M-Audio ProFire 2626 Reviews

[brandondrury]

M-Audio ProFire 2626 @ Musiciansfriend



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Is The M-Audio ProFire 2626 The Right Audio Interface For You?
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M-Audio ProFire 2626 Description
Building on a legacy of award-winning FireWire audio interfaces, the M-Audio ProFire 2626 brings next-generation performance to your PC or Mac host-based recording system. This powerful rackmount interface delivers 26 x 26 simultaneous I/O, complete with an onboard DSP mixer sourced from up to 52 audio streams.

It features every kind of connection you need, including the award-winning Octane preamp technology on all eight analog inputs, ADAT, S/PDIF, word clock and MIDI. Critically acclaimed JetPLL jitter elimination technology ensures pristine audio quality and reliable synchronization all the way up to high-definition 24-bit/192kHz resolution.

In addition, the ProFire 2626 Audio Interface offers easy FireWire connectivity, extremely low latency, dual headphone outputs, front-panel 1/4" instrument inputs, and standalone operation. It is compatible with most major audio software, including Pro Tools M-Powered 7.4 (with downloadable update) which would boost you to 96kHz and a 18 x 18 I/O maximum. Visit the M-Audio website for update availability.

[Audio~Geek]

Here's a (long) review I wrote on my new Profire 2626. Reliability has yet to be seen, but I have no issues with M-Audio's quality, and as a dealer I'd have no issue with getting it replaced fast.

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[review is from http://www.audiogeekzine.com]

For a long time I've been looking for an alternative to my Digi 002R, a product I've never been happy with, and paid way too much for. When the Profire 2626 was announced I was immediately intrigued. It seemed to have all the features I needed and wanted plus it worked with Pro Tools, and it didn't cost a fortune. I finally got to borrow a Profire 2626 from work along with an iLok so I can try it out on my system.


Features

8 analog inputs and outputs

Signal and Clip indicators on analog inputs

8 Octane microphone preamps and 2 instrument inputs

-20dB pads on each preamp by pulling gain knob

16 ADAT Optical inputs and outputs

2 channel S/PDIF I/O

Wordclock ports for sync

MIDI in/out

2 headphone outputs

1 U rack space design


Installation

Set up went very smoothly. I downloaded the latest driver from M-Audio's website. Ran the program, turned off the computer, plugged in the Profire, turned it on and started the computer. Windows found the new hardware, installed drivers automatically and within a minute I was playing music from Foobar 2000 out the Profire. Now why is that anything to write about, well previously with the 002R I had to play music through the onboard pc soundcard, with a cable going into the 002 alt input and push a button on the front to send it to the speakers. The Profire just works.
DSP Mixer and Routing

This took a bit to wrap my head around, I've never had an interface with a dsp mixer, the 002 didn't even have a control panel! I had a brief run glance through the manual (again a download from M-Audio) and then I remembered the tutorials Jeff Dykhouse did not too long ago. The dsp mixer allows you to route the input directly to the outputs for zero latency monitoring and custom cue mixes. This is something I've got no experience with, in fact I usually tell people not to use the the "mix knob" on their usb interfaces and always monitor through the software. I can definitely see the benefit with this, but it's no good if I want to monitor through effects.


Preamps

The preamps are very clean and low noise compared with any preamp I've owned previously. I would consider these on par with the Presonus Digimax series, 1000x better than the 002, which is unusable. I love that there are -20dB pads on all the preamps. The ProjectMix I/O is an excellent interface, but it's useless for recording drums because the preamps have no pads, turned all the way down they still clip like a mofo. Not the case with the Profire 2626, I'd have no problems with recording drums with it.
Working With Pro Tools M-Powered

Along with the 2626 I borrowed an iLok so I can try it out with Pro Tools M-Powered. Installation went smoothly for me, largely because I know what I'm doing. I got the PTMP 7.4 download from the dealer site, installed, restarted, got the latest CS update (the Profire came out after 7.4 was released and requires at least CS 5), installed and restarted.

Opened up Pro Tools and did the Dverb test. Previously my computer could do a maximum of 220 dverbs, the Profire has a larger maximum buffer of 2048, I can now exceed 260 Dverbs. My old pc with a dual core AMD processor would max out at about 80 dverbs. The new quad was definitely worth the money. The lowest buffer size is 128, which is pretty good for monitoring with plugins IMO.

I think Pro Tools is also more stable with this interface.

The Negative Stuff

It's not the perfect interface, but I'd say its pretty close. There are a few things I'll miss having.

*No Mono button

*No Mute button

*Master volume control is digital, there is not a lot of resolution in the counter clockwise position. Turning it up slowly, it remains silent for a bit then it suddenly turns up, not loud but not quiet enough either. I need to open the software control panel for fine adjustment of volume.

