DP and Recommended Audio Interfaces

[drumz]

Hi All:

Sorry to bug everyone with such a basic question, but I've been unable to find an answer to a simple question.

What is a decent audio interface to use with DP? I've looked around, and most are well beyond what I need and really expensive (ie tons of ins/outs and $700+). I just need something that's of decent quality, reliable and works well. I've been happy just using my Mac's built-in audio in/outs, but on my G5 which I've just put into use I've discovered that the audio out is really noisy.

I've been looking at the M-Audio Firewire 410 as an example of what I'm shooting for. Something with 4 ins/outs would be fine, and somewhere around a couple hundred bucks.

System specs:
G5 1.8ghz
DP 4.6
OSX 10.4.2

(MOTU's manuals say to go to their web site to find a list of recommended cards but I've not been able to find it. Searching with google for cards is hit or miss, none state compatibility with DP (or if they use coreaudio at all which MOTU says is all that is needed).)

Thanks!

[Timeline]

If your serious about recording I would look here:

http://www.lynxstudio.com/aurora/index.html

[windopz]

Hi All:
I've been looking at the M-Audio Firewire 410 as an example of what I'm shooting for. Something with 4 ins/outs would be fine, and somewhere around a couple hundred bucks.

Be carefull with that sound card: is a great card, but all the inputs (4) don't work simultaneously: you'll see in DP only two inputs per time.
I've a Tascam US-122, and it works fine: full compatibility with DP, good AD conversion, high SNR. That's all.

[emulatorloo]

I've had decent luck with M-Audio Delta series on my G4. Basically Core Audio driver, it all just works.

However apparently there are some models of G5 that are incompatible with their PCI sound cards. Check M-Audio support site for which G5s are affected.

You should be able to get the M-Audio firewire interface from dealer who will give you a 30 day money back guarantee.

[midiw]

[quote="drumz"]Hi All:


What is a decent audio interface to use with DP?

System specs:
G5 1.8ghz
DP 4.6
OSX 10.4.2

Thanks![

/quote]


Well, I am today buying my second M-Audio audiophile 2496 PCI card for my QuickSilver G4.

I've been using that card for about 2 years and it has been "moved" from an 8500 to a 9500 and then to QuickSilver G4.

The card gives me MIDI IN/OUT ports, 2 analog ( rca type ) in/out plus 2 spify ( digital ) in/out ports.

I should note here that my audio in/outs are rather modest since I don't own that many mics.

This weekend I bought a second QuickSilver G4 and today will be buying another 2496 for this second machine.

The cards here in Canada are $129.

There's also some software they give away with the card.

The only thing is that I don't know if your G4 has a spare PCI slot.

If not take a look at the USB/Firewire versions of the same card.

I would not mind knowing what you think about this card.

[drumz]

Hi All:
I've been looking at the M-Audio Firewire 410 as an example of what I'm shooting for. Something with 4 ins/outs would be fine, and somewhere around a couple hundred bucks.

Be carefull with that sound card: is a great card, but all the inputs (4) don't work simultaneously: you'll see in DP only two inputs per time.
I've a Tascam US-122, and it works fine: full compatibility with DP, good AD conversion, high SNR. That's all.

Thanks for the heads up on the 410. I took a closer look at the description on the manufacturer's web site. Once you read it carefully it does state that there's a switch that lets you select between the input(s) on the back and on the front.

And thank you everyone else who replied, you've given me suggestions on a bunch of different options I can now look at, right within my price range.

[emulatorloo]

From M-audio site --

Apple Dual 1.8 / 2.0 G5 PCI incompatible with Delta Series PCI cards

Two specific Apple G5 models have been found to be incompatible with some PCI audio interfaces, including M-Audio Delta cards:

- DUAL G5 1.8 GHz system featuring PCI slots (not PCI-X) and 4 RAM slots
- DUAL G5 2.0 GHz system featuring PCI slots (not PCI-X) and 4 RAM slots

The slightly older version of the Dual G5 1.8 GHz as well as the previous version of the Dual 2.0 GHz, which Apple advertises as ••œPCI-X••

[mikebeckmotu]

For what it's worth - I'm using a Firewire 410 with OSX 10.3.9 on a Powerbook and it works very well. I have a PCMCIA adapter that I use for additional Firewire peripherals, such as external hard drives. I run the Firewire 410 from a built-in Firewire port.

[fontane]

is direct monitoring available on this card? i have the firewire audiophile and i have this haunting latency between my live vox and the playback of the audio that is aleady there.

[danes]

I wouldnt recommend an m-audio firewire product tho. Mine (firewire audiophile) has stopped working since a month ago for unknown reason. How about focusrite saffire? it has 4 in 10 out...and its price is almost the same as m-audio 410 plus it comes with some focusrite plugins which might be good.

[Harry]

From Tascam: It's very good and cheap USB Audio-and Midiinterface.

-US-122-
USB-Audio-/MIDI-Interface

[shepherdgary]

I have used M Audio Delta 44's for years and have found no problems - there is a decent length of cable on the breakout box as well - it is more sturdy than the Audiophile connections as well.

[Studio615]

I have used several interfaces with Dp. I own an 828mkII, and i love it. It does everything i need it to do very well. I used a tascam 1882 fw board once and like it as well. It was cool having all of the transport controls on it. I have to say though, that I used a pro tools setup with my copy of Dp just last night and I was totally blown away. As soon as I picked the DAE audio mode, it not only found the Digidesign hardware, but it found and used ALL of the studio's rtas and tdm plugins in DP! And, it ran them using the processing on the digi pci cards. The reason I loaded my Dp is that I had a studio try to master my work, i gave the the tracks bounced individually as AIFF files. When we loaded them into PT, even though they all started at 0, they were not all lined up. I had to open them up in DP, and when I did, it worked well. The engineer was so impressed and blown awa at the ease of use, and TOTAL compatability with his hard ware and Plugins, PLUS the pitch features, he is going to buy it. I convert a DIE HARD PT guy. It was a very cool night. I wonder how many first pages of the PT manual they have gotten in the comp. upgrade. But anyway, the 828mkII, 1882fw, and the digi interfaces all rocked. DP will pretty much use anything well.

[croyal]

My digi I/O setup is a little pricey, but works really, really well-

Rosetta 800-96k to Lynx AES-16 via AES (of course) - with wordclock from the Rosetta multed to the room and AES-16 by a Gen6x96.

AES single wire at 96k works great. AES-16 is also a digi router.

Chris

[mal201]

I have a 410 and works very well for my needs (Dual 867 G4, Tiger, 1.5 Gigs Ram.)

You do get 4 simultanious inputs, it just that two are the s-pdif. So you get two analog and two digital.

I rarly need more than two so this has been great for me. I just wish it had balanced outputs but that really is a minor thing.

Hi All:
I've been looking at the M-Audio Firewire 410 as an example of what I'm shooting for. Something with 4 ins/outs would be fine, and somewhere around a couple hundred bucks.

Be carefull with that sound card: is a great card, but all the inputs (4) don't work simultaneously: you'll see in DP only two inputs per time.
I've a Tascam US-122, and it works fine: full compatibility with DP, good AD conversion, high SNR. That's all.