getting digital into & out from iMac in new setup

[toofar]

Hi all. So I'm in the thick of changing over the studio from my old G4 MDD system to a new iMac. Just decided to make a clean-ish break and just deal with the fallout.

Seems it's the end of the line for my 2408mk3's since they require the PCIx card and I've not found any remedy for that. The main problem is now I need some audio interface to pick up the slack. Or is there something I haven't come across regarding the 2408's?

I've been looking at a few things from MOTU, PreSonus, UA, and Audient. But most of that seems like overkill. All I think I really need (right now at least) is a way to feed my Apogee Rosetta to and from the iMac. The 2408 used to fill that gap. At this point, all my analog gear gets routed via a Mackie analog mixer. When I went analog mixer, the 2408's weren't being used as they once were, and are mainly AD (audiowire) and a couple S/PDIF connections (that aren't that necessary at this point).

iMac <-> (?) <-> Rosetta (2 channels AD/DA) <-> mixer <-> outboard gear

Before I start weeding out the contenders, is there some alternative approach I should be considering? My workflow only really requires 2 channels out and back from the Mac these days. That's why these new units under consideration seem overkill to me, but hey, who complains about extra I/O, right?
-Bill

[mikehalloran]

Seems it's the end of the line for my 2408mk3's since they require the PCIx card and I've not found any remedy for that

You are correct. There is no remedy. Many threads over the years on this.

The latest MOTU interfaces are using an updated version of the same DAC that Appogee used in the Rosetta. If yours has the optional FW card then it’s possible to connect over Thunderbolt using a couple of adapters and a TB2 cable—convoluted but it can be made to work. Probably time to retire that, too.

You’ve told us how you want to do this but that doesn’t work nowadays. Tell us more about your signal flow and needs; that should narrow down the obvious choices.

[toofar]

Hi Mike. Thanks a bunch for your help.

I think you're right about the Rosetta moving on as well. It has no FW card, and the used cards I've found are in the $250-$375 range. I can't see spending that on firewire that will need band-aids to boot.

You’ve told us how you want to do this but that doesn’t work nowadays. Tell us more about your signal flow and needs; that should narrow down the obvious choices.

I guess I was initially thinking to find a way to get the Rosetta output into the mac, since the 2408 is gone. But if I'm cutting the Rosetta out of the loop as well, it seems the situation is simpler.

Some small interface (TB or USB) to connect the iMac to the Mackie mixer (which handles all the outboard analog routing). Again, I really only need (at this point) a couple analog in and out, since I only track 2 lines at a time max. So, the candidates I've eyed so far include the Audient iD14, the UA Arrow or Twin (pricier but come with plugins ), PreSonus Studio 1810c, or maybe the MOTU UltraLite mk4 (more I/O than necessary). Bear in mind though, that this list came before the decision to cut the Rosetta from the chain.

Anyhow, you've helped me decide to go ahead and cut the Rosetta loose, which is a big deal and for that I thank you very much.