Upgrade to Firewire, Firepod, MOTU, etc?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TheOneTrueMatt
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TheOneTrueMatt

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I'm looking into upgrading my recording interface and wanted some feedback on what would be the best value vs what I have. I currently have the M-audio Omni Studio, which is basically a Delta66 card with a breakout box with a couple mic pres based on the DMP2 (but I'm sure you know that). People often say the dmp3 wouldn't be a huge improvement over the omni pres but I have to wonder since the omni pres seem to start getting pretty noisy around 12 o'clock, maybe a little sooner.

I'm looking at going to a firewire interface so I can eventually switch to my other, newer computer, which is an Athlon 64 2800+ and has much more storage expansion potential (my current DAW is a P4 1.5ghz). I'm using Sonar 2.2 XL and planning on upgrading to Sonar 4 Producer soon.

The two options I've been considering most seriously are the MOTU 828mkII and the Presonus Firepod. Now the obvious difference I see is the MOTU I'll have to spend another $600 to get 8 pres, and it's $750 to begin with whereas the Firepod is $600 and HAS 8 pres that I've heard are pretty respectable. I've heard of the RME stuff but I'm really trying to keep my immediate budget under what the MOTU costs. I know I'll double that when I but an 8 channel pre, but as long as that's two separate purchases that's fine.

If I got the MOTU I'd either get an 8 channel pre like the Octane, OctoPre or Digimax, but in the meantime would probably start with just a dmp3 to get a total of 4 pres (no idea if the motu pres are any good) to start.

The biggest problem I see with the firepod is there's no real bypass on the pres so should I want to drop $500+ on a really nice single channel pre for vocals or something...Though I can't seem to find a consensus on how terrible this really is or whether it would still be worth running it through the other pre (since there's no plain line-in) w/the gain all the way down on the firepod.

As far as uses, I mostly do one or two channels recording at a time but I want the option of being able to record a drumkit, and I briefly thought w/the MOTU it might be nice to use as many as 16 channels (8 via lightpipe) so I could record my entire band including drums at rehearsal. But I can probably live without that if it saves me a lot of money (which it probably does as I'd need to buy a lot of preamps)

So basically, is the limit to the upgradability of the firepod as severe as I think, or could I still make use of a really nice pre if I got one? I have a feeling the MOTU might be better in the longrun, but the firepod would be a better value in the short term, but I'm mainly concerned about the possibility (or lack thereof) of getting a really nice single channel pre for vocals at some point.
 
Never heard of it, just looked it up. Sounds like the Octafire might be more in my price range. If I could spend $1k I'd probably go with the MOTU 896HD, since it has 8 pres and I know they can be completely bypassed. Still I don't know how MOTU pres are. I guess what it comes down to really is how are the pres on the Firepod vs your $600-800 standalone 8 channel pres? 'Cause the firepod seems like a good deal but only if the pres are good enough to keep me going through this "generation" of my DAW. The pres I'd consider if I got the MOTU or anything else w/o built-in pres would proably be the M-Audio Octane, Presonus Digimax LT, Focusrite Octopre (or Octopre LE?).
 
Whenever I come across a thread mentioning the 828mkii I suggest a trip over to Unicornation.com--the MOTU users groups site. Go to the hardware forum and read the threads pertaining to 828 issues. I think you have to register to post or read but it's well worth it. At the risk of being negative, there seem to be alot of problems, particulary among PC users. Now, maybe that's typical of a users group site but it's always left me a little leary of the MOTU. In fact, when I eventually replace my old-as-the-hills 828, I'll probably shoot for a Metric Halo or the new RME firewire setup.

Having siad that, I've never experienced any issues with my 828. The preamps are ok although many longtime users are bypassing the pres and the AD converters as well. I guess at some point you just do the math. If the unit costs $750 and you get preamps, AD/DA converters, a firewire connection, meters, etc., you can probably assume that the preamps are pretty average.
 
The vast majority of people who have issues with the 828 either:

1. are trying to run it on systems that are using non-compatible hardware
or
2. idiots who have no clue how to use a computer.

My 828mkii installation was this. Run CD, plug in 828, start recording in Sonar. Thats it, not another thing. I did the intelligent thing and bought a system knowing what soundcard I wanted to use and made sure every piece on it was made to work with the MOTU. This step should be done for any soundcard, period.

I used an original series 828 on several different Macs, jumping from studio to studio, and never had a single problem with it and Digital Performer.

H2H
 
I agree.
I've never had any sort of issues with my 828mkII on several different PC's.
The pre's are quite usable. They are pretty much transparent.
The flexibility of the unit is what sold me on it. That, and it being a winner in the 2004 TEC Awards for Digital Converter Technology is a plus.
The only thing Unicornation has me concerned with, would be that it's possible my LED display's back-light may burn out at some point.
Hell that can happen on any type of display. It really wouldn't much matter to me anyway as I don't use it stand-alone. I make all adjustments via CueMix and the console.
With any interface, there is always the possibility of getting a dud. In that case, get it replaced. Though there can be a fine line between an actual problemed unit and a problemed user.
 
I upgraded from a MG12 mixer/delta 44 to the firepod. Immediate & noticable improvement in the quality of the pres.
Can't tell you anything about the Motu, I guess you get what you pay for.
As a deal though the Firepod is hard to beat. $600 and they even chucked in a pair of nice Cascade condensor mics
 
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