What audio interface to chose among this multitude?

[Bad Disciple]

Hail everyone,

I need to make choice for a good audio interface for my small home studio.
I record ac./el./class. guitars, bass, keyboards, drum machines, microphones.
I gave my previous PC away and soon I’ll build my next more-power desktop.
So meanwhile I must use my laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.0GHz, 4MB L2 cache,
2GB DDR2, with ONE Firewire port, 2HDs (the one external on USB2) and Cubase SX3.

For 3 days I’ve searched in all today’s main brands. (Very helpful was the information
given by Home Recording Soundcard Wizard / Audio Interface Search Tool, hail Brandon!).

First, I’ve put the brands in order by importance/quality in SOUNDCARD making,
high-end to lower: (please, re-position if you see it otherwise).
1.Mackie,
2.MOTU,
3.EchoAudio,
4.Digidesign,
5.TC Electronic,
6.Tascam,
7.M-Audio,
8.Focusrite,
9.E-MU (doing PCI only),
10.Lexicon,
11.Edirol

I’ve made some pre-choices for the models below. Still I need help. Any opinion/advise
would be useful.
Mackie Onyx 400F or Onyx Satellite(?);
Motu UltraLite-mk3 or Traveler;
EchoAudio AudioFire8;
Digidesign Mbox 2 Pro;
TC Electronic Konnekt 24D;
M-Audio FireWire 1814;
Tascam FW-1804(?).

I also have these questions:
1.I plan to buy (in some near future) a TL Audio pre-amp, maybe the 5001 Ivory.
In that view, do I really need to get a soundcard with high quality input pre-amps now?
2.In view that most soundcards have balanced inputs, or Hi-Z, do I need to buy
DI boxes in addition?
3.Is my USB2 port for the external HD fast enough to use it for my record work?

Great thanks in advance for the feedback.
Bad Disciple
EN EIDA OTI OUDEN EIDA
"One thing I know is that nothing I know." (Socrates)

[tacman7]

I almost bought the 24D a while back and I don't need an interface.
Just wanted to see if the quality was better than what I'm using. That and the reverb and compression with external DSP. I like that it takes the load off your CPU. It had good reviews but the only way to really test this stuff is to own it.

You might get a used one on ebay for $200.
If you can get by on the amount of I/O it has.

[mfassett]

Among the interfaces you listed, I don't think you're going to find any particular one that has a great advantage as far as sound quality. In my experience (limited as it is) it's much better to go with something that works correctly and all the time, than to go with something that may sound slightly better, but has crappy drivers.

If I were picking from your list, I would probably pick one of these:

- AudioFire 8 (because I just bought a Layla 3G and it's awesomely stable)
- Motu Ultralight Mk3 or 828Mk3 (because a friend just bought one of these, and he says it's awesomely stable)

[TheMusicMan]

I haven't used any of the interfaces you've described, so I can't qualitatively help you there. I will attempt to answer the questions you've asked, though.

1.I plan to buy (in some near future) a TL Audio pre-amp, maybe the 5001 Ivory.
In that view, do I really need to get a soundcard with high quality input pre-amps now?

From what I've seen, no marketing department would let it's product leave the factory with "moderate" or "low" quality preamps slapped on the box. All of the interfaces will have "high quality preamps", but none will probably show the care and color provided by the Ivory you are looking at. The plus side is most of the interface designers try to avoid coloring signal at all, touting a super clean, low noise signal as their banner.

2.In view that most soundcards have balanced inputs, or Hi-Z, do I need to buy
DI boxes in addition?

Most interfaces with multi-inputs or groups of XLR/1/4" inputs give you the ability to choose whether an input is Hi-Z or Lo-Z. A DI box is a great thing to have for many reasons, so definitely consider it if it's in budget. I don't think you will necessarily HAVE to have one, though.

3.Is my USB2 port for the external HD fast enough to use it for my record work?

Yes. Your hard drive transfer speed should be able to easily handle the file transfer speed requirements of your recordings. If anything, it might slow down during massive track recordings, but that's more than likely processor-related rather than hard-drive related.

Have fun choosing! I wish I had the money to have your problem!

[Bad Disciple]

Thanks for the feedback, though I'm still not done with a decision.

In fact, I'm not a made-of-money guy, but I remember well what my
father said that my grand father told him: "I'm not so rich to buy cheap!"

Coolest vibes to all.

Bad Disciple
EN EIDA OTI OUDEN EIDA
"One thing I know is that nothing I know." (Socrates)

[Renegade Studios]

Alright well considering that 3 of my interfaces are on the list and top 5, ill think ill chime in. Ok well starting with the digidesign mbox 2... this is a great interface... the ability to use protools is the greatist draw, but the mix knob sucks.

TC Konnekt 24d.. I actually have both the 8 and the 24d daisy chained which in turn gives me something like 18in/ 18out ... These are my primery interfaces which get all my time energy and frustration. At first they had driver issues but the 2nd to last driver is rock solid and I have had little to no problems... the sound is pristine (IMHO) and it has been a great addition to my setup.

And last but not least the Motu Ultralite... This interface replaced a faulty firestudio project. Since getting this I have had no issues in anyway... there rock solid... I love the amount of i/os and the sound quality is primo... I don't think anybody can go wrong with this unit... if I wasn't so in love with my konnekts I would make this my goto unit.

Once again these are the units I use... my main workstation is built around the konnekts & cubase 4....
My protools rig is once again mbox2... my 3rd workstation is a midi based motu setup. Guitars (acoustic, electric and basses) run di, roland juno, and various other instruments.

God I love recording... playing with my toys...

I hope that helps with ur search... I've tried to give the details that's important to what I need in a reliable system... oh I have no issues with reliablity... even with protools on a vista machine (go figure!) The only problem I had was a pre***** issue and once I got rid of that and my hair grew back I've lived happily ever after!