*There is constant soft white noise from the speakers with this on, there are lots of clicks and noises when you first turn it on that get sent out of the speakers. This wouldn't happen with a real analog volume control.

*Headphone out 1 is not independent of the master output, maybe I have something configured wrong but I have to have the speaker volume up to hear anything out the headphone amp. I don't get it.

*Power supply is a "line lump" ac adapter rather than a full size IEC cable with big transformer. Seems "unprofessional" but of course that keeps this a 1U rack space and the weight down.

*DSP Mixer can only handle 18 I/O at once. I saw a post on GearSlutz by an M-Audio engineer saying more than that would require an additional DSP chip and much higher pricetag.

*setting up this to work with Skype has stumped me at the moment. I can send my mic through skype no prob, but to playback something pre-recorded doesn't get sent out.

*Only 18 I/O available in Pro Tools. This is a limitation from Digidesign in the software, all 26 I/O are available in any other DAW and you can even daisy chain them for more. This really isn't a limitation for me, I don't own a single piece of outboard gear (yet) and rarely use more than 2x2 I/O

The verdict

The pros far outweigh the cons on this interface, it's a major upgrade from the Digidesign 002 Rack and I'm thoroughly enjoying playing around with it this weekend. I'm expanding and simplifying my DAW at once.

I have no choice, I have to buy it.

[scooterlow]

Have you ever used the M-audio 410. It only has 4 ins 10 outs. I use all plugins and really only record myself, so i don't need more ins. Do you thing there would be any befits for buying this over the Firewire 410.

[Audio~Geek]

Go with the profire 610 which is the replacement for the discontinued 410
Same quality as the 2626 but with less I/O

[krao]

I have a question though about this review. You said you are getting some white noise out of the speakers. Does this white noise get captured in the recorded signal through Pro-tools ?

I think I am going to go with 610, a lot cheaper.

[Audio~Geek]

no not at all, the sound is just from having the speakers plugged into the interface. It seems devices with digital volume controls have this problem. It's strange though, even with the noise the interface seems cleaner and more accurate than my old one.

When recording the interface sounds fantastic. There is no white noise in the headphones either.

[vijaykruger]

how is the profire 2626 any different from presonus firestudio 2626?
pls help me guys
thanks..

[Audio~Geek]

The Profire is pro tools compatible.

[vijaykruger]

besides compatibility, in the sense of quality and performance?

[GstringJunkie]

So is there any way to fix the white noise coming from the monitors? Is it a lot of noise that would conflict with mixing?
And what would be the difference of connecting your speakers directly to your computer?

[barters]

I've been working with the profires recently and can't say that I've had any issue with white noise from the monitors, even when turned up.

How do you have your monitors connected? Through outputs 1-2? I'm not sure if I should be doing what I am but I'm now running my monitors from one of the headphone jacks and re-route the outputs 1-2 to my patch bay for use as an insert or aux etc. I wanted to get 16 outputs (plus the spdifs) to my hardware. I can do this without much drama due to having 4 headphone "channels" from the 2 profires I use.

So far I've found this unit really good in general though. Was a bit finicky to get setup and make sure you have the latest drivers too. I didn't update straight away and was getting pops and crackles until I did.

[Audio~Geek]

I've got my monitors connected to 1-2. I don't use headphones 1. I always use Headphones 2.

one of the M-Audio engineers read my review and recommended connecting my monitors to 7-8 instead to have 2 independent headphone mixes, or independent level control.

Headphone 1 mirrors what is sent to output 1-2, if this is your main monitors, you lose independent level control, the headphone level is POST master volume.

Headphone 2 mirrors what is sent to output 3-4.

The master volume control can be set to any of the 4 pairs of Analog outputs.

as for the white noise, I still haven't figured it out. There is a definite 'dither' noise coming out. It is barely audible if I use the -6dB trim on the monitors and push them a bit harder from the profire.

One of these days I'll rewire everything and move them to 7-8. I don't seem to get any noise from my space echo being fed from output 6, even with an unbalanced cable.


-Barters - I wouldn't run professional monitors (ones with 1/4" TRS or XLR balanced inputs) off the headphone amps, even if it was possible to connect them.

[G C Cunningham]

How would I connect my midi keyboard to the Profire 2626? I see on back panel the midi is a 9 pin. I've only used the regular midi plugs. I'm considering the 2626 and have enjoyed your detailed review, but I couldn't find a midi to 9 pin interface. Thanks.

[Audio~Geek]

It's amazing that with all the pictures of the Profire online, there's not one of the breakout cable for the MIDI, S/PDIF, and Wordclock jacks.

[G C Cunningham]

thanks, I finally downloaded their manual at M-Audio and the cable is mentioned. I'm sold.