Interface upgrade around $1500 - suggestions?
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 512 posts since 4 Dec, 2015
Hey guys,
I'm looking to upgrade my interface from a Saffire Pro 40. I've got $1500 and need 8 i/o. What are you recommending? I'm looking at motu at the moment mostly because of driver stability. Any other recommendations? The motu 8m looks like it would work but what would be the quality difference between running the 8m vs the mk4 and a 8 i/o radial dI step?
Thanks,
Kevin
I'm looking to upgrade my interface from a Saffire Pro 40. I've got $1500 and need 8 i/o. What are you recommending? I'm looking at motu at the moment mostly because of driver stability. Any other recommendations? The motu 8m looks like it would work but what would be the quality difference between running the 8m vs the mk4 and a 8 i/o radial dI step?
Thanks,
Kevin
Win 7 | Dual Xeon x5680 | 48 GB RAM | Saffire Pro 40 | Yamaha HS50 monitors |Cubase 8.5 Pro|
Kevin DiGennaro
Kevin DiGennaro
- KVRAF
- 5479 posts since 15 Dec, 2011 from Bucharest, Romania
- KVRAF
- 8180 posts since 22 Sep, 2008 from Windsor. UK
RME for me every time.
I've had a couple of MOTU interfaces and their customer support ain't that great.
RME driver stability is second to none. A UC/X falls within your budget.
I've had a couple of MOTU interfaces and their customer support ain't that great.
RME driver stability is second to none. A UC/X falls within your budget.
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- KVRAF
- 4633 posts since 21 Jan, 2008 from oO
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 512 posts since 4 Dec, 2015
Do they make an 8 i/o unit? I've heard great things about RME but only seen 8+ i/o with TRS no XLR.
Thanks,
Kevin
Thanks,
Kevin
Win 7 | Dual Xeon x5680 | 48 GB RAM | Saffire Pro 40 | Yamaha HS50 monitors |Cubase 8.5 Pro|
Kevin DiGennaro
Kevin DiGennaro
- KVRAF
- 8180 posts since 22 Sep, 2008 from Windsor. UK
I don't think they do actually, that's reserved for their OctaMic A/D converters.
I would still rather have an RME interface and add XLR's via ADAT than go with MOTU tbh.
I would still rather have an RME interface and add XLR's via ADAT than go with MOTU tbh.
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 512 posts since 4 Dec, 2015
Further thought - whst should probably be asking is if I went with something like the fireface 800 or 802 since the inputs are balanced line level could I just hook that up via patchBay? So an xlr input patch with TRS output?
Thanks,
Kevin
Thanks,
Kevin
Win 7 | Dual Xeon x5680 | 48 GB RAM | Saffire Pro 40 | Yamaha HS50 monitors |Cubase 8.5 Pro|
Kevin DiGennaro
Kevin DiGennaro
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 512 posts since 4 Dec, 2015
Over looked this post - not a bad idea. The fireface 800 is around $750 used not sure I need to have the 802. What preamp would you pair with the 800 with the left over budget?tehlord wrote:I don't think they do actually, that's reserved for their OctaMic A/D converters.
I would still rather have an RME interface and add XLR's via ADAT than go with MOTU tbh.
Thanks,
Kevin
Win 7 | Dual Xeon x5680 | 48 GB RAM | Saffire Pro 40 | Yamaha HS50 monitors |Cubase 8.5 Pro|
Kevin DiGennaro
Kevin DiGennaro
- KVRAF
- 8180 posts since 22 Sep, 2008 from Windsor. UK
I don't see why not, but don't take my word for it. It's not something I've ever done....theEmbark wrote:Further thought - whst should probably be asking is if I went with something like the fireface 800 or 802 since the inputs are balanced line level could I just hook that up via patchBay? So an xlr input patch with TRS output?
Thanks,
Kevin
Incidentally, I have a 10 year old FF400 here and it works flawlessly and RME still support it with the latest driver/software package.
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- KVRian
- 705 posts since 9 Nov, 2003
If you're on Mac, go Motu. If you're on PC, go somewhere else. Just about all of the negative reviews about Motu are those who are using it with PC. Very few issues with Motu on Mac.
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 512 posts since 4 Dec, 2015
That's good info I'm using PCs these days.donato wrote:If you're on Mac, go Motu. If you're on PC, go somewhere else. Just about all of the negative reviews about Motu are those who are using it with PC. Very few issues with Motu on Mac.
Edit:
Further looking into things look the best option in my budget for maximum inputs would be the fireface 800. That gives me 4 xlr and a line or 5 line on the front (or any combo). Then 8 of the inputs could go to something like a radial rack di with decent pres like this:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ProD8
That'd give me a total max of 12 xlr or up to 13 balanced lines in.
I guess I could even adat out to the pro 40 to use its preamps if I needed. Thathe would be plenty for my needs.
Can someone run through that thought process and make sure it makes sense?
Thanks,
Kevin
Win 7 | Dual Xeon x5680 | 48 GB RAM | Saffire Pro 40 | Yamaha HS50 monitors |Cubase 8.5 Pro|
Kevin DiGennaro
Kevin DiGennaro
- KVRAF
- 3889 posts since 28 Jan, 2011 from MEXICO
I would go for a USB unit just for convenience, specially in Windows.
The fireface UC, UCX or 802, expand via adat or use the line inputs. You already have some way to take advantage of the adat
The fireface UC, UCX or 802, expand via adat or use the line inputs. You already have some way to take advantage of the adat
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 512 posts since 4 Dec, 2015
Thanks for making that point,rod_zero wrote:I would go for a USB unit just for convenience, specially in Windows.
The fireface UC, UCX or 802, expand via adat or use the line inputs. You already have some way to take advantage of the adat
You are right, USB is a million times easier to get to corporate with PCs. Looking at the prices I am seeing for 1500-1600 I could get a 802 vs the UCX at 1300. Might be worth the extra couple hundred long term.
I actually really like focusrites preamps so really either would work using adat since the pro40 can be used in manual mode basically as their Octa pre.
Are there are other selling pointo between the 802, uc, and ucx worth exploring that set them apart from each other?
Thanks,
Kevin
Win 7 | Dual Xeon x5680 | 48 GB RAM | Saffire Pro 40 | Yamaha HS50 monitors |Cubase 8.5 Pro|
Kevin DiGennaro
Kevin DiGennaro
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- KVRAF
- 3045 posts since 4 Jan, 2005
You could always go this route too ???????? 1. RME PCIe aio , 2. RME breakout cable and 3. Focusrite 8pre with Adat out .... It'd get you right under $1400 ..... I plan on getting 1 and 2 soon ... Here's it all in a shopping cart . https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HDSPe9632
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 512 posts since 4 Dec, 2015
Thanks for the suggestion,fedexnman wrote:You could always go this route too ???????? 1. RME PCIe aio , 2. RME breakout cable and 3. Focusrite 8pre with Adat out .... It'd get you right under $1400 ..... I plan on getting 1 and 2 soon ... Here's it all in a shopping cart . https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HDSPe9632
Doesn't look like I mentioned this but it's for my mobile rack rig which I run off a clevo laptop system so no space for the card.
But thank you!
If focusrite could get their software act together it'd be a game changer. At least compared to motu I prefer the pres focusrite uses.
Thanks,
Kevin
Win 7 | Dual Xeon x5680 | 48 GB RAM | Saffire Pro 40 | Yamaha HS50 monitors |Cubase 8.5 Pro|
Kevin DiGennaro
Kevin DiGennaro