Seeking audio interface advice.

Hi,
I'm on a 2013 MacBook Pro running 10.9.2 and Logic 9.2. I currently own a firewire Apogee duet that does not play well with Mavericks. Yes, I have the latest drivers. It works OK with Logic but the firewire bus causes issues with the startup (black screen) and doesn't work well with iTunes (Movies, TV) and the Maestro software is pretty useless with mavericks so it time to upgrade. Apogee, by the way, is not interested in giving me support because the interface is off warranty. So I do not want to buy Apogee again. It was probably higher-end than I actually needed anyway because I'm a hobbiest.
What I'd like to find is a two channel usb audio interface with decent specs that is known to play well with mavericks. Almost every interface I've looked into seems to have issues with Mavericks or is VERY expensive. Advice?
Thanks
Greg

Just my 2 cents worth.. (and I have often harped on about this so forgive me if you have read this before...)
Why is it that users spend a couple of thousand on a Mac.. and couple of hundred on a DAW... more so on plugins and extras.. and then want to only spend a few bucks on their Audio interface?
Its like buying a 100K Ferrari... and then putting $50 tires on it... They will work.. but they limit the performance of the Ferrari to the point they might as well have bought a 20K salon car... and they will need to be replaced sooner rather than later... once you realize the limitations they impose on your enjoyment and full use of the Ferrari.
The reality is.. if you want everything to work and work well.. you have to buy a decent Audio/Midi interface that has well wrritten and well supported drivers.. and they do cost money.... There is simply no way around that.
A cheap USB2 audio interface simply isn't going to provide the quality and stability that is needed with a Pro bit of gear like Logic and a Mac.... It may work.. but don't expect anything great and be prepared for all kinds of issue to manifest themselves in the future.. like drivers not being updated in a timely manner for example..
Personally I use Motu gear.... mainly FW connected Ultralites.. because the Motu is well built.. has great quality drivers.. has been proven over time as reliable and stable..throughout the many changes and uypdates to OS X and Logic... and provides a reasonably high quality audio output for what Ive spent...
Just my opinion.. and others may vary!
Cheers..
Nigel

Similar Messages

Newb question - audio interfaces - advice pls

Hey all, new to making music in the uk and have got myself a tutorial guide to logic and just getting started...cant wait to start making music, it seems awesome...
have got myself a macbook pro and logic pro 8.
I have discovered i'll need a midi audio interface asap to play a midi keyboard into logic, could anyone give me advice, if theres any that aren't compatible with macs or any that are particularly good for my price range/beginner model?
I am not likely to record more than 2 instruments at a time for a long while, probably just a keyboard for the foreseeable future, as i will probably just dabble in hiphop/trip hop beats to begin with
(have tried to search the forum but get a bit bogged down with the terminology as am new to this!)
any advice would be welcome...I dont mind paying between 150-200 for this..
thx very much!!

I'm proud to say that i only regretted the purchase of my first guitar : ) every other piece of equipment has served its purpose wonderfully...
if you are going to buy something that only does one thing, make sure it does it well...for example, make sure that the guitar your using is comfortable and crafted well...
if you are going to buy something for various uses (i.e. audio interface) make sure that the features it possesses are applicable to your cause. Dont spend all that money on a audio interface with preamps if you can't sing, dont want to sing, and never ever will sing...much in the same sense that one wouldn't buy an iPhone if they already had a good phone, a good ipod, a good computer...the money pays for convenience sometimes...
in this particular situation concerning audio interfaces, the money you're paying only goes so far for features (preamps, inputs/outputs) the majority of the money after those features really goes for the sound quality. I bought my firepod on ebay for half price and it works like a charm...just know what you want to contribute to your songs by purchasing one
Message was edited by: dinkydkmgshred

Will this setup run okay and audio interface advice please!

