Your fave non-MOTU interface

[Mr_Clifford]

Maybe if there are some happy DP/RME users on here, I'll decide to look into it again...

One VERY happy DP/RME user here. My Fireface 800 works great on my Dual G4 (in a FW800 port via PCI card), but I've also used it with DP on my MacBook Pro in the FW400 port without any problems.

I suspect, however, that you would run into trouble trying to run the Fireface 800 in full bandwidth mode on the same firewire 400 bus as an external Hard-drive. Maybe that's what people have been complaining about, i don't know. The FF400 would take up less bandwidth, but I suspect that it might still run better with its own FW bus.

[kassonica]

I second that about RME

I have a FF800 running on a PB 1.25 and am most impressed with it's performance and stability. It replaced the 828mk 11 and the difference was noticeable immediately.

Less grainy sound, better image and better pres.

Highly recommended.

[chrispick]

Hey is anyone using the Apogee Ensemble with DP? It seems to be all set up for Logic but I hear that it'll run fine with DP- I'm using an 828MkII but would love to hear from Apogee Ensemble users what they think of the sound.
Thanks,
Frank

Peter McCStrat is among the few who have Ensemble here-- but I haven't seen him online in a while. He also uses one of the RME interfaces as well.

I use Ensemble. Love it. Good enough converters. Better-than-expected pres. I clock it to my Rosetta. Sounds great.

[frankymax]

I use Ensemble. Love it. Good enough converters. Better-than-expected pres. I clock it to my Rpsetta. Sounds great.

and it plays well with DP? by that I mean it interfaces as easily as with the 828? Or do you have to jump thru a lot of hoops to get it to interface?

I also just started looking t the TC StudioKonnect 48 which seems to give you a lot of bang for the buck but TC's user forums have a lot of disgruntled users who seem to have problems with TC on intel Macs, etc. Anyone have any experience with the Studio Konnect and DP?

[chrispick]

and it plays well with DP? by that I mean it interfaces as easily as with the 828? Or do you have to jump thru a lot of hoops to get it to interface?

Ensemble plays great with DP. And its Maestro user interface app is set up nicely and simply. It's all pretty plug-and-play really. No hoops to speak of.

I've never had an 828, so I can't attest first-hand to how it compares regarding ease-of-use. I'd imagine they're comparable in that regard.

The positive criticisms of Ensemble: A/D/D/A plenty good enough for what I do (work-for-hire music creation). Surprisingly good preamps. Easy to integrate with DP and Peak, my main audio apps. And a nicely constructed UI in Maestro. A good package in my estimation.

The only negative criticism: It seems to have a slightly noisy built-in headphone amp (that I only really notice when I'm not playing audio through it). But that's so minor in the scheme of things. I could easily pick up a dedicated headphone amp to work with one of it many outputs if I cared.

[Yiannis]

ULN-2 from Metric Halo here.

works perfect with DP..no problems at all and it has great preamps and AD-DA.

[3rdpath]

i have both the 828 and the ensemble and they both work swimmingly well.

i prefer the a/d on the apogee and as was mentioned, the maestro software makes setup a breeze.

i don't use the pre's or headphone outs on either unit so i really can't comment on those factors...

[Frodo]

I use Ensemble. Love it. Good enough converters. Better-than-expected pres. I clock it to my Rosetta. Sounds great.

Hey Colonel-- didn't mean to forget about you on this one. Sorry 'bout that.

[denovo]

firebox $225 or so

Yes, I've heard good things about this. However, I need 4 pres at least.

C

I know the original question was about "non-MOTU" interfaces, but as long as it's clear what MOTU represents in the way of interfaces, you can make the most informed decision.

MOTU interfaces are historically a lot of bang for the buck. The only reason not to use a MOTU interface with DP is if the quality of the convertors is/are at issue.

I would sooner just make a list of what I wanted to accomplish ideally without putting a price restriction on it. This will give you a better picture of how close to or far from the mark you are with your most coveted features from your $500 benchmark.

