Mackie Onyx VS. MOTU 896HD vs. Tacsam FW-1804

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RockStarzUSA

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Hi ppl. I am in a dilemma... I currently run a basic studio setup that is run by a PowerMac G5. I have a Studio Projects SP-828 8 channel mic pre that runs into my M-Audio Firewire 410.....

I am debating the following gear.....

1) The Mackie Onyx 400F.. I have read the thorough Anderton review at HC....
2) Also looking at the MOTU 896HD.

Ultimately I want a good audio interface with very high quality mic pre's.. So would you think....

Stick with the Firewire 410 and Studio Projects SP-828
Sell the SP-88 and Firewire 410 and get the Mackie Onyx 40F
Sell the SP-88 and Firewire 410 and get the MOTU 896HD
Sell the firewire 410 and replace with he Tascam FW-1804

If responces could back up why you would go down one way over another that would be sincerely appreciated!!
 
FWIW, I have been using an FW-1804 (with Cubase SL3.0) for almost a year without any problems. I haven't used either the Mackie or the MOTU units, but I was biased to begin with. I have always been able to get along well with Tascam products and if I ever have any problems I have one of the tech support guys direct line and e-mail address from when I first started recording a few years ago. In my personal experience, if I ever have a problem they have an easy answer. Just my 2 cents... ;)
 
Thanks guys. Wow, that thread was eye opening, I aprecaite that. I had heard through the grapevine about the whine and shrill preamps, so I will probably hold off and go with another product for now....

Really considering the MOTU 896HD, maybe even the Firepod, however from my reading, it doesn;t seem to be in the same class as the Mackie Onyx or MOTU gear... I have not heard to base comments as being truthful or far fetched, but if anyone wants to make comment on the Firepood presonus gear, feel free.
 
RockStarzUSA said:
but if anyone wants to make comment on the Firepood presonus gear, feel free.
Click to expand...

I must say my firepod sounds awesome!! Its pretty easy to use and you get 8 preamps and XLR's!! There are a few drawbacks that I dont like however.. The outputs on the back are software controlled and subject to the system latency (if your not goign to use them, then who cares), no lightpipe, and the channel (direct) monitoring is for every channel into one headphone out. I dont like this.

I'm hopeing presonus will make a firmware update that will deal with the outputs and make them rout straight through (they made one for the stand alone mode, but not one for recording mode) so we wont need to use another board BEFORE the firepod to control a headphone mix. If headphone mixes are not a big issue for you then it should be fine.

-josh
 
yeah take a look at the mackie onyx 1220 + firewire card...

it's pretty much a 400f, in a mixer type package...more or less. ha.

yes there are differences in the circuitry/processing too, but if you just need some good pres getting straight to your comp, check it out.


additionally though:
my onyx 1220+firewire combo has this same whine that so many 400f users are describing, but not constant. It's about once a minute for 2-3 seconds when playing audio.

on my "recording profile/hardware profile" (where I disabled EVERYTHING that wasn't essential to recording), the whine does not occur - thus, I live and just use the 1220 while recording/mixing on that profile.

winxp pro, amd athlon xp.

i have contacted mackie, they suggested things I'd already tried countless times, and then told me to call if i needed more help. I never called, though.
 
400F rocks, no problems. If you have a real computer (PC) with a real firewire card (TI chipset) then you should be good to go. Sounds great, solid as a rock.
 
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