Need a new audio interface for imac

  • Thread starter Thread starter Stumplegriltskin
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Stumplegriltskin

Stumplegriltskin

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I have a Firestudio Mobile. Ever since upgrading to Yosemite, the thing is a problem. The firewire interface seems to start blinking red and blue on the interface after a short while, problem when the computer goes to sleep. Usually when the computer wakes, it comes back and the firewire link is blue and all is good. But overnight, the thing crashes and I'm fed up with it. There's no fix, I looked high and low. Multiple posts on the Presonus forum with nothing but crickets.

So, I'm done.

Here's what I'm looking at. I don't need to record 10 things at once, so a 2 port is all fine and good. Looking for something that plays well with Mac. This focusrite is USB. Am I going to notice any latency issues with Firewire vs. USB?

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlett2i2
 
Another options is one of the Universal audio units like the Apollo twin duo. Very nice, high quality unit.

If you don't need a lot of outputs one of the new Focusrite Clarett interfaces would work great as well. I have the Clarett 8 and they have a smaller version being released shortly as well. That being said, this is the best sounding interface I have had yet and I've had the UA Apollo Twin duo and the Apogee stuff previously. All great products, regardless.
 
I had a Focusrite 2i2 and now have a Apogee Duet 2 - much much better choice
 
Apogee. Christ that shit is expensive. Recording is the least I want to spend money on.
 
UA Apollo! The thing is amazing but admittedly a lil bit of a money pit as the plug ins are a huge source of G.A.S..
 
///MK":24y7xl1h said:
UA Apollo! The thing is amazing but admittedly a lil bit of a money pit as the plug ins are a huge source of G.A.S..
Click to expand...
This.
 
I have the focusrite 2i4. it does a good job, especially considering the price. it has a few flaws such as having its main balanced outputs share the circuit between inputs and outputs. this will give you insane feedback when reamping. The outputs that are isolated are unbalanced outputs. This can give you noise interference but I have not had any issues with that. The fact that it can even do all this stuff for the price and size is amazing to me. how are the preamps? how is a guy supposed to know that stuff....

The thing to consider when looking into higher end stuff like the apogee, UA, or whatever is the converters. To me, this seems like something that is very important. The preamps will be better too. But again, how is a guy supposed to tell the difference between all that stuff?


for those of you that use alot of plugins and are up on mixing stuff: How does steven slates plugins compare to all the high dollar UA and WAVES stuff or anything "top of the line"
I understand that slate digital has a monthly payment plan set-up to have all the nice stuff without wasting thousands on stuff that will be soon obsolete anyway... seems like a good resource for regular people.

*if you do go with focusrite, spent the 50 bucks more and get the 2i4! when I was in your position, I got the 2i2 and then 6 months later i needed a little more options
 
I've got a bunch of the UA plug-ins, I've had them since they were first introduced, and they are very good replications of what they represent, but the gap is closing fast. I've heard a lot of others that are very effective, but called different names that we are not as familier with. When you have 100 of anything to choose from, associating a particular sound with a name is easier and can be a time-saver. I've not heard the Slate plug ins, so I have no idea how they compare. I've never been one of those people who has to convince everyone what I have is the best stuff out there. Technoligy in this field is zooming at light speed, and thats a good thing because it will ultimately bring the price down.
My next interface will likely be an Apogee, I think they have the best converters out there, but the converters were the last thing on my mind when I got my last one. This bites me on the ass everytime I use my current setup, which is a Digidesign rack.
Lots of angles to consider, but recording can quickly become a black hole if you cut yourself too short on something as important as the interface. ;)
 
I use a Focusrite Saffire with my iMac and it's great. You should be fine with the Scarlet.
 
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