Echo Audiofire 4

(Originally written by bounav/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Audio, MIDI and SPDIF interface

24bit/96kHz

Six audio inputs and six audio outputs:

- Two XLR/instrument combo inputs on the front panel

- Two balanced line inputs on the rear panel

- Four balanced outputs on the rear panel

- Two SPDIF inputs

- Two SPDIF outputs

Firewire

Self-powered

I use it with Mac OS X Leopard on a Mac Mini Intel (Core 2 Duo) and a 12" Powerbook with Logic Pro 7.2.

Instruments most often recorded: acoustic, electric and bass guitars, and vocals

UTILIZATION

The Audiofire 4 is natively compatible to Core Audio and Core Midi so there's no need for drivers! Just connect it and OS X will automatically detect the card.

No compatibility problems until now. I use the interface with Mac OS and Logic Pro 7.2.

The configuration can't be easier. It's a REAL plug'n'play device. I haven't tested it with Windows yet. I read on Echo's website that there are 32 and 64 bit drivers available for XP and Vista (WDM, ASIO 2 and GSIF drivers)

I never read the user's manual. It's not necessary.

GETTING STARTED

No driver needed with OS X. Native Core Audio and Core MIDI card. Very stable operation. No drop-outs nor crashes.

Notice: since the card uses a Firewire bus, every time you add or switch on a device (like an external hard drive) in the Firewire chain the connection to the computer is reset and the sound is gone for 1/4 of a second. This is totally normal. It's the same with every Firewire device.

In order to realize the card's full potential install Audiofire Console, a small software mixer for the interface that allows you to change the routing of each stereo channel (three stereo channels = six outputs), enable the phantom power, change the sampling rate and the SPDIF protection mode, etc.

The software I use are Logic Pro 7.2, iTunes and Audio Hijack Pro

Latency time: I've set the latency down to 64 samples without having a single problem, but I usually set it to 128 samples.

Simultaneous recording of six mono tracks.

Six assignable outputs (three stereo buses)

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using this interface for two weeks.

Pros: Transparent converters. Compact size. Ease of use.

Cons: Only one headphone output.

Previously used audio interfaces: several Sound Blaster Live, M-Audio Firewire 410, Tascam FW-1082.

Excellent value for money!

Would I buy this product again? Yes, yes, yes! It's the interface I had been dreaming about!

I bought it on the advice of a salesperson promo she was at the time it was a good deal considering the price today.

Used for voice and keyboard instrument recorded midi.

Connected firewire on laptop toshiba satellite A100-766.

UTILIZATION

No driver problem apart from the impossibility for several years to save the console settings. Thing became very annoying dice the first hours of use ...

Used on cubase, reason, and nuendo

2 track simultaneous recording playback 4 track.

Last day very late having purchased shortly after its release.

GETTING STARTED

Trouble-free installation.

Simple configuration console but not very clear.

No incompatibility.

Manual or that? (Downloadable from)

OVERALL OPINION

Over 4 years.

First acquisition.

She has perfectly fulfilled the function except for this damn console reparameterized need to use.

She passed away after more than 4 years of occasional use! Alumage from the fault (flashing LED orange). Reconue No longer in the system and after hours (or weeks) of research, installation new driver, firmware update and hair pulling her to finish the annoying poubelle.Toujours during registration!

The XLR connector and firewire is "limited." This sheet Alim'm barely. Soon to be the price at the time involved a bad series. It is no longer manufactured and in stock on the official website ...

Console to set every time, life is programmed to flee as I saw the price today!

I use this sound card since the end of 2009 (three years) with Logic Pro 9 on an iMac (mid-2009) and it is perfect for my needs (save one to two tracks at the same time).

I like =
- Ease of use, easy to configure
- Design quality aluminum which fits very well in an environment Apple
- Manufacture of quality
- Compact size (fits between the iMac screen and desk, very fine).
- FireWire hub for connecting an additional hard drive.
- The input jack / XLR in the same port on the front (two front). IN jacks behind two big plus.
- 2 stereo RCA outputs for two monitors or headphone amp.
- The headphone output on the front panel

I do not like:
- Uh. May be too compact, I would have preferred a big VU meters with frontage to the AKAI but this card is much better then it is on. Especially with the sound card software very easy access to the 4 input levels seen with a very precise electronic meter.
- Never understood what the purpose of the SPDIF.

UTILIZATION

Drivers very stable. Last year I met a lot of trouble with FireWire, the card or my hard drive was not recognized, but I do not know where it came from, it was no longer reproduced.

I use Logic Pro 9 with a condenser microphone RODE and another in Ultra Low Cost Woodbrass. Very good recording levels. The integrated software allows good management sections, coupling the inputs for true stereo sound.

ECHO has a little time to make the transition from driver to Lion but it fell during the holiday season ...

GETTING STARTED

Installs and integrates problem on Mac and Logic 9 ...
A manual? He stayed in the box ....


Incompatibility arose with the release of OSX Lion but soon overtaken by an update of drivers from ECHO.


Cables provided, this is good. Attention is the FireWire 400 adapter must be 400/800 for new Mac.

OVERALL OPINION

I advise no problem to whoever would save two tracks XLR microphone jack or two instruments. Personally, I do not make use of the two input jacks behind since we recorded our every turn.

I like the quality of the preamps and the sampling rate (nothing to do with the cards Alesis). I tested the iO2 a friend, the ECHO level is clearly above.
I do not really see anything to repprocher even looking good ...
It's worth typing straight into the € 270 for a good quality sound card. In fact I'm surprised what is so inexpensive compared to other brands dedicated Apple ...


I highly recommend it, I almost want to buy a second to dedicate to my MacBook.

+ 4 in the afternoon, the quality of the preamp (before I had an ECHO Layla 3G PCI mode, as I switched to Mac, I wanted to buy the same brand and I must say that I'm not disappointed, so much I have bought a second for use on the go).


I use it with a preamp tube and a tube compressor (TL Audio FAT 2).
Ave bass, vocals and keyboard is more than excellent. Pro-quality trouble-free.


with iMac & MacBookPro 27 i3 i7 2011 8GB 8GB. The hair, nothing to say.

UTILIZATION

Drivers? kesako? yeah, you download the driver, plug and it works.
Echo console is really good and simpler than previous versions.

used with Adobe Audition (really my favorite software is so simple)
Logic Pro Audio 9, GarageBand and Live 8.

Latency between 8 and 13ms

GETTING STARTED

Installation nickel.
Fastoche configuration.
no incompatibility (even on PC).
Manuel useless.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 8 months and it is impeccable.
I've read reviews talking about cracking but it is only the setting of the buffer (depending on software). With Live, never had any worries. With Logic, you need at least 256 samples.

I love the most: the 4 analog inputs, two possible chaining via Firewire Audiofire Back, the manual (there is no need), the look (aluminum chassis very simple and beautiful / strong), the preamp ( hmmmmmm ....), the grain of my bass when she gets it.

like least: the firewire 400 (ok, must quibble).

On reflection, I would reiterate perhaps a USB port to use my 800 with my firewire hard drive firewire 800.

But in any case, sure, I will keep at least one of the two I have.