M-Audio Firewire Solo

(Originally written by elco7/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Instrument and mic source signals.

SPDIF in/out, headphone out, 1/4" line out

48v phantom power

Very sturdy die-cast housing

Firewire

UTILIZATION

During installation Windows will warn you that the software is unsigned. Click on accept.

Shut down your computer, connect the Firewire cable and try to configure the Asio driver.

System crash.

Try again.

The update was not compatible with Windows XP in September 2008... I don't know why!

Three system crashes within one year, two successful updates and one update I didn't understand....

GETTING STARTED

Firewire is perfect when you don't want to share a USB port already in use.

I use it at home: good sound quality, easy-to-use interface, sturdy housing... It makes a good impression on other musicians. I've recorded tons of short demos with it. I loved it in the beginning and had no compatibility nor driver problems.

Notice: the clock is sometimes synchronized with synch software like palm or dictaphone... and then you can't make music anymore.

OVERALL OPINION

Mine is one year old.

I did a full cleanup of my computer and I never touched this device again. It works, I just have to reinstall it along with Cubase but I don't feel like doing it!

I'm tempted to say that the preamps don't count as a feature, if they don't work well. Kind of annoying since I was considering that as a feature when i bought it...

Price paid: 200 and change USD

UTILIZATION

I had a hard time installing it on my windows xp system, i think mainly because i've been avoiding the sp2 update. I was able to copy the needed files out of my girlfriends laptop and eventually install it fine though. The unit itself works like a charm, and the software control panel is cute and works very well.

GETTING STARTED

It's not low-quality in a needs repair sense, but I'm a little bit annoyed at how it handles the firewire interface. I was under the impression that firewire was "hot-swappable" like usb, and have been able to do that with other things. Not so for this... if it loses power or is unplugged while you're system is on, you will crash instantly. Additionally, it has an extra firewire pass-through on the back. Cool I thought, and plugged in my ipod to transfer some new tracks to it. Everything freezes when you do that. Can't even use the other firewire port on the computer itself when using this soundcard!!! What's the point of the extra port on the back of the unit???

OVERALL OPINION

The output is great, as is the input from the line-in. The mic and instrument preamps are seeming kind of weak though... although i haven't given them too much of a shot.

All this aside, I can't help but love the thing. I really just got it for the low-latency, which it delivers (between 5 and 8 ms usually). That alone has me feeling all mushy towards the thing. The super clean input and outputs also tend to make my heart race sometimes...

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: elevated ( 3-, 2006)

Technical -caractristiques:
chre not compatible mac / pc, power supply via firewire (more stable and fast'm saying).

-usage:
I use it to connect my microkorg and can record directly into Live. It also serves me plug my acoustic guitar and a microphone electro.

-My Config:
Powerboog 1.5 ghz, ram 1024, OSX 10.3.9

-Instruments, System uses:
Since I have it, I hardly used my more Behringer MX1604 console A. I plug the instruments directly on the sound card and configure my tracks in Live squenceur.

USE

-Installation:
Installing Mac OSX is without problems. It is directly recognized by the system.

-Setting Gnrale:
Easy to use, with the "input select / Front or rear" is selected the tracks you want to activate. It is possible to connect a guitar and other instrument (synth micro ...) and to use the two tracks at the same time.

-Manual:
An installation cd is given with it possde a simple manual that explains the fondamentaus points using the card. At worst, is always Audiofanzine to help us, so no worries.

IMPLEMENTATION

-drivers:
The drivers are not very stable, we must admit. Mac, I'm a driver updating recently and nothing done. From time to time, I have mounted in CPU power and / or then cuts to very short sounds. A prioris the DBAT is open whether it comes from the sound card or Ableton Live squenceur who would struggle grate the CPU. But in the end, most users have the same bug, they use with Live, Cubase, Logic ....

-Software Utiliss most often;
Ableton Live and Reason propellerhead

NOTICE GLOBAL

I use it for about 5 months
-I Like its little weight and small size. The ease of use and compatibility with Mac or Pc. The fact that it is between guitar is also a plus.
What I like least is that there have not over MIDI, invest in a small midi interface (I possdais dj), drivers who leave to be desired and above The poor quality of prampli, which is that when using a condenser microphone there is a hissing sound that reminds me of the sound cards bad bill. This means investing in a good prampli to use a static phantom power supply. Otherwise, with a conventional microphone, there is no breath problem.

-The Report qualitprix is ​​downright reasonable.

I do not think I would do the same choice today, because I just investing in a condenser microphone for voice recordings and damn breath is not pro to a nail. I would take a sound card of the same style but with a prampli of good quality, which is not blowing.