I even hesitate to recommend a worthy alternative because:

-- $500 for 4 pres with topshelf conversion is a tall order

-- $500 (or so) for something like the MOTU 8Pre doesn't address your original question

-- My favorite non-MOTU interface probably has an optional cable of some sort that would cost about $500

However:

If price is your first priority, scour the web for mac-compatible interfaces with at least 4 pres in the $500 price range, then limit your evaluation to those. Consider that two fireboxes for $450 with 4 pres would be awkward to setup as an aggregate device whereas an 8Pre for $550 may suit your purse at the expense of other criteria you are looking for in a non-MOTU interface.

If sound quality is your main criterion for judgment, then you are going to be out a whole lot more than $500, imho, OR you will find yourself right back at square 1 with an 8Pre or similar with CueMix.

Good points, Frodo. I guess from my viewpoint or ears. The converters from MOTU and/or the Firepod's are plenty usable. I have a 2408 MkII and I think the converters in it run rings around the Firepod's. But YMMV.

However, I'm pretty sure I'm never going back to a PCI based system again unless I become wealthy enough to own a workhorse laptop and a monster desktop system at the same time to run a full time home studio.

I just love the versatility that a portable firewire based system offers. And you can also use it with a desktop hog.

So really I just need 4-6 pres total. I already have a VMP-2 that I can run to the 828 MkII for two extra pres. And the 828 comes with 2 of it's own. Though I don't know how good they sound compared to the Firepod's. Plus I also have a BlueTube that I can use in a pinch (not my first choice - but its there if I need it...). SO that's another 2 for 6 total pres.

I might also at some point find a used Presonus MP20 and mod that. So the only other question than is to see if there's a way I can use a FMR RNC as an effects insert for the 828 MkII based system instead of using multiple compressors in series.

C

[waxman]

The Ensemble was a big step up in sound quality from my Motu 896 HD...

I use it with DP and Logic and it works great. Maestro is pretty elegant and works great.

If you only need 2 channels go for a Duet...

[leigh]

I use a Metric Halo ULN-2 and 2 Metric Halo 2882s.

The 2882 pres are quite good and the ULN pres are exceptional. The I/O routing is *very* flexible and provides very low latency monitoring.

I started with the original MOTU 2048, moved to the 896 and finally switched to the Metric Halo stuff.

For live recording, I use the Metric Halo recording software and then do the editing and mixing in DP. In the studio I use DP with the MH hardware. I record mostly jazz (small ensembles and big bands) and small classical ensembles and I get lots of compliments on how good my recordings sound.

And, of course, I get the usual: "You use ProTools, right?".

**Leigh

[jaygro]

I just ordered a Duet. I'll let you know what I think when it gets to my door.
Everything else I have is MOTU.

jay

[jgest]

I know this isn't useful to the topic starter as it's above the stated price range, and I know Mackie's gained a bit of a negative reputation with this sort of gear in the past, but I just wanted to bring this thing up...because it truly looks lovely:



Mackie Onyx 1200F FireWire Audio/MIDI Interface Features:

* 30-in, 34-out audio/MIDI interface with 12 Onyx preamps
* Two instrument inputs
* Eight balanced line outputs
* Dual stereo control room outputs
* Four independent headphone outputs
* S/PDIF and AES/EBU I/O
* Dual ADAT I/O
* Two FireWire ports
* Includes Tracktion 2 and Final Mix software

Wow, looks divine.

[kelldammit]

I just ordered a Duet. I'll let you know what I think when it gets to my door.
Everything else I have is MOTU.

jay

i just got mine the other day. you'll LOVE it. the fanout cables seem a little thin, but man, it sounds great, the headphone amp can drive my akg 240m's plenty loud, and the integration with osx is a thoughtful touch.

kell

[Mr. Quimper]

Wow, looks divine.

I don't know how it sounds, but it looks good on paper!

For what it's worth, it's almost $400 cheaper than Ensemble through Sweetwater.