Firewire Interfaces

[Towser83]

Hi everyone,

I've recently been looking for an interface to get. I need one that is firewire (due to USB problems) and I'd also like phantom power, mic preamps and MIDI in and out.

I'm on a tight budget because I've had some other stuff come up in life and take a huge bite out of my funds.

I have got a few models in mid and would appreciate a few opinions on the item or even the general quality of the manufactuer.

First is - Edirol FA-66 Firewire Audio Interface

I have also seen one place is offering it with Cakewalk SONAR POWER STUDIO 660, for about an extra £20 (which I guess is about $35). I don't know if it's worth the extra or if it is a very basic version? I use Cubase VST32 and I mostly record audio, I'll be using some MIDI and at some point will need something to do drums. I'm doing rock stuff and acoustic, playing my own instruments except Drums and I will use MIDI sounds.

There is also - Terratec Phase 24 FW Firewire Audio interface

Dont know much about this but it seems to have what I need and is pretty cheap.

m audio firewire 410 audio and midi interface

I did hear from some people that this has been unreliable and people have said M-Audio is to be avoided, I'm not sure if this is anyone's experiences here?

Also I'm running Cubase VST32, would this be able to hande the Firewire interface?

Thanks so much!

Oh and I'm using Windows XP service pack 2, with about a GB of ram

[etcd32@missouri.edu]

I have the edirol FA-66 and i love it... it also has midi so its great. its very simple to use and has its own power supply, and if u dont want to use that, it has bus power as well from you computer!

hope this helps!
-evan

[Towser83]

Thanks very much for your reply, I'll see if anyone else has any info, but I've been leaning towards the Edirol FA-66 so your post is a big help.

Thank you.

[scooterlow]

Well Ive had the M-audio Firewire 410 since they came out. I had some install issues with an older computer I had it on years back but it was the PC that had issues. It works great on my system now.
The Mic pres are ok, nothing great. But I don't have anything other that the mic pres on my Mackie 1202 VLZ to compare it to. There better than the Mackie's in my opinion.
Make sure you have latest drivers and all.

For Basic recording I am using
3 GHZ P4 PC
2 gig of ram
IDE 7200 rpm drive
M-audio Firewire 410
Mackie 1202 VLZ
Presonus Eureka Channel strip
Behringer Truth B2031 monitors(First run models)
Evolution MK249 Controller
Cubase SX3

[reggienic]

Well I use the PreSonus FP10 and have been for a few years now and i love it.....it has midi in and out.....firewire......10x10.........can be daisy chained to 2 other FP10's to get up to 24 tracks streaming.......8 xlr............