Article: Audio Interfaces for the Mac

[Tweak]

Audio Interfaces for your Mac
Get the right Audio Interface for your Macbook, MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac Pro


There are a few things to watch out for if you have a late model Mac. First, the PCI interfaces are not going to work with any of the Mac Pros, and of course not with any of the Mac Books, Mac Book Pros or iMacs. Today's Mac Pro has a PCIe slot format. This will not work with PCI cards. Most of us will probably not need a Mac PCIe interface. Professionals with high i/o needs may want to go the MOTU PCIe route with a MOTU 24io, and a MOTU 2408 Mk 3. These are for large multi track systems with digital mixers. The Home studio enthusiast has many other options and they are mainly firewire options. That is what we'll mainly focus on here.

See the rest:
http://tweakheadz.com/audio_interfaces_for_your_mac.html

You can add your feedback by responding top this post

[bluemonk]

Well,I was about to get the new iMac .I was also about to get the RME Fireface 800 because I need a high-quality audio interface in that price range.

Then I read that:
http://www.rme-audio.de/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1475

Now I'm completely confused!I read a lot about the problem at other forums as well.I don't want to spend that kind of money and count on some work-about solution.They also say that with the new Firewire chips Apple put in the iMac and the MacBook Pro,there are problems with Motu and other companies' FW audio interfaces.

So is there a high-quality FW audio interface that will function properly with the new iMac? And if I want to get RME FF 800,should I just buy a PC with the TI Firewire chip?
Any advice will be much appreciated!!

[Tweak]

I think that is a question only RME can answer. I'd love to here what they say if you call. I think they have to fix it. I mean can they do nothing and watch their loyal mac users wither away? I'd be surprised if it was not fixed. For better or worse (in this case, worse), Apple makes the rules in this game.

[Tweak]

Looks like there was a firmware update in July 2008

http://www.rme-audio.de/en_downloads.ph ... r_fireface

[bluemonk]

I asked the question per e-mail and that's what I got back from RME:

"the problem with Agere/Lucent FW chipsets can not be solved with a simple firmware update, else we would have done so quite a while ago.Most iMacs will work well with the FF800 using the FW 800 connection, though."

[Tweak]

Thanks for the response. I appreciate it.

[Nanashiwanderer]

Maybe include something on Metric Halo? They are one of the oldest mac audio interface companies, and seem to have a great rep with the pros on gear slutz. I believe 8th Street music sells them (one of the dealers of the RNP on Amazon). I don't know how your commission scheme.

[Tweak]

That's a good idea. I'll look into it.

[jazz_boy51]

How does the Mackie Onyx 400F compare to the MOTU 828 MK3?

[Tweak]

http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--MACONYX400F





The Mackie has 2 more preamps and inserts. The 828mk3 has adat i/o--up to 16 digital ins and outs at 44.1. Motu's cue mix software can help with some recording studio monitoring situations (like adding reverb to vocals while recording dry) and I have more faith in their Mac drivers. But that is just opinion.

http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--MT ... --showroom

[MoonChild]

Hey im setting up my rig and i have an imac (4gb) with logic pro and im wondering if the Lexicon Ionix U82s Audio interface would work with what i have.it says it supports windows and mac platforms but im not truly shure.Its a USB 2.0,has MIDI, and ASIO Drivers. Any help would be amazing!please and thank you!

[Tweak]

Logic does not use asio. It uses core audio.

http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--LEXIONIXU82S

8pres 2out+s/pdif

5bills


Hmm. Ok, does your iMac have firewire? If yes, then go with MOTU's 8 pre, which not only givers you nearly everything the lexion has, but also gives you adat (or optical s/pdif) expansion options. The 8 pre does not have coax s/pdif. The Pantheon reverb plugin is nice, but Logic's space designer is many times nicer.

If you don't have firewire you might give the lexicon a shot. The item is covered my zZounds 30 day return policy. These are pretty new to the market so there is no info here on them.


http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--MTU8PRE

[MoonChild]

Ive decided not to get the lexicon.Yes my mac has a firewire port, for some reason i was convinced it didnt( new macbooks are what dont have the firewires). However Im thinking of that motu mark of the unicorn.my mac has a firewire 800 Port..will this motu work on it?

[Tweak]

Wise choice, I think. Yes, the MOTU firewire interfaces work fine with the FW800 Macs. You do need to get an adapter cable though. I really think if you can't go Apogee (at 2k), MOTU is your best bet if you own a Mac. If you need a lot of I/O MOTU is the reasonable candidate. Apogee will make you dig deep.

[WeaserP]

Hi everyone. Just breaking in to the home recording scene and want to make sure that i get the right interface for my needs. I've got a new iMac (<1 yr old) and I've been looking at the Alesis MultiMix Firewire 8. The requirements are fairly simple at this point - I'll be doing mostly acoustics/electric guitar, vocals, maybe simple drum tracks but probably not much more at this point. Budget is fairly low, maybe <$200 for the di. Thoughts?

