Best Interface??? Ensemble, MOTU or Metric Halo???

Need help choosing an interface for Logic! I am predisposed to buy the Apogee but would like some opinions from this Forum.
What do I care most about is-
1. Audio Quality
2. Mic Pres
3. Stability
4. Overall Performance
While I know that 2 out of the 3 are mobile devices I seldom have the need to travel with the interface if at all. So, Audio & Stability is priority.
Thanks in advance to all!
G5   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

FWIW I tried the RME Fireface 800 and Ensemble side by side at great length in a studio using a G5 and Logic. Obviously this is just personal, but since they cost the same (the authorized reseller for both had priced the Ensemble at the same as the RME) and cost was removed from the equation it became about real-world performance and features.
MIDI i/o was important. I also like the ability to send 8 channels of 96kHz over the dual light pipe channels and because I work in video a lot the Time Code Option was instrumental.
While it's markedly uglier than the Ensemble, it fit my style of production and my workflow. You may not have the same experience.
Even more importantly, the shop (solotech in Montreal FYI) was constantly harping on the fact that the guys at RME are the easiest to deal with of the lot and that any problem would be remedied with immediate replacement of the hardware without hassle, another selling point for me since I have never enjoyed the "we're getting to it" and "bring it in and we'll have a look at it" attitudes that some other cough companies have.
I've also heard wonderful things about the Metric Halo, and, to boot, most of those who use the Ensemble are in love with it (sometimes in that dirty kind of way you'd wish I didn't just mention.)
So ultimately, try'em all. At great length. See which one you really like. Ultimately, you could buy a $200 two channel firewire interface and if you pour your heart and mind into your music you'd still make better tunes than the rest of us with our fancy gear and soulless music.
Macbook Pro C2D, Mac Pro   Mac OS X (10.4.8)   FF800, Logic Pro

