Audiofanzine FR
Published on 12/03/08 at 17:30
Best value:
Excellent
(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!
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!