8-input interface options

[reconnaissance]

Hi, this is my first post here so hello everyone...

I'm looking at options for a new interface for my recently acquired 2nd-hand Macbook running Ableton Live to record my band (2 guitars, bass, drums and vox). So far, I've been using an MBox with only 2 inputs which is somewhat constricting when it comes to recording drums especially. Does anyone have any suggestions of something with more inputs - I'm thinking 8 inputs would be useful but I guess 4 would do if it makes a significant difference to cost as I'm fairly broke. I'm also open to something that might incorporate hardware processing such as compression but probably not realistic if it seriously breaks the bank!

Oh, I'd also prefer phantom power and XLR inputs. I was considering the Tascam US-800. Does anyone reading this have any experience of this? Thanks very much in advance!

[Bro Shark]

My bandmate records all our practices on a Tascam US-1800 and it works great.

[CurtZHP]

http://www.rwonline.com/article/pro-40- ... udget/1482

This is a review I did on the Focusrite Saffire Pro40.

[CraigS63]

Do you have Firewire or USB (I don't know Mac stuff that well)?

[reconnaissance]

Do you have Firewire or USB (I don't know Mac stuff that well)?

I have both!

[reconnaissance]

My bandmate records all our practices on a Tascam US-1800 and it works great.

Thanks - yes, that's the next step up from the 800. If I can find one used cheap enough, I'd be tempted. The main difference I can discern is that it has double the inputs.

[reconnaissance]

http://www.rwonline.com/article/pro-40- ... udget/1482

This is a review I did on the Focusrite Saffire Pro40.

Thanks, will give it some thought.

[blungo2]

Echo Audiofire pre8 is decent and cheap.

Besides, i might be selling mine soon...

[McPorkChoppy]

I found the Original MOTU Traveler to be super useful. 8 in/out,Goes up to 192khz, firewire, 4 pres w/ phantom.. And I found it one of the cheaper firewire interfaces that have AES EBU in/out for a cheap price.

[reconnaissance]

Thanks for the reply. As it happens, I've since bought the Tascam US -1800 which has been great except for one rather irritating problem.

When used in conjunction with my 3 year old iMac, if I sleep it and then wake it, I cannot play any audio (in iTunes/Live or just in the Finder preview). It works fine when the interface isn't connected so I assume it is a problem with the drivers I installed for the interface. I may well re-post this query as a post in its own right as it seems like an unusual bug. I couldn't find any info about it when I Googled it.

I haven't upgraded the OS to Lion, maybe that's all it is but I'm presently unsure if Ableton Live 7 is compatible with it.

[Bro Shark]

Not a Mac guy, but in general I don't recommend "sleeping" a computer with an interface attached. My rule of thumb is: Interface on > computer on / computer off > interface off. Anything else just confuses the driver.

[thegeek]

Not a Mac guy, but in general I don't recommend "sleeping" a computer with an interface attached. My rule of thumb is: Interface on > computer on / computer off > interface off. Anything else just confuses the driver.

I've had this happen with my Mac and my PC

[reconnaissance]

Thanks both! It's just frustrating because it always worked with my mbox 2 which I sold to part cover the Tascam. Of course, if I upgrade my OS and software to suit, there's no guaranteeing that my now antiquated (at 3 years old!) hardware will work with it as well (probably won't - damn you Apple). Never mind, I'll just go the shut down route for the foreseeable.