Similar Messages

  • PLEASE HELP!  Logic 8 w/ Apogee Ensemble & MOTU 8pre

    Hello everyone!
    This is my first post…I've been tracking this forum for a while and I must say you guys are all informative and generous. So, I hope I can have some generosity FLUNG my way!
    Ok, I have:
    *Logic 8 running on my MacBook Pro (2.2GHz , 250GB HD, 4GB RAM).
    AYAK, Mac Book Pros have 1 Firewire 800 & 1 Firewire 400 input; I also have a Firewire PCI card plugged in which gives me 2 more FW in's.
    *A MOTU 8pre running into my FW CARD with my LaCie HD running into the FW800.
    I just recently bought an Apogee Ensemble…. WOW! Are the pres nice! And a FINE integration with Logic, ie the control panel n such! The pres are NEARLY as nice as my Millennia and that's saying a lot! Plus, if I run my Ridge Farm Gas Cookers or my LA-610 into the last 4 inputs, I get a GREAT variety of sounds and controllability.
    WELL, the Ensemble is like a HOT girl friend that makes your toes curl but THEN, you find out she's a PSYCHO…but you don't wanna dump her cuz she's just so freakin hot and does things to you that…..c'mon I know we've ALL been there!…..with the girl AND the gear!
    So, why PYSCHO? I just bought my unit this past August 22, 2008 (3 daze, I mean DAYS ago) from GC in Hollywood. I figured or ASSUMED it was a CURRENT version without all the BETA issues we've all read about! Well here are the issues:
    1.) The MacBook Pro/LOGIC has lost sync (went offline) with it a couple of time and I had to reboot. The Apogee Audio Control Panel has become MOLASSES SLOW…leaving to have to reboot……Are the above DRIVER issues? How do I fix em?
    2.) At START UP, I MUST have the Ensemble turned OFF and THEN, once booted up turn on the Ensemble for it to be recognized…now is this NORMAL for a Mac or is this an Ensemble trait? OR is it ANOTHER problem with the Ensemble? (OBTW, I'm a NEW Mac user woo hoo!)……..my MOTU 8pre would always have to be turned on BEFORE I booted up for it to be recognized and used in Logic….this is NOT the case for the Ensemble. I'd like to keep my MOTU 8pre….it's a pretty good interface and served me well as my first interface, as well as having more than decent pres!
    3.) Last issue; when I hook BOTH the Ensemble and 8pre to my MBP (via FW of course), LOGIC will NOT recognize the 8pre. I can't even find it as an audio option. I'd like to be able to use BOTH of these and be able to record 16 channels at once…I've tried hooking these up MANY different ways…
    -Ensemble to FW port of MBP with 8pre hooked up TO the Ensemble via Ensemble's FW and vice versa
    -Ensemble to FW port of MBP with 8pre hooked up TO the Ensemble via Ensemble's LIGHT PIPE
    -Ensemble to FW port of MBP and the 8pre hooked up to FW PCI Card port of MBP.
    The above didn't seem to work… Can I indeed connect the 8pre AND Ensemble to my MBP and use them TOGETHER????
    Now I am a NEWBIE to Mac AND Logic, BUT I ain't no FRESH OFF THE IDIOT TRAIN NEW…I work in computer recording frequently so please don't assume I'm a newbie NOT doing research. This is REAL WORLD TROUBLE HERE!
    Also, if you think this is a case of RTFMJ (Read The F**** Manual Jacka$$), then you have NO IDEA what kind of manual comes WITH the Ensemble! Yeah, for those of you that know, the manual is a JOKE and doesn't really address much!
    So, please help my fellow Logiceers!! Should I dump the girl and get another 8pre (which I KNOW I can daisy chain together)…remember, this girl is SO HOT….I love this Ensemble, but for $2,000, it shouldn't have THIS many issues! For 2K I get another MOTU 8pre, $500, another HD, $700 (a good Glyph 1TB always comes in handy…hey who doesn’t need another HD sitting around??), and maybe $800 of plug ins! Or shoot, I'll PAY SOME BILLS! So, any clues? Tips?

