Can anyone suggest a usable interface for PT11?

[alekto]

As per title, I would ideally like something with 6-8 inputs, actually the more the merrier! :-) I have quite a small budget, say between $300-500. Sound quality doesn't have to be stellar. I know you get what you pay for in this price bracket.

I'm using a late 2013 iMac with 8GB ram and Mac OS Mavericks.

I've seen a couple, the Steinberg UR44 looks quite promising, also the Behringer FCA1616. The latter unit has very mixed reviews though. Will either of these play nice with Pro Tools?

Any help would be really appreciated!

[SpinningDisk]

Have you looked at the 003?

[alekto]

Have you looked at the 003?

I hadn't actually considered that! Will it play nice using the thunderbolt - firewire adapter?

[SpinningDisk]

Yes. I have a late 2012 imac. 003 on one port with three 500gig Glyphs on the other port both using the adapter. Others will chime in.

[JoelG]

I'm quite happy with my Focusrite 18i20. But really as long as there are decent ASIO drivers available, you should be good. I've also been happy with my ProFire 2626, but it doesn't seem to be getting driver updates anymore.

Joel

[alekto]

I saw a digi 002 going on an auction for ¥10,000 (about 100 USD). It's unsupported hardware but worth faffing around with? Not worth the hassle?

[TimothyJohn]

I'm quite happy with my Focusrite 18i20. But really as long as there are decent ASIO drivers available, you should be good. I've also been happy with my ProFire 2626, but it doesn't seem to be getting driver updates anymore.



Joel


+1!!! The18i20 works very well for me.

[alekto]

Thanks everyone for chiming in. The 18i20 is now on my list. I think I can stretch to it.

[nst7]

The Focusrite units are probably the most popular replacements for the 002/003, and by all accounts sound better.

[DonaldM]

As per title, I would ideally like something with 6-8 inputs, actually the more the merrier! :-) I have quite a small budget, say between $300-500. Sound quality doesn't have to be stellar. I know you get what you pay for in this price bracket.

I'm using a late 2013 iMac with 8GB ram and Mac OS Mavericks.

I've seen a couple, the Steinberg UR44 looks quite promising, also the Behringer FCA1616. The latter unit has very mixed reviews though. Will either of these play nice with Pro Tools?

Any help would be really appreciated!

Take a look at the Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 THat's what I use and the sound quality is superb!

[DonaldM]

Thanks everyone for chiming in. The 18i20 is now on my list. I think I can stretch to it.

Or, that one if you can afford it!

[alekto]

Ok guys. One last question from me. I've become very interested in the M-Audio m-track eight by virtue of the fact it has 8 ins and outs. Runs class compliant under Mac OS, no need for a driver. I also like the fact there's no control panel and it looks easy as pie to get going. I'm very tempted. Does anyone want to talk me out of it?

http://m-audio.com/products/view/m-track-eight

[JoelG]

I haven't used one, so I cant give first hand impressions. I do have a ProFire 2626 and Project Mix I/O that I have been happy with, but driver development is less than stellar (pretty much non-existent). Since it runs class compliant on Mac, you'd be ok there.

However, as a former M-Audio customer and M-Audio forum mod, I wouldn't touch it or any of the Alesis stuff. ;)

Joel

[VRW]

I have no personal experience with the M-Audio but it looks nice for the price!
And it´s a new, modern interface which I definitely would recommend over all
the Digidesign legacy stuff which many people out there already cannot get to
work anymore with Mac OS Mavericks/Yosemite and PT11.
And I´m afraid this won´t get any better with the next version of Pro Tools or
any future Mac OS.

Of course everyone should do whatever feels best for him and there are people
who still successfully use these but I would not recommend buying any old interfaces
for PT11+ anymore as technology has made another crucial leap since Mavericks and
Yosemite in a way and it´s only a matter of time until those will stop working completely.

The M-Audio M-track Eight seems to be a nice addition to the whole Focusrite stuff in this
particular price range.
Another nice gimmick...it obviously comes with a selection of usable good quality Waves Plugins
(AudioTrack, Eddie Kramer Effect Channel, TrueVerb, L1 Ultramaximizer, Manny Marroquin Delay)!
And it seems to offer standalone mode, 8 channel simultaneously recordable with 0 latency.
Check it out there.
http://m-audio.com/products/view/m-track-eight

Review/Overview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEyQhcWBpTM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCaCk8R2540
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5840368
http://www.pro-tools-expert.com/home-page/2014/1/23/m-audio-announce-the-m-track-eight-8-channel-audio-interface.html
There are other reviews (in german e.g. that´s why I´m not posting it here) which say good things about it...

For european customers it´s available there.
http://www.thomann.de/gb/m_audio_m_track_eight.htm
http://www.thomann.de/de/m_audio_m_track_eight.htm


There is also a new Behringer U-Phoria UMC1820 8 micpre/input interface for incredibly low $199.-
on the market, if money should be a real issue.
No guarantee if this is working well but it´s again brand new and I thought I just could mention it
anyway.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UMC1820
http://www.behringer.com/EN/products/UMC1820.aspx

The best in such cases would be just to get one unit for a day or two and test it with one´s system.
If it´s working, it´s great and one may keep it, if not, just bring/send it back and get another one.

Unfortunately I don´t know if this is possible with most of the online stores, one may just ask the
customer service for it before buying.
For european costumers however I definitely can confirm that you can do that with this huge store
(you have 30 days to send it back and they will just give you your money back).
http://www.thomann.de/gb/index.html
http://www.thomann.de/de/index.html
etc. available for several european countries.


Anyway. The very best to everyone,


VRW



Mac Mini i7Quad, 16GB Ram, MBP Mid 2012 2,5GHz i5, 16GB Ram, MacOS 10.10 Yosemite, Apogee Quartet+Duet 2, Genelec Active,
Yamaha NS10, Pro Tools 11.2.1, Logic 10.0.7, Waves, MCDSP, Duende Native, Softube, HOFA, IK Multimedia, NI etc.

[Jacksonland]

I agree with and use the 18i20 with PT 11.

[gladkiy]

Motu Ultralite MKIII Hybrid - never failed me in any situation, nice pre-amps, USB/Firewire connections, standalone mixer mode, clear sound.