Okay, please forgive me any stupid comments. I am merely a humble musician been thrown into the deep end by some friends looking for a sound tech for their show.
Will all this play nice with each other in this setup?
2 x radio mics > 2 channel receiver > audio interface > macbook (mainstage)
1 x radio mic > receiver > (line-in) macbook (mainstage)
then....
macbook > audio interface > pa
I don't yet have an audio interface. Any reccomendations and suggestions welcome. USB preferred, nothing flashy just something that does the job.
Thank you!

mouseduckalien wrote:
2 x radio mics > 2 channel receiver > audio interface > macbook (mainstage)
1 x radio mic > receiver > (line-in) macbook (mainstage)
Hi
For this to work, you would need to set up an Aggregate device using Audio MIDI Setup, and then to set Mainstage audio preferences to use this aggregate as the audio input device.
You might do better to get an audio interface with more than 2 inputs?
CCT

Hard-drive and audio interface set-up - Advice please

Hello,
Please offer me some advice if you can. I have the new 13" macbook pro 2.26Ghz with Logic Studio. I am going to get a hard-drive that has both usb and firewire 800 interfaces and need to decide whether to get a usb or firewire audio interface. The crux of my problem is in what configuration to use the devices, which will determine which audio interface I choose. E.g.
1. Firewire 800 hard-drive to record tracks onto and back-up + usb audio interface; or
2. Firewire 800 hard-drive as above + firewire 400 audio interface daisy-chained; or
3. Record onto the internal hard-drive and use a usb audio interface; or
4. Record onto the internal hard-drive and use a firewire 400 interface.
FYI, the audio interfaces I'm looking at are the E-Mu 0404 USB or Focusrite Saffire LE, both of which have had excellent reviews.
Questions to consider, please, are: Which configuration will offer the best performance and least latency? Is it worth recording onto external hard-drive (7,200) or will the internal drive (5,200) be faster/as fast? Will daisy-chaining cause a significant drop in performance? Do you have any alternative configuration suggestions? Plus any other comments you can think of.
Thank you in advance
Jamie

The good thing about #2, if the drive enclosure also has a USB 2.0 interface you have the option of using/trying that configuration as well. I know a few that get away with using USB drives for recording.
Make sure the audio drive is formatted Mac OS Extended, with Journaling OFF.
Don't trust the drive formatting as it's delivered.
pancenter-

Newbie needs advice on audio interface

just purchased iMac 27" with Lion...have nice sounding Taylor 810 accoustic...want to record guitar and vocals, strictly a hobby. need advice on audio interfaces...willing to spend $600 on the Duet 2.0 if it's as good as the web reviews say it is but???... will I hear a difference with a $250 interface like a presonus firestudio mobile (vs. $600 Duet 2)?... want something that sounds great and works well with GB/Lion....thanks

To be honest, if using mics, you will get more out of picking up the FireStudio Mobile and spending the difference (or more) on treating the room you will be recording and mixing in.
As far as Lion is concerned, just check with Presonus about compatibility.
If you pick up the FireStudioMobile, it ships with Studio One Artist. It has a better comping feature than GB does...
TBH, if this is strictly hobby stuff, by the time you treat your recording environment, pick up decent mics, a second hard drive, stands, cables, monitors, headphones, a handful of plugins, another DAW or two, furniture etc, etc, you will not be too concerned about ownng the FireStudio... Its a great little unit that is very reliable and has a solid build.

Advice on audio interface and monitors for I-Mac

My setup is a basement studio. Mac pro, logic pro, Mackie control, motu 896, unitor 8 channel midi, line 6 pod xt pro, lexicon mx 400. Allen & heath board 16.2 wizard, Amps, Drums, Mics. The list goes on. Networked with my I-Mac in my office 2 floors up. So I copy My project folders to my I-Mac. Im very comfortable in my office so I thought I would do my final mix and master in my office. So my question is what would be a decent 2 channel audio interface no midi, and near field monitors maybe 3 to 4 feet away to mix and master. Reasonable. Thanks Bill

I'm quite impressed by Apogee Duet. 2-channel & no MIDI (still does provide some control function with its single knob) which sounds like it suits what you're looking for. Very simple & elegant design, the sound quality is supreme considering its cost.
Near field monitor of my choice is KRK V8's. Nice natural sounding set of monitors. In comparison to competitors at the price range, these sets 'breathe' & provide a bit more air in sound production without exaggerating any particular freq.
When it comes down to choosing monitor speakers, go to a local pro audio shop & try out a bunch so you can compare. Just remember to bring test CD that you know well what it should sound like.
Good luck!