    Here's the skinny.....
    1) SOUND: Yummy! The best of the gear that I've come from (started 2002 with Roland 1880 & 2480 with Ridge Farm Gas Cookers & Boilers, True System P-Solo, Millennia HV-3, & UA LA610.) Yes, the pre's on the Ensemble are great. Not grungy like my Gas Cookers or even sweetly clean like my Millennia or True.....a nice middle ground. And the Soft Limit is great....the converters (inputs 5-8) going through my pres are sensational! Headphones have finally cleared up! Hmmmm, as have my monitors! Yes I'm going from Roland to Logic 8. It's a world of diff, even though I whole heartedly respect and love the 1880/2480's.......
    2) LATENCY: Yeah Firewire vs Roland's format....well..... unless I REALLY cap my headphones tight, it sounds like I have a 5 millisec delay. I can live with it and compensate.... I'm new to Logic; is there a setting I can change whilst tracking? I don't use plugs while tracking..... I use the 8 X 8 mode to go at a HIGHER samp rate! Oh wow! NICE! And clear as a whistle! I don't get to use the Headphone outs at this rate, instead a TRS to 2X 1/4" break out from the Analog 1 & 2 OUTS....very nice! But, anyhoot Roland does win for Latency. Never any with my Rolands.
    3) MAESTRO: Pretty well laid out and user friendly. UPDATE YOUR DRIVERS FOR LOGIC AND ENSEMBLE!!!! DO IT NOW!
    4) DRIVERS: see above.
    5) SUPPORT: Roland always sucked (wow, I didn't try to make this a Roland comp, just wanted to let you all know where I was coming from), Apogee....well..... 3 voicemails and 2 emails later, and no response on daisy chaining MORE THAN ONE Ensemble (which was one of the advertised selling points) OR using my aforementioned MOTU 8pre WITH the Ensemble via Lightpipe.... The Ensemble CAN NOT, repeat CAN NOT be used with ANYTHING ELSE! I've tried......
    With the Ensemble you are STUCK with 8 I/O's.... PERIOD. Now, this isn't necessarily a BAD thing. It's the BEST, I repeat, BEST 8 channeler out there! But, again, with for a Firewire Interface, it is the best, but you're stuck with ONLY 8 inputs until you upgrade to Symphony.
    In my case, a Symphony Mobile card (which is what I'd need, since I work through a Mac Book Pro), with an AD16X, DA16X & TWO X-Symphony cards (one for the AD16X & one for DA16X). So that would be a 16 in & 16 out with NO latency and, of course I would need 8 more preamps..... so to best the Ensemble ($2,000), I'd need the above Symphony System ($525, $3,000, $3,000, $175, $175, respectively, plus $4,000 of GOOD pres= $11,000ish)
    So, a $2,000 BEST IN CLASS FIRWIRE interface that CAN'T be used with anything else but it's own 8 ins of joy, or $11,000 top of the line kick *** Symphony. I guess I'll keep my Ensemble. I RARELY do more than 8 tracks at once these days. Even for drums...c'mon...if you can't make drums sound kick *** with a KICK, SNARE, HI-HAT, OVERHEAD L & R, TOM, TOM & TOM/SNARE BOTTOM, you need to get a drum machine!
    PLUS, the Ensemble will always be great for a quick interface on the go....shoot... a quickee recording gig with my only bringing my MacBook Pro (with CASE of course), a Rackmount (with my rackmounted gear as follows: Power Conitioner, Ensemble, Millennia, LA610, headphone amp, midi/usb interface & Glyphs) a Dolly, some mic stands, Mics, & a plug snake & cables..... that's a pretty darn good to-go menu! Shoot, how many ON LOCATION gigs have we done where this set up coulda been used! (Christmas CD's, choirs, Jazz Pianist, Voice overs).....let's just hope your client doesn't need NINE tracks recorded at once! yes, still bugged about that APOGEE!!!!!!
    So there ya have it as far as my experience goes. I'll keep reporting back when I have more tastes of this 8 TRICK PONY ..... but what a pony it is!
    OBTW, looks like I'll be SELLING my MOTU 8pre since I can't use it with my Ensemble!
    Stay tuned.....

  • Daisy-chaining Metric Halo ULN-2 with G-Drive HDD...

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    Metric Halo

  • Best Interface for GarageBand and Logic?

    I have been using GB and Logic Pro extensively for the past 2 years. I would now like to know what the best interface would be to use in order to use 8 mics at one time. Thanks for your help.

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  • Attention All Metric Halo and ChannelStrip Users - What's happening?

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    I just got an email a couple of days ago and last week received email support within a day. I also use ChannelStrip.
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    I've dealt with Jason Desmond and Jon Stern at MH support. And like I said, they have always been great to deal with and seem to go out of their way to assist. Not to mention how great their products are.
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  • Anyone here using Metric Halo 2882 DSP and Logic 8???? I got issues....

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  • Best interface for home studio

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    How do you connect the AD and DA16 to the computer? Via firewire? In this case, do you see the audio cards listed in the AudioMidi Configuration panel?
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  • Best Interface To Use With Logic 7.2

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    iMac Intel Core Duo 20"   Mac OS X (10.4.6)  

    hi mm
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  • All Metric Halo 2882 & ULN2 Users!!!!

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    Got it all hooked up now clarity & depth of this unit is simply amazing, i've been using M Audio Firewire 410 for last 2 years (God Forbid), when i hooked 2882 the level of sound coming out was really loud which i found out was to do with my 410 running at -10db and 2882 console was set to +4db which i also found out is the Professional standard.
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  • Metric Halo Users (2882)..please help

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    SvK

    Justin,
    EUREKA!
    it's a bug
    They show-up on 9-10 like u said
    SvK
    thanx Justin and x4Sis
    Svk

  • Mackie Onyx

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    Hey there.
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