[Tweak]

I'd not go there. That interface is discontinued. Might not work with the latest mac upgrades, like Snow Leopard. You need to go with a company that will stay on top of OSX. Like MOTU.

[kemccarthy1]

Hey Tweak,

Your site is a godsend for a newbie like me, thanks for all of your efforts!

Audio interface question for you or anyone else reading this who may be able to help me.

I am a semi-pro musician just getting started with home recording using a 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo iMac with 10.6.1, DP7, a Yamaha S80 and several guitars. I play guitar, bass and keys so will mostly be just recording myself and my own work. I have a couple of mixers left over from old bands I've been in, a Soundcraft Spirit Folio and a Mackie 1604-VLZ Pro. I've gotten up and running with the Folio using an Alesis LineLink quarter-inch to USB adapter as a simple audio interface to the iMac but it's pretty obvious that I need to move up to Firewire 800 to replace the Folio with the 1604.
I'm still not clear on how a Firewire interface would integrate the 1604 with the iMac. Mackie indicates to use the Subouts for recording but how/what hooks it up to an interface, what do I look for in one to purchase?

Any help greatly appreciated. I have other general questions but will scour the forums first and ask what I need elsewhere as appropriate.

Thanks again.

[Tweak]

This should help:

How to Hook Up A Mixer

Your sub outs and direct outs can go to the interface. The interface line outs can go back to the mixer.

Personally, I would not use a 1604, unless you are on a strict budget. Just get an audio interface with the i/o you need. The result will be cleaner if you use the software mixer in your sequencer without an additional mix on the 1604.

If I were in your shoes I'd look carefully at the 828mk3 by MOTU. This will work well whether you hook up the mixer or not.

Motu 828mk3

If you have the bucks, an Apogee ensemble is a cut above

Apogee Ensemble

[JHH]

Hi to all!
wich of these by your opinion is better for an Imac (combined with Logic and a newbie that wants to record guitar, bass and drums):
Presonus Firestudio Tube
or
Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56

?

thanks

[Tweak]

I don't have enough info on their drivers. I really like the look of the focusrite, but that means nothing. Anyone?

[JHH]

Thanks for answering !!
yeah I like the looks of the focusrite too..
meanwhile i read more about the MOTU 828 mk3 !! I bet some of you can give some advice on this one !
reading trough the Guide the tweak states Motu and Macs are like best friends !! at what grade is the mac support (drivers) better from Motu than from the other interfaces ??

[Tweak]

I've have both a MOTU 828mk2 and an 896 mk3. I've never lost a a day when there was an OS change. Either the MOTU worked through the upgrade or they had a new driver the day the upgrade was released. They stay on top of Apple. Apple is known to change things on their own schedule leaving a path of non working software and hardware in its shadow.

The PC dominant interfaces eventually catch up but sometimes it takes a long time. The question on Focusrite (and Lexicon) is simply that these companies make preamps and effects boxes primarily. Can they keep up? If Apple changes the rules in OSX 10.8 will these companies have an update for their line of audio interfaces from 3 years ago? Its a rhetorical question that intrudes on reality sometimes.

[JHH]

I understand !
thanks for the answer!
But i have a bigger problem now, I just realized that i need at least 12 mic inputs! but this changes the subject so I'll go look for answers under an other topic!
thanks for the help though !

[dreamland]

I hope that it's okay to post this question here. I've been told to buy a Mac instead of a PC since I'm building my studio from the beginning. But I never used or had a Mac. But I'm sure I'll get used to it in a couple of days. My problem is that I plan on buying the Presonus StudioLive 16.4.2. digital mixer. This has an integrated Firewire Audio Interface to it. Do I have to make sure that the iMac or Mac Pro (I'm not sure which one) that I buy will have a Firewire Chip inside? I wish I can find somewhere online where I will just choose what I want inside the computer and order it that way. I'm lost with Macs .. For a Mac, I still need a Midi Interface, right? I was planning on buying the M-audio midisport uno 4x4. I had decided on these things when I was still going to buy a PC. Re the Mac, I would love to have a dual LCD monitors, but to do this I think I have to have some kind of special graphics card....

I would appreciate any help

[Tweak]

Well there is always a chance something will go wrong no matter what computer/OS you get. But your chances are way reduced with a Mac. Both the iMac and Mac Pro have Firewire if that is what you meant. With Apple though you can't order a different chipset. It comes one way. That is a good thing for the hardware developers because there arent 150 models of laptops they have to write a driver for. I'd read all the reviews you can find on the studio live. Then when you buy it, get it from a place that will take it back, no questions asked, for 30 days.

But I would be very surprised it the combination did not work. The presonus drivers should be hitting their stride now that snow leopard and windows 7 are behind us. You might want to check that the Snow Leopard is officially supported at presonus.