Audio interface/mixer advice

Hi All
I've got a first gen macbook (the black one). I've got a USB external harddrive (about an extra 100 GB).
I have Logic Studio installed and i'm going to be doing some recording of my band in January.
I'm going to be buying an audio interface/mixer with a budget of between £300 - £400 UK pounds.
I will be requiring it to be a firewire connection that can stream the channels simultaneously (for recording drums tracks etc).
Recording the drums i know is the important part when it comes to channels etc so i think 8 or 10 will be absolutely fine.
Can anyone recommend an audio interface/mixer that they think is good, will work fine with my macbook and logic pro and achieve good quality home studio audio.
I've checked out M audios NRV-10 but dont think it has QUITE enough channels for drums etc
Is this Alesis Multimix 16 Firewire Mixer + Audio Interface any better?
Any other suggestions
Thanks in advance
Adam
Element
www.myspace.com/elementsound

Ad2706 wrote:
Hi All
I've got a first gen macbook (the black one). I've got a USB external harddrive (about an extra 100 GB).
I have Logic Studio installed and i'm going to be doing some recording of my band in January.
I'm going to be buying an audio interface/mixer with a budget of between £300 - £400 UK pounds.
I will be requiring it to be a firewire connection that can stream the channels simultaneously (for recording drums tracks etc).
Recording the drums i know is the important part when it comes to channels etc so i think 8 or 10 will be absolutely fine.
Can anyone recommend an audio interface/mixer that they think is good, will work fine with my macbook and logic pro and achieve good quality home studio audio.
I've checked out M audios NRV-10 but dont think it has QUITE enough channels for drums etc
Is this Alesis Multimix 16 Firewire Mixer + Audio Interface any better?
Any other suggestions
Thanks in advance
Adam
Element
www.myspace.com/elementsound
Try :
Motu 8pre, no mixer though
Digidesgn digi003 (the controller mixer version)
Cheers

Need advice on an Audio Interface for guitar, bass and vocals

I have a G4 Dual Processor 500.
For now I'm using a Griffin 1/4" to 1/8" adapter cable. I plug one end into my guitar and the other into my Microphone jack on the back of my computer. I even tried using a splitter to share my microphone port. This allowed me to share the stereo signal with Guitar and bass ( by setting guitar to left mono and bass to right mono in GB). This doesn't work well at all!!!
My goal is to have my friend come over so we can record live into GB using a custom software drum track with two real instrument tracks, guitar (me) and bass (him).
So, what is a good multi track audio interface (mixer) to do this with. Hopefully one that doesn't have latency problems. I think a four track would be enough, right.
Is firewire better than USB?
What mixers do most GB muscians use?
thanks,
Haifarm

Sorry to highjack this discussion. I'm new to the boards and couldn't figure out how to post a new message.
Does anyone know when M-Audio might be updating their drivers to support Leopard? I've been monitoring the M-Audio site, but they're not being very specific with a time estimate. Does anyone remember how long it took them when Tiger was released? I really miss being able to use my Firewire 410 interface and 88es Keystation.
Thanks in advance,
Chris

Audio interface for 24" iMac - conflict between firewire 400 and 800?

So, what I have now:
2.8ghz iMac, latest model, newest firmware, running OS 10.4.11, connected to an M-Audio Ozonic Firewire 400 interface, and I was hoping to run said interface while ALSO connecting a firewire 800 hard drive for samples, or for recording to.
Alas, as soon as I turn on the firewire 800 drive, a model sold by Other World Computing and containing an Oxford chipset, all audio stops on the Ozonic keyboard and is replaced by clicks and pops. The only way I've found to get the audio back is with a complete restart of the system, with the firewire 800 drive OFF.
For those of you who aren't familiar with the M-Audio device, it's a small keyboard and firewire audio interface in one unit. Perhaps not the highest quality, but my Powerbook G4 1.67 with firewire 800 CAN run both the Ozonic and the firewire 800 drive at the same time. With no interruption in sound playback.
I did some research and discovered that in the iMac I bought, the two firewire channels, 400 and 800, appear to be on the same PCI E bus, and perhaps will NEVER work together.
Is that right? I thought the whole point of firewire was how it's able to negotiate such communications and work seamlessly with other firewire devices. I know, I know, I'm living in dreamland, it's just sad that a much older Apple product (my PPC notebook), can do something a brand new model cannot. Sigh.
Any advice? Any chance 10.5 fixes this?
If not, should my next audio interface be USB 2.0? Any thoughts from the Audio pros out there (besides 'you bought the wrong machine) would be great.

