New Firewire Interface Help

[Squarebiscuit]

I'm looking for a new firewire interface and I'm torn between a few. Should I get the Focusrite Saffire Pro 26, Presonus Firestudio, Digidesign Digi 003, or the Motu 828 mk3? And I'm torn between these ADAT preamps: Presonus Digimax FS, Presonus Digimax D8, Focusrite Platinum OctoPre, Focusrite OctoPre LE, and the M-Audio Octane. As of now for a computer I'm using an HP dv6000 running Sonar 4 Producer Edition with WDM and ASIO soundcards. I currently don't have a firwire input but I have some cards I'm looking at and maybe a new Mac laptop. If anyone can suggest a firewire card (IEEE 1394a, for 54mm express port) or has any other preamps or interfaces that would be excellent. Thanks.

 

[probestyle]

I like the Phonic Helix 24. . . 16 Mic Preamps and a firewire interface. For me its the best of both worlds.

 

[TimOBrien]

I've used a Motu828mkII for a couple of years now with ZERO problems and would buy another Motu in a heartbeat. (I'm using an XP laptop with the Motu daisy-chained to a Glyph firewire drive btw) You can daisy-chain 3 Motu device together and, with their ADAT ports, get over 60 simultaneous in/outs... PLUS they work without the computer on if you want to use them independently for gigging or whatever.

You REALLY want to use a firewire card with TexasInstruments chips. (SIIG and Belkin make them and you can get laptop cards from them too. Newegg.com is an excellent source.) TI-chip'ed cards are the gold standard for all audio interface manufacturers. Make sure you stay away from combo USB/firewire cards as they have been know to cause problems; stay with a firewire-only card.

 

[guitar zero]

+1 on TI chips
+1 on firewire only
+1 on MOTU, especially if you're getting a mac.

We're using a mac with the presonus firewire studio projects and it's working just fine. However, I've just read about lots of driver problems with presonus gear. We haven't had any yet, but we've also yet to record more than two channels at once. If I could go back, I probably would get MOTU. MOTU + mac = good.

 

[pohaku]

I don't know how many inputs you want to run, or how much you are looking at spending, but if you are looking at a Mac laptop, I'd also look at a Duet or Ensemble. I've used the Duet (bought my secretary one for doing VO work) and it works pretty slick and sounds really, really good. There's a used Ensemble for sale over on the GS board for $1550 with free shipping in the lower 48. I'm running on a PC base, otherwise I'd strongly consider an Ensemble myself.