Need help choosing audio interface...

[jonhell]

Hi everybody,

I recently purchased a Mac Mini with 512 MB of RAM and a 1.42 GHz processor, and I'm trying to choose a USB- or Firewire-based audio interface to do some home recording with.

I've narrowed my options to the Presonus Firepod, the Firewire 410 and the Mbox 1 or 2. I've read the most positive things about the Firepod, though I would really like to have something that runs ProTools, since I've used it in the past and have half-finished PT projects that I would like to do additional work on.

I know the Firewire 410 can run ProTools M-Powered, but I've read that it has compatibility problems with Macs. And while the Mboxes also have ProTools built in, I've read about people disliking the slowness of the USB connection.

Anyway, I'd really appreciate some opinions about this. I'm a singer/songwriter who'll be recording mostly solo, though I'd like the option to expand into MIDI and/or band recording. I'm hoping to spend no more than $500 to $600 on an interface.

Thanks for any help.

Jon

 

[dgatwood]

Hi everybody,

I recently purchased a Mac Mini with 512 MB of RAM and a 1.42 GHz processor, and I'm trying to choose a USB- or Firewire-based audio interface to do some home recording with.

I've narrowed my options to the Presonus Firepod, the Firewire 410 and the Mbox 1 or 2. I've read the most positive things about the Firepod, though I would really like to have something that runs ProTools, since I've used it in the past and have half-finished PT projects that I would like to do additional work on.

Buy the FirePod. Then find somebody with ProTools (not LE or M-Powered), open your project and export it as OMF, and buy Digital Performer or Logic and import it from there.

 

[jonhell]

Thanks for the advice.

Honestly, I'm still leaning towards the Mbox or Mbox 2, just because they have ProTools built in and are priced at under $500. How bad are the latency problems I've heard about?

 

[TuoKaerf]

The MBoxes don't have Pro Tools "built-in". It comes with the Pro Tools LE software.

I haven't noticed any problems with M-Powered on Macs. Either are good ways to go. Are you just mixing, or do you plan on doing some recording?

 

[jonhell]

I'll be doing recording of acoustic guitar, grand piano and vocals, plus homemade percussion instruments and possibly some MIDI if I teach myself how to do it.

If I want to do MIDI, the original Mbox is out; that leaves the Firewire 410 and the Mbox 2 if I want to have ProTools as well. The USB on the Mbox 2 might give it latency problems, and the 410 is supposedly hit-or-miss in compatibility with Macs.

I think I'll just buy a cassette recorder.

 

[Monkey Allen]

I have the Presonus Firebox, not the pod...but the preamps are the same apparently. I think it's a great interface.

 

[SatelliteSNEt]

mini mbox

hi i´m having the same doubts tha this guy has. i have a toshiba laptop with 80G, 512 RAm and a CEleron M processor. i want to get the Mbox2 mini cause that is my budjet, 400 bucks. i want to know if my laptp can handle it without latency or malfunctions.anyone that can help me with anything will be nice !

thanks, thom.

ohhh, a mbox 2 mini review may help a lot. i just need an interface to use PT so i can record some sequences by sampling on equipments or in reason proggram. thanks a lot for the help!