What's Firewire?

[KeithG]

I'm trying to understand computers in general and there is just too much to know. I am saving for a laptop for my home recording studio. I am looking at getting a Macbook, not a Macbook Pro, but it lacks a firewire port. What is firewire, and is it necessary if I want to record, mix, and master songs on a laptop with some type of DAW software?

 

[Massive Master]

It's certainly necessary if you want to use a firewire interface...

 

[KeithG]

That sucks then, because the normal Macbooks don't have a firewire port. If I was to get a normal Macbook, would I be able to buy some type of card that could give me firewire capabilities?

 

[mikemorgan]

Yes, but you'll be miles ahead by saving for a Mac that already has Firewire. It's one upgrade you won't regret. In the time it takes to explain why, you might already have the money. Suffice it to say that thousands of home recordists are doing quite well with a MacPro and a Motu firewire interface.

 

[Chili]

Here's a quasi-official explanation of firewire:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FireWire

But why do we want firewire?? It's manages data flow better than USB, even though USB has higher advertised transfer rate. Firewire will pass far more data over a longer period of time.

Most home recordists are choosing between USB and Firewire interfaces to get their audio into the computer. If you think you will be streaming many channels of audio at once, then firewire will be the interface of choice. USB is fine for 2 channels and I've seen some interfaces that go up to 4. Computer specs play a larger part in how well USB can handle more than 2 channels.

Choose your laptop and interface based on your needs now and your needs in the next few years. If you're only going to be tracking 2 channels at once (guitar and vocal), then USB works great. If you're going to be tracking your band and need 8 or more channels at once, then firewire.