Interfaces considered a "step up" from the Avid I|O?

[uptheoctave]

Originally Posted by Eric Lambert

This is for my home studio so I wouldn't need more than 64.

Would the Red 16 be considered a sonic upgrade over the Avid HD I|O? I have no experience whatsoever with the Focusrite.

Never used a HD IO so I can't comment.
I do have a load of Dante converters- MTRX, Ferrofish Pulse 16DX, Focusrite A16R (x2), Red 16 Line, X2P.

On paper (ie the published specification) MTRX is at the top, then the A16R/Red16 Line, then Ferrofish.
Broadly speaking the quality is related to the cost- better stuff costs more... not a surprise.

But in practice they all sound great- it really depends on what you are doing.
If I am doing a lot of acoustic recording then I tend to use the MTRX's converters. But if I am out on location I take a Focusrite X2P.

The Red 16 Line and Ferrofish largely record synths or non-acoustic instruments.

No one has ever come back and said 'this sounds sh*t'.

Personally I factor in connectivity, channel count, use and price before converter quality, because converter quality is broadly *very good* across the board. Even the prosumer stuff sounds good enough to release with now.

I am not saying there isn't a difference, there is, but it isn't as marked as it used to be.

The Red 16 Line wins on a lot of points because it is Thunderbolt and Digilink, so you have choice. It has 32 channels of Dante (I do wish it was 64 but never mind). It has an additional 16 channels over ADAT if you need it. Plus a great desktop app for routing signals.

The MTRX is better across the board (conversion, channel count) but an MTRX with 16 IO and Dante is £10k vs £3k, so it should be better. But it doesn't have native thunderbolt.

An DAD AX64 is better across the board than the Red16 Line but it will also be about the same cost and it doesn't do Digilink. (Actually I wonder how an AX64 + Rednet HD32R would work?)

[uptheoctave]

Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm

If you are going to switch interfaces I personally would consider all non-DigiLink options, DigiLink is just old, and Avid strains to support it at times. Maybe get rid of HD Native, the HD I/O(s?) and even sell the Ultimate subscription and lower costs, putting that saving into a new interface? But if it's audio quality that is the focus then maybe back to the preamps and outboard gear? And if you do want a new interface can you borrow/trial one from a dealer to see if it sounds better for your use?

100%.

[JFreak]

Originally Posted by uptheoctave

Never used a HD IO so I can't comment.

... but commented anyway

[uptheoctave]

Originally Posted by JFreak

... but commented anyway

No, I didn't comment on comparing the HDIO against the Red16Line.

[JFreak]

Originally Posted by uptheoctave

No

I just tried to make a joke

[uptheoctave]

Originally Posted by JFreak

I just tried to make a joke

... and it was a good one. :)

[Eric Lambert]

More great info is coming in. Thanks again!

[Eric Lambert]

I've been talking to a couple people today -- all of them are happy having gotten rid of their HD Native Thunderbolt boxes and prefer their new interfaces. Seems that I need to get rid of my (hard to justify) fears of connecting an interface directly to the computer. That stems from the old days when drivers were often a mess and latency was an issue. Avid's hardware made those fears go away. Today, the playing field is level, and you're all even suggesting that the advantage is now in the other court.

[Darryl Ramm]

RME USB (and OK Thunderbolt) driver/software quality is one of the attractions to me of their stuff and now I'm probably a RME addict, as is their flexibility with stuff like Totalmix and support for MADI... it was not audio quality that sold me on their gear... but yes it sounds great.

[Eric Lambert]

Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm

RME USB (and OK Thunderbolt) driver/software quality is one of the attractions to me of their stuff and now I'm probably a RME addict, as is their flexibility with stuff like Totalmix and support for MADI... it was not audio quality that sold me on their gear... but yes it sounds great.

One of the guys I was talking to uses an RME and he swears by it. And also mentioned Totalmix as a plus.