audio interface suggestions..
First, I want to say I will get my pics from Maschinenfest up soon. I took about 900 pictures when I was in Europe, and have only found the time to go through them once. Granted, half of those were taken in Paris, but I still need to spend some time deciding which ones I like best.
Broken Note, Deutsch Nepal, and the German punk band whose name I've since forgotten were highlights for me. I was busy taping the Synapscape set for Phil, so I really didn't get to enjoy it. I wish I hadn't missed Sudden Infant, but such is life.
Anyway, the main purpose of this entry is to ask for suggestions regarding a new audio interface. I sent an email out to some audiophiles/musicians here at the studio, but would also like your input as well:
At the moment, my head is swimming from all the audio interface reviews I've read. It all started when I found a MOTU 24 io on ebay for 50% it's original value. I've since backed off from it, mostly because it is PCI revision 1, not PCIe, and the PCI revision1 424s are supposed to be unstable as hell on PC. PCIe and PCI revision 3 is apparently a different story. Further, the general consensus that the analog components on the MOTUs are crap, especially given how big of a difference in quality people claim there is that send their MOTUs off to Black Lion to be modded out with better analog and an external clock. I guess it's just me, but I kind of expect something that expensive to work right out of the box.
Anyway, I have been looking at the motu 24 i/o for years, but have just come across all the negative publicity. Granted, I'm taking some of it with a grain of salt, since everyone wants to believe that the interface they chose is the best, and it's so subjective.
That said, I'm not really sure what to get, and was hoping for some suggestions. I've been using an m-audio delta card with a 2 stereo in and 2 stereo out for 5 years now, and feel it is time to upgrade. I have 8 synths and 3 fx units. Some of my synths have audio inputs, and I want to be able to route the the audio from one synth to another via a software interface (i hate unplugging cables). Something else I would like to do is take advantage of Live's ability to insert an external unit into one of it's software fx chains... for instance, sending the audio to one of my hardware fx units for better reverb, or to a kaoss pad (again I hate unplugging cables).
I've looked at the RME multiface. I've looked at Lynx. I've also looked at the Echo Audiofire 12. It's comparatively cheap and people claim its build is better than motu, but not as good as RME. I'm nervous about going all firewire, as I did years ago with the m-audio 410 (or whatever it was called), and it was unstable as hell. I am considering either maintaining a PCI or PCI-e card for my system audio and getting the Audiofire 12 for the flexibilty, but that's not a very cheap solution.
I currently have a mackie mixer w/ 2 pres. I will probably keep it, as i need them for my sh101, my prophecy, and my mic. I also have a behringer 16 channel eurorack w/ no pres that I keep around for people to plug into when they come over....again, I hate to unplug stuff, even w/ patch bays. I've also considered a mixer with firewire, but not extensively, as my head started to hurt.
Suggestions?
Broken Note, Deutsch Nepal, and the German punk band whose name I've since forgotten were highlights for me. I was busy taping the Synapscape set for Phil, so I really didn't get to enjoy it. I wish I hadn't missed Sudden Infant, but such is life.
Anyway, the main purpose of this entry is to ask for suggestions regarding a new audio interface. I sent an email out to some audiophiles/musicians here at the studio, but would also like your input as well:
At the moment, my head is swimming from all the audio interface reviews I've read. It all started when I found a MOTU 24 io on ebay for 50% it's original value. I've since backed off from it, mostly because it is PCI revision 1, not PCIe, and the PCI revision1 424s are supposed to be unstable as hell on PC. PCIe and PCI revision 3 is apparently a different story. Further, the general consensus that the analog components on the MOTUs are crap, especially given how big of a difference in quality people claim there is that send their MOTUs off to Black Lion to be modded out with better analog and an external clock. I guess it's just me, but I kind of expect something that expensive to work right out of the box.
Anyway, I have been looking at the motu 24 i/o for years, but have just come across all the negative publicity. Granted, I'm taking some of it with a grain of salt, since everyone wants to believe that the interface they chose is the best, and it's so subjective.
That said, I'm not really sure what to get, and was hoping for some suggestions. I've been using an m-audio delta card with a 2 stereo in and 2 stereo out for 5 years now, and feel it is time to upgrade. I have 8 synths and 3 fx units. Some of my synths have audio inputs, and I want to be able to route the the audio from one synth to another via a software interface (i hate unplugging cables). Something else I would like to do is take advantage of Live's ability to insert an external unit into one of it's software fx chains... for instance, sending the audio to one of my hardware fx units for better reverb, or to a kaoss pad (again I hate unplugging cables).
I've looked at the RME multiface. I've looked at Lynx. I've also looked at the Echo Audiofire 12. It's comparatively cheap and people claim its build is better than motu, but not as good as RME. I'm nervous about going all firewire, as I did years ago with the m-audio 410 (or whatever it was called), and it was unstable as hell. I am considering either maintaining a PCI or PCI-e card for my system audio and getting the Audiofire 12 for the flexibilty, but that's not a very cheap solution.
I currently have a mackie mixer w/ 2 pres. I will probably keep it, as i need them for my sh101, my prophecy, and my mic. I also have a behringer 16 channel eurorack w/ no pres that I keep around for people to plug into when they come over....again, I hate to unplug stuff, even w/ patch bays. I've also considered a mixer with firewire, but not extensively, as my head started to hurt.
Suggestions?