Please help me choose an audio interface for my iBook

  • Thread starter Thread starter Krazy Rupert
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Krazy Rupert

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I'll need it to record on my 1.2GHz iBook, so far I've used Logic Express but would like to try different hosts. I'll never use more than one input at a time, either guitar, mic, or MIDI, so a high number of simultaneous inputs and outputs isn't relevant. I guess it also means that I can make do with USB 1.0. What I'm looking for in particular is a good headphone output, since I have to do mixes with phones. Can't spend much more than $400, maybe $500 if it's a great deal.

Okay, so I've considered the following:

Edirol FA-66 (don't know anything about this, except the features seem to fit the bill) $400

M-Audio FW 410 (looks nice, but haven't they had lots of driver problems?) $300

Presonus Firebox (generally good reviews) $400

Lexicon Omega (ugly, but lots of features for the price) $300

Mackie Spike (ugly, but on sale where I live, and I'd really like Tracktion) $300

Steinberg System 4 (I'd like Cubase SL just to get my hands on Cubase, don't know anything about the hardware) $400

Any input from user of these would be much appreciated. Specifically about the quality of preamps, converters and headphone output.

Thanks!
 
Id go with the firebox. Great little unit, great pres on it. comes with Cubase SL software. cant go wrong :)
 
Tifstorey said:
Id go with the firebox. Great little unit, great pres on it. comes with Cubase SL software. cant go wrong :)
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Thanks - I'm leaning towards the Firebox as well. But it ships with Cubase LE, not SL, if I'm not mistaken? Also I'm a bit wary of how well Cubase works on a mac, compared to Logic Express.
 
Ah yeah, sorry LE. Well, i work with Cubase and am on a Mac and it works fine. No worries at all.
 
how bout digidesign mbox? i suggest this cause you said you wanted something different than logic. pro tools is supposed to run very well on macs, i've never used it really that much, so i can't comment. the mbox looks pretty nice though.
 
minofifa said:
how bout digidesign mbox? i suggest this cause you said you wanted something different than logic. pro tools is supposed to run very well on macs, i've never used it really that much, so i can't comment. the mbox looks pretty nice though.
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Thanks for your suggestion. But I'm going to work a lot with MIDI, and the mbox doesn't have MIDI I/O - plus I have the impression Pro Tools isn't really the optimal environment for MIDI programming.

I have another question: when checking the specs of these units, how much of an indicator of quality is the frequency response?
 
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