9 replies to this topic

[Jay Parker]

So guys,

After finally selling my Mc - 909, i am in a position to buy an interface.

I am not in a position to by an Ultralite which i what i really want but i am in a position to buy:


Edirol - Fa66 i can get for under $500

Edirol - Fa101 i can get for under $700

Echo Audiofire 8 - Under $700

Echo Audiofire 4 - Under $500

No i heard some really good things about all devices and in particular the Echo Audio stuff, as well as the no mess no fuss reliability of the Fa stuff as well.



Now, i know a few peeps own the Echo Audio stuff and i know that HPS has a FA66.

I am looking for some advice as to which would be the better choice.

My Heart says Ultralite, but the wallet and the missus say no. So this is my shortlist.

I know that they are all solid interfaces but i am only looking to do this once for a while, so i have to make an informed decision.

Help me punks.


Cheers

D

[ehsan]

How much can you actually afford to spend? This will basically make the decision I reakon.

[Jay Parker]

Well i can afford the Audiofire 8 and the Fa 101

[ehsan]

Apparently the Roland interfaces are really good - but I'm just not into them! Though I've never used one, only ever heard good reports and base my opinion on nothing whatsoever, I'd get the Echo anyday.

[Jay Parker]

Cool, thanks for your thoughts mate. I appreciate it.

FYI, I can get the Audiofire 8 for around 550...


So i know you can appreciate the dilema.

[Jester_Fu]

Yeah, the Echo cards have always been a really good solid package. Not that i've used their FW or USB stuff... but never had or heard anything bad about the PCI stuff. Probably not as well 'featured' as the Edirol, but just a workhorse.

Do you really need the 8 in/out capability? You've only got the SNII left, which leaves most of your stuff VSTi. If you added another synth before you 'outgrew' the card... you could always use the nice sounding A&H Zone mixer to get extra inputs etc. That little extra cash would go well toward updating Abletronz or buying a nice FM modeling VSTi for the mac But hey - if you can get the 8 in/out for within $100 0f the 4... just do it. You'll get the benefit from it eventually and the difference in price would be soooo slight

[Jay Parker]

Exactly what i am going through in my head... aaaarrrrrgggghhh

[Jester_Fu]

Dude... just buy the cheaper card then, and spend the remaining cash on VSTi's/aBlertonz upgrade... taking the missus to a movie. Whatever. You know the 4 i/o card is going to suit you perfectly. You should know that it'll be years and years before you'll want more than 4 i/o given your setup currently and how it has been for more than 3 years! You know plenty of people with higher IO devices if you find an actual need for it - so you can borrow. 'tis what mates do

In a couple of years, you'll get even more for even less... so IMO, it's a no brainer. Both the Edirol and Echo cards are good gear. They're both in your price. They both do what you want. Personally, if i had your setup,  i'd just pick the cheaper of the Edirol and Echo in 4 I/O configuration and be done with it.

[Captain Terrific]

i'm using an edirol interface and it has never let me down. in fact, i own 3 and all of em have been awesome.

and hundreds of my (happy) customers own em too and i've never had a return.

i also believe you shouldn't limit yourself with 4 IO... you WILL end up with a gear addiction and you will want to plug em in... save yourself the heartache and over compensate.

I'm glad i did... i run an DA 2496 and still wish i had some adat actionage


PS. I'm wery drunk and it took me almost 35 minutes to write this... wouldn't it be rad if i could talk to customers in this state!!

[echosystm]

i got an echo audiofire. the specs are a bit better than the presonus fireboxes and the edirols. given echo's track record for drivers (they were among the first to release stable vista drivers), the decision was a no brainer for me. i got my audiofire4 for $350 shipped. try gigasonic or novamusik if you choose to buy. an audiofire4 will give you enough analog i/o for two synths, or one synth and two mics. you then have the digital i/o's, should you choose to use them. i think this is plenty for most people - with the quality of modern soft synths, i can't see the point in getting more than 1 or 2 synths. hell, if you get a virus ti, you don't even need the i/o, because it is all over usb!

edirols and presonus aren't BAD though... just slightly out-done by the echos, imo.