my review of Echo AudioFire 4

[canadave]

Hi all,

Well, my AF4 came with the post today, and I played around with it a bit, so I figured I'd post a review for anyone who's interested.

As some background information, the only other interface I've ever used was a Firebox, which I had for about a year. The other equipment in my setup is a Motif XS keyboard, stock early 2008 Mac Pro, an SM58 and an MXL 2006 for mics, and KRK Rokit 5 monitors.

OK...so, first off, let me get the big positive out of the way--the preamps on this thing BLOW THE FIREBOX'S PREAMPS AWAY. Not even close. On the Firebox, I had to turn the gain all the way up to get my SM58's levels to a reasonable level (yes, even with the +12 boost applied in the software), at which point there was a considerable amount of hiss. On the AF4, I only had to turn the gain to about halfway or maybe a little past, and the gain was sufficient to get a nice clean signal in. I'd heard great things about the AF4's preamps, so I wasn't surprised. If your big thing is recording via a dynamic mic, and you're in the market for an interface and considering the Firebox, look at the AF4 instead.

Build quality--solid unit. The Firebox was even more solid, and built like a tank, but this is certainly no wilting flower. The knobs themselves are only "okay"--smooth, no play, but made of rubberized plastic which somehow felt slightly cheap. Then again there was no speaker crackle when I turned the knobs, unlike when I turned the supposedly more solid-feeling knobs on the Firebox. My only design quibble--the headphone jack input is a little too close to the headphone gain knob, so it's a bit awkward turning it. Not a dealbreaker, just something they could've solved by moving the knob a half-inch to the right.

As for the rest of the sound quality....it sounded very good. Unfortunately I've never had the pleasure of listening to the Apogee Duet or anything with high-end converters, so I can't say whether it was better or worse. But it certainly didn't sound "bad"--it sounded fine to me.

Two things sort of concern me. First, there's a -50db noise floor, left channel only, with my equipment, visible in the software mixer that comes with the unit. I'm not sure if that's a function of the interface or my equipment, but it seems a bit high to me. (SOLVED--see edit below).

*** EDIT ***
I figured out what the problem was--I had a cable connected to my keyboard's A/D input that was generating noise. Removed it, problem solved, now everything's whisper quiet, no hiss, perfect!
*************


Second, I can't say for sure, but I keep thinking I hear slight, barely audible clicks when playing. (SOLVED--see edit below.)

*** EDIT ***:
OK, I think I've figured out the click issue I mentioned. I had been recording at 96KHz with no problems, but when I tried to use my Motif XS synth to record MIDI, have the MIDI played back via the synth, and then through the SPDIF and out the monitors, I had to set the sample rate in the AudioFire's console to 44.1 KHz (because the Motif XS only outputs at 44.1 KHz through its SPDIF digital output). That's when I started to notice clicks. I got the clicks to disappear by changing the clock setting in the AF4's console from "Internal" to "SPDIF", and then I set the buffers a little higher in my DAW. That seems to have made the clicks go away. Now that it's fixed, I'm really liking this unit!!!
**************

In general I'm quite happy with this unit. I can make music with it, which was more than was happening with the Firebox, because of its poor mic preamps, glitchy knobs, and poor sync problems. If you have more money to spend, a Duet or MOTU unit would probably be a better idea; if you have a need for TOSlink digital audio, an Edirol FA-66 is a better choice; but for this price range and S/PDIF coax input/outputs, this seems to be a good choice. One last tiny note--be aware, if you're considering this unit, that the headphones jack is 1/8", not 1/4". You can always buy an adapter, but it's worth noting.

[P.J]

Really great job !!!
But AF4 doesn't look good
Can you compare it with Edirol FA-101/FA-66?

[amanke]

It's sad to read a review where the person really doesn't understand what they are doing. If you are going to review a product like the AudioFire 4 one should understand a little about how to test the product. I don't work for Echo Audio but they make some great products. I worked as a senior electronics design engineer for companies like Echo Audio and I have a complete lab and have tested the AudioFire 4 and it exceeded all of their published specs.

I have tested in my lab other manufacturer's units and found that they were not even close to their published specs.

At the end he made this statement:

"If you have more money to spend, a Duet or MOTU unit would probably be a better idea; if you have a need for TOSlink digital audio, an Edirol FA-66 is a better choice; but for this price range and S/PDIF coax input/outputs, this seems to be a good choice."

Test the Edirol FA-66 and see how poor it compares to the AF4.

[aww-de-oh]

I have the AF4 (also a RME FireFace)

I use the AF4 for mobile tracking, so i don't need to disassemble my home studio... but it (AF4) took a prominent place for a while at home.

Nice, clean conversion. Very stable drivers.(using XP) (haven't used the pre's much , i use mostly outboard stuff, but when i messed with them.. they seemed imminently useable.. especially on an AI for this low price.)

The 1/8" headphone thing is annoying, but is solved by a $2 adaptor.
The Line-In's on the back are a bit closely spaced.. but there's alot of features on this little unit.
Couldn't use a latency buffer lower than 256 with this AI. Not a problem tho, as there's no noticeable latency at this rate. This will be machine specific tho.. as there's more to buffer settings than just the AI.

For a quick comparison tho, on the same computer:
RME-, i can use 64 sample (even 32! for one or two tracks..)
Alesis I/O|26- achieved 128 sample* <<<---DIED AFTER a few months.. don't recommend the I/O|26 from my experience with it...
Echo AF4 - 256 sample stable.

All in All a good AI. i give a thumbs up!