M Audio 1814 VS Lightbridge

[mikegrny]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum, but not new to recording at home. My dilemma is that I'm trying to figure out which device would be better for me. The MAudio 1814 or the Lightbridge? I currently have a first generation MOTU 896 and an 828. I'm using Samplitude with it and I'm pretty happy with it. However, I'm trying to make a move to Pro-Tools. I'm sure most of you can understand that. I've got a Mackie 1604VLZ3 mixer with 8 Direct Outs, an Alesis DEQ 830 with 8 channels of ADAT out, a cheaper Nady 8 channel preamp, an ART TPS Tube Preamp w/2 channels, a Presonus ACP88 COMP and a Lexicon MX400 Reverb with USB. With this set-up which one of the MAudio devices am I better off with? Any help in configuration/additional equipment advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Mike

[brandondrury]

I'm using Samplitude with it and I'm pretty happy with it.

If you are "pretty happy" with anything in your recording chain, it's a total waste of time, money, energy, and resources to switch. Before you switch, you should make a list of all the things you would like to do, but can't currently do with your setup. Then we can help you meet those needs.

I'm trying to make a move to Pro-Tools. I'm sure most of you can understand that.

No. After 7 years of home recording and recording over 700 songs, I can't see a reason to switch to Pro Tools. At least not for me.

With this set-up which one of the MAudio devices am I better off with?

The Lightbridge allows you to cram lots of inputs into your computer rig via ADAT. If you need lots of simultaneous channels, it makes sense to go that route. I mean LOTS of simultaneous channels.

Your current setup only has Alesis DEQ 830 with ADAT out. You could runyour mic pres into that and then input that via ADAT into either the Lightbridge or the M-Audo Firewire 1814. However, if that's the only inputs you need, there is no good reason to go with the Lightbridge over the 1814 that I know of. The Lightbridge is more of a lean, mean way of getting of lots of inputs into your rig, but the 1814 has more comprehensive features overall. You may or may not need these. Bottom line, if you don't need tons and tons of inputs, go with the Buy M-Audio FireWire 18/14 Computer Recording Interface at Musician's Friend

[therevjpk]

Can I link two 1814's together and record more tracks at once?

there seems to be nothing that says I can not.

There are two forwire ports at the back panel, so I was wondering if you could use two side by side to record 16 tracks at once?

Does anyone know?

[brandondrury]

You should have no trouble. It's pretty much a given that you can run as multiple audio interfaces simultaneously. I've ran 2 Delta 1010s for years. Just keep in mind that you may have two different routing matrix thingies that I would expect to be independent. You may want to look into that one.

Brandon