Audio Interface Suggestions

[devontodetroit]

Hi Guys,

I want to spend no more than £250-300 and I've got a couple of ideas already.. I will be buying second hand.

Focusrite Saffire Pro 10 (firewire)
Tascam US-1800 (usb)

or a MOTU 828mk1 and cheap MOTU midi timepiece..

This is the first part of my new studio so has to be right! My next purchase will be a nice 16-24 channel mixer to compliment.. Maybe something vintage, We'll see.

Has anyone had any experience with these soundcards? Any other suggestions i'm missing?

Thanks,

Luke

[Barfunkel]

If you get the Focusrite, make sure you have a firewire chipset suggested by the manufacturer (Texas Instruments mostly). They can be quite picky, I know I have lots of problems with my Saffire, which can probably be traced to the wrong kind of FW chipse I have.

[devontodetroit]

Ok, Thanks for the headsup with that.. I'm leaning towards the Tascam, will 16 odd inputs be ok with USB2.0 ?

[devontodetroit]

[lem]

I would be cautious of 16 inputs on usb 2.0, it was mentioned on a previous thread, that usb handles a data stream differently to firewire.
That said, my audio8 deals with 8 ins and 8 outs for hours so maybe it'll be fine?

I have had a focusrite saffire 26io ever since it came out. I did have one instance where the volume control freezed up, but other than that it has been rock solid. All firewire device can be picky about chipsets. Mine has worked fine on every computer I have used it with.

[devontodetroit]

Just got a Saffire 10 for £180, Very happy

[lem]

i would of said the motu but to late now i guess

the focusrite converters sound really tinny. Not the best

great input.

[Phase Ghost]

If you get the Focusrite, make sure you have a firewire chipset suggested by the manufacturer (Texas Instruments mostly). They can be quite picky, I know I have lots of problems with my Saffire, which can probably be traced to the wrong kind of FW chipse I have.

I specifically bought a TI chipset firewire when I built my computer because I read they were the best. My saffire pro 40 works great with it. So this is probably true.

Why not just buy a new card? They're cheap.

To the OP, go with firewire dude.