All user reviews for the PreSonus Inspire 1394

I possde imac intel core duo
APRS PERIOD of a studio taf I needed a cheap cards before investing in the heavy.

UTILIZATION

Easy instalation on osX

GETTING STARTED

Acceptable latency in the buffer 512 in Digital Performer.
I did not need to record more tracks simultanment.

OVERALL OPINION

I have used for six months until the acquisition of a mbox2pro.
The price dfie any concurrent.
The definition in the treble and the dynamics are impressive for the price.
The lack of sound in the medium density, however, leaves a hollow feeling mtallique and long term.
This product does not have more than one competitor from over 130 is when cubase same INTERESTED.
I deprecated ctte map those who have a professional requirement but I advise anyone who wants to go a long way with a small budget, this card is made for them.

Connected Firewire (what motivated my choice at the time compared to the usb, now it's not necessarily a plus), I use it for all my recordings, guitar, bass, voice (condenser microphone 48 v), keyboard etc. ..
4 inputs, yes, but only 2 front and only 2 XLR or jack (the others are cinch) small flat at that level.

UTILIZATION

Very stable, sometimes a little capricious in the hot connections, but it disconnects, it reconnects, and that's it. I use most often in ableton live, nothing to say. I have asked the four inputs simultaneously without noticing any problems with a latency of 1.5ms!
The preamp do their job, without more, I think also soon test a small lamp for prémp to warm up the voice.

GETTING STARTED

super simple installation, easy configuration with the software provided (this is the map on the screen with pots and switches, childish!
Manual simplistic but very well done. The + is the possibillity to chain inspires many (up to 4) and there is the best!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it now for over 3 years, I have not tested at my other models. The weak point is that there is no on off switch, so you have unplugged the power supply every time or connect via firewire with a large power supply (which few have pc). Other than that, it's perfect, it is forgotten, and that is exactly what is asked, once prémp set, you do not have to touch it, she does her job! I would do without hesitation that choice. I plan to stay elsewhere for my next from PreSonus interfaces.

What characteristics have motivated your choice?
- The look / design / size
- Firewire
- The tube preamps
- Alim Phatom 48v

With which instruments or systems (console, preamp, DTD ...) and you use the connection with what?
- All my configuration is switched on (tb, mpc, piano, microkorg, speaker, pc)

For what purpose?
Home-studio

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable?
- NO and NO damn! On Vista, this is a sound card to Forget ... On XP, it is she wants, she wants or not.

They are often updated?
- Not enough!

What software do you use most often?
- FL Studio.

How many tracks do you manage to record / playback simultaneously?
- Lots!


What latency you get?
- Not Vst, can descend to 1-2ms no problem if good PC
- With large VST 8-10ms is enough.

GETTING STARTED

The installation is done it without problems?
- In theory yes, when the firewire does not endorse

The general configuration is easy?
- Very simple

Have you experienced any incompatibilities?
- Yes, I am fighting every day ...!

OVERALL OPINION

For how long have you been using it?
- 5 years

Did you try many other models before getting this one?
- No it was the first.

What thing do you like most/least about it?
+ = Low latency, 48v, preamps
- = Incompatibility issues with Vista, 7 .... more stable on XP but its goodwill (loss of sync problem)

What is your opinion about the value for the price?
- Bad if one takes into account the recurring bugs ...
- Well if the card works fine ... (That quit or double)

Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice? .
- In the light of my problems, certainly not.

When selecting this device, I was specifically interested in inexpensive devices using FireWire 1394 only, as I'd max-ed out the native USB ports on my iMac, and I did not wish to run through a USB Hub, because I saw nothing but heartache there.
I use this with an Oktava condenser mic and with a few inexpensive vocal mics to record vocals and acoustic instruments with Garage Band and Ableton Live 7
I am using this device with my Intel iMac Dual Core 2.0 GHz, with 1GB of RAM (which I may just upgrade to 2GB)
It has dual 1/4" and XLR, and LR RCA input. While you can use more than one input at a time, my purposes haven't called for it. Also, you can use several different types of output for monitoring, ranging from an 1/8th" headphone jack and a 1/8" line out to or RCA outputs for powered monitors.

UTILIZATION

I purchased the Inspire GT Limited Edition model, as it was more aesthetically appealing to me. The Inspire GT driver did not work properly with my Mac, but when I installed the Inspire 1394 drivers, everything quickly fell in to line. I find it compatible with all of my equipment. I've experimented with different mic setups for acoustic guitars, and even run the stereo outputs on my POD XT Live in the 1/4" inputs, and it's given me some creative flexibility.
Configuration was a breeze, and after installing the correct driver I was working in a flash.
The manual was a bit sparse, but PreSonus online support was sufficient.

GETTING STARTED

The drivers are stable enough for my needs, and hobbyist/entry level users should find the features in the driver easy to work with. I am getting limited latency with Live and GarageBand, though I'm sure if I add ram, this will get better. At the moment, I'm one track at a time, working as a single musician.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using the Inspire GT for a little over a year. After my initial problems with drivers, I found it to be an adequate replacement for my MBOX that I retired because I hadn't kept my Pro Tools LE licenses up to date. I looked at a few other models, but this was the only full-featured 1394 FireWire device at the price point. I feel it was a good value, however, better quality interfaces have invaded that market since my purchase and I may have been better served by a device with a few external controls, i.e. volume and fader, rather than a device with strictly software driven controls.