrade.

Or the other option is like i suggested earlier is getting an old mac pro and just never update it. The only question is will anything sent to him stems or whatever will work on a ood mac pro and an alesis Multimix.

Or should i tell him to get a tascam us1641 as tacam keep really updating their drivers for each mac uppdate?
 
JRCnorth said:
It was just more as cheao as possible as he cant really afford one so after earning a few bucks for recording drums for other people and then upgrade.

Or the other option is like i suggested earlier is getting an old mac pro and just never update it. The only question is will anything sent to him stems or whatever will work on a ood mac pro and an alesis Multimix.

Or should i tell him to get a tascam us1641 as tacam keep really updating their drivers for each mac uppdate?
Click to expand...

I am somewhat confused by your fiscal machinations! If the guy is prepared to buy an old mac surely that cash would be better put toward a modern, current AI? Then he stands at least a fighting chance at keeping up with the next rotten Apple?

Then again, would make a little more sense to me to buy a S/H PC! $ for $ he will get more grunt than an old mac . Upgrade it to W10 and never worry again. (ok, that last is perhaps a bit of a joke!)

Dave.
 
JRCnorth said:
It was just more as cheao as possible as he cant really afford one so after earning a few bucks for recording drums for other people and then upgrade.

Or the other option is like i suggested earlier is getting an old mac pro and just never update it. The only question is will anything sent to him stems or whatever will work on a ood mac pro and an alesis Multimix.

Or should i tell him to get a tascam us1641 as tacam keep really updating their drivers for each mac uppdate?
Click to expand...

Dood, just stop questioning yourself.

I started with a 1641. Moved up to the 1800. I now have way better interfaces but I gotta say, there isn't much difference in quality until you get in the $1000+ range.

My Advice: Get a used Tascam 1641, or 1800 to start.

The Alesis Multimix is not what you want to work with in any way. Remove that completely from your mind....It does not even have ASIO drivers. That in itself says to me it is worthless. Just sayin..
 
jimmys69 said:
Dood, just stop questioning yourself.

I started with a 1641. Moved up to the 1800. I now have way better interfaces but I gotta say, there isn't much difference in quality until you get in the $1000+ range.

My Advice: Get a used Tascam 1641, or 1800 to start.

The Alesis Multimix is not what you want to work with in any way. Remove that completely from your mind....It does not even have ASIO drivers. That in itself says to me it is worthless. Just sayin..
Click to expand...

To add to Jimmy's comments, I would even say the Tascam 1800 replacement US 16X08 is still tracking under $300. Really not a lot of cash for the bang. There are others out there at that price point, just do a little more research.
 
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