firepod, mackie onyx 400f or motu ultralite.

[ak]

i use a mac, a powerbook (non-intel) and i'm about to buy an interface. which one is the best choice? they're all around the same price. i want stable, reliable, really low latency for using softsynths, good support (for future drivers etc..).

[AstroDan]

Look into Metric Halo. Great converters, great customer service, designed for Macs. Probably more expensive than those lised; you can get a 2882 for around $800 used. No one hates them, though.

[cdbabel]

As far as bang for your buck, I'd go with the FirePod. Plays nice with the mac (course, they all do) and I've heard good things about the Mic Pre-amps. plus, you can get it for 519 at Zzsounds.com i think...or it might have been 123music.com

At the least, that's the interface i'm gonna buy when i have the cash.

Course, if you want a great DAW program to come with the interface, I'd choose the ultralight or traveler (the traveler is cooler in my opinion) just to get AudioDesk (essentaily Digital Performer). I've been using DP for years and I love it.

But if you've already got software, the FirePod kicks some ass (8 mic pres! crazy)

[thearnicasync]

i've had both the firepod and the onyx, and the onyx sounded infinitely better to my ears, anyway. no hyped treble or low mid muck. As good as I'll bet some people can the make the Firepod sound, it always sounded like bag a turds.

[mikedaul]

fwiw, the firepod comes with cubase le (which is fine for just basic tracking and whatnot).

[wayout]

My firepod doesnt sound like a bag of turds all by itself... Thats where the engineer comes in!

Its extremely portable, but not very durable. (knobs seem fragile)
You can use it on almost any system (firewire)
you dont need a mixer.
low (enough) latency (ASIO) people I have recorded NEVER notice delay
New drivers allow you to use preamps without computer plugged in.


Its real versatile... you can make a crap record on it, or a brilliant one.


-Jake