Sorry I can't help with your specific query as I have never used that Audio hardware.
I am a video man myself and went for the 24" 2.8Ghz iMac as i believe the Firewire 400 and 800 Buses are seperate. I know on older iMacs and even the MacPro the FW800 and 400 buses were on the same bus and when connecting a firewire video camera to the FW400 bus, the 800 would lower it's speed to 400 to accomodate or in some cases would lose the connection all together.
I currently have a FW800 Hard drive connected to the FW800 port and a video deck in the FW400 port and they both run at full speed 800/400 respectively.
This leads me to believe Apple have fixed the Firewire sharing problem.
I know it's no help but just though I would share my experience with the Firewire on the new iMac.

Help setting up my audio interface with logic pro x

Hi everyone,
I am a newbie with regards to home recording and using Logic Pro X and I need some help and advice about setting up my home recording set up for the first time. I want to connect my synthesizer Korg Triton Extreme to my Audio Interface Steinberg UR22 to my Apple Imac computer.
What I would like is if I can create backing tracks or use pre-set sounds or drum patterns from my Korg Triton Extreme synthesizer and then transfer them onto Logic Pro X to help me compose songs.
How should I go about doing this? And what settings should be applied to Logic Pro X so that I can hear the songs as they are being played and recorded?
So far I have connected my synthesizer's two outputs to the two inputs on my Steinberg UR22 Audio Interface. I have also connected the USB point on the audio interface to my Apple Imac computer. But when I have tried to add a drum track from the Korg Triton Extreme synthesizer I cannot seem to add any of the drum sounds. Nothing appears to be recorded despite me trying several times. I cannot hear any sound coming from the audio interface either despite having a pair of headphones plugged into it.
I would also like to find a way to synchronise the drum tracks I want to record from my Korg Triton Extreme synthesizer to Logic Pro X. So that when I click on the record button on Logic Pro X the synthesizer track automatically starts playing and recording on Logic Pro X. Whats the best way to do this? And will I need a Midi cable for any of the things I want to do?
Many thanks,
James.

Hi James
I just got myself a macbook pro and logic pro X, and I also have a Triton Extreme and the UR22. So I know what the learning curve can be like - it's been a long time since I've used a sequencer in a computer.
I assume you are aware of the difference between audio and midi? With your current setup, all you can do is play your Triton and record the sounds as audio loops - you should be able to hear the Triton through headphones plugged into the UR22, and (assuming you have installed the UR22 driver) you can also hear the Triton through your computer speakers (or headphone output) once you tell Logic there is sound coming in from the UR22.
If you want to be able to play the sounds in logic pro, or transfer drum patterns (which are in midi format), you will definitely need midi cables (you may be able to use midi by connecting the Triton's USB out to your computer, but having not tried that, I don't know if it will work - it does on more recent synths)
paul

Al iMac + FW800 HDD + FW400 Audio Interface

Hi All.
I need some technical advice.
I understand that if I connect a FW800 + FW400 at the same time that the FW800 will drop to FW400 speed (and I'm fine with that) as they use the same bus.
My question is... will both ports operate as inidividual FW400 ports (ie sharing 800Mb/s or will they be sharing 400Mb/s like if you normally have 2 x FW400 on the same bus.
What I want to do is attach a RAID (mirrored) Hard drive setup (Taurus RAID II) to the FW800 and a Firewire Audio Interface (such as a MOTU) to the FW400.
Most of the audio interfaces I've looked at say that they need their own FW400 port (which I take as meaning not sharing the 400Mb/s bandwith with any other devices).
I do have several work arounds if this setup is going to cause problems (ie using a USB audio interface or a ADDA converter attached to the iMac's optical in/out... but this limits my choice of interface).
I really wish now that I had saved a little longer and got an entry level MacPro instead... but am very happy with my iMac (and man does it run quiet... my PC friends are all very jealous!!)
Thanks for any advice you can give.

Thanks to you both.
Some people seem to think its been fixed, others seem to report they are still having problems... but its hard to tell whether its the audio interfaces they are using or an actual problem with the firewire bus.
I think i'm going to use an ADDA converter and the optical ins and outs anyway now... so I'll probably never know the answer to my question... but thanks for the replies.

Thunderbolt Audio interface for garage band

I'I'm new to Mac & garage band. Need advice on audio interface . What's the best way to go??? Thanks!
Syl

well they stopped putting the minipin input on these new imacs. Doesn't that suck?
I went to newegg.com and got this ordered this.
SYBA SY-AUD20091 USB Audio Adapter.
Thanks for your reply.

Recording using an audio interface or audio cable?

Hi everyone,
I am a newbie with Garageband and home recording in general and I just wanted some advice about the best way to record songs I have written on my Korg Triton Extreme synthesizer onto Garageband 09.
So far I have been using a basic audio cable which is connected to my apple Imac from my Korg Triton Extreme synthesizer to copy the songs I have written on my Korg Triton Extreme synthesizer to Garageband and it sounds ok but I just wondered whether I should buy an audio interface and connect that to my Korg Triton Extreme synthersizer and my apple imac and Garageband and whether this would give me a significantly better quality recording of each song?
All advice is welcome.
Many thanks.

You can record audio with a cheap cable for a few bucks or use an Audio Interface worth a couple of thousand bucks.
Do you get a better quality for you money ... definately yes.
Do you hear the difference ... it depends
At the end, it comes down to your needs.
In your case, you use a synthesizer that outputs line level. If you setup your level correctly (sending and receiving), then you might be ok and maybe not hear a difference with an expesive device. Even if you would hear a better sound in an A/B comparison, at the end it comes down to the following question: If you could hear only one solution (cheap or expensive) and you can't hear if it was recorded with the cheap or the expensive equipment then it doesn't matter.
At the end, your money might be better spent on better speakers (that let you judge what you hear) or thrid party plugins that give you more production value.
Recording a guitar signal or microphone - that is a completely different story.
Hope that helps
Edgar Rothermich
http://DingDingMusic.com/Manuals/
'I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.'

Is an audio interface really necessary?

Ok, right now I have my condenser mic hooked up to a phantom power and from the phantom power to the computer. All my recordings come out clear and loud. But my friend told me that if I get an audio interface, my recordings will sound much better. Well is it true? What are the benefits of an audio interface?
thanks

I actually use a variety of interfaces. Yesterday I spent the day with one from M-Audio and, while not as good sounding as the RME in my sig, the results were surprisingly good.
While there are a number of technical reasons why interfaces will sound better than going into the computer directly, aside from the technical mumbo jumbo, I do find a big jump in sound quality using an interface vs. a direct input, and not simply the difference between one flavor preamp and another.
Obviously, there are interfaces, and then there are interfaces! But even so, I've yet to use any interface that hasn't worked noticeably better than plugging directly into the computer.
That said, if someone is just starting out and wants to plug and play, and is more than happy with the quality of the computer's inputs, then they're wasting their money buying anything else. No one should buy anything they don't want or need!
But if someone is striving for better sound quality than what comes with the computer, the fact that interfaces add obvious flexibility shouldn't shroud the fact that they also improve sound quality under the hood.
kbeartx does make an excellent point, one of two that frequently degrade conversations about gear. Of course experience is all important! And the other: "it's all about the music," as if discussing equipment suggests otherwise. Still, equipment, and discussing it, has a value. Equipment and experience are not mutually exclusive.
It's like surgeons speaking about scalpels. An experienced surgeon will do a better job with a steak knife than an inexperienced surgeon will do with a finely-honed scalpel. Still, no one would denigrate any surgeon for seeking the best tool available.
That's all this is.
Inifinity239 has a steak knife and is wondering if a scalpel works better. As someone who has used both (to continue this now very tortured metaphor )... I would say of course!

Interface advice

I have been recording with Logic on a PC for a a few years, using a Roland VM3100-Pro mixing station as my audio interface. I have finally moved over to recording on my mac but am frustrated to find that I can't use my Roland to interface with the new version of Logic Express.
I would like to buy an interface that will allow me 4 or more simultaneous tracks in (assigned to separate tracks within LE of course).
I found M-Audio's FireWire 410 but that seems like I can only do 2 at a time (I can't seem to get an answer to that).
I really like their ProjectMix I/O but it's more than I need or can afford.
I have heard good things about the Motu Ultralite but not sure it is designed to work with LE and if I can work with 4 inputs at the same time.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you all for your help. I have it narrowed it down to the MOTU UltraLite and the Alesis MultiMix 12 FireWire (which was recommended by someone off this board).
* I really want to have physical faders that sync with Logic
** I am not really concerned with having that many outputs and don't need a device with MIDI control
* I like the compactness of the MOTU
I could not find anywhere online that shows the Alesis can work with Logic Express. Can anyone confirm that I can assign multiple inputs to unique tracks in LE?
Almost to the end... thanks again for your help.
PowerBook G415" Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Seeking audio interface advice.

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