All user reviews for the M-Audio Firewire Solo

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.

I wanted a firewire card to use Ableton Live with low latency and be able to record guitar (via jack) and voice.

UTILIZATION

Easy to use.

The drivers seem OK but are not updated.
My computer has blown some time ago. After repair means more to recognize the card. In fact the SAV of the computer was tearing their hair but the problem was with the internal card which bore the firewire ports. I think M-Audio was not there for nothing.
As it works well since I try not to touch the drivers.

GETTING STARTED

The installation was done without much difficulty.
The interface for the settings is not very nice, but ...

However, the connections / disconnections hot are not permitted!

OVERALL OPINION

This is my first and only external sound card.
She is still appropriate. It allows me to play with my midi keyboard to Live with virtually no latency.
The sound of guitar is good if the sound is clear. However, for the distorted sound I is not yet found a way to save it so it sounds like out of my Marshall amp and not as a small amp with 10 watts made in china (the e). I tried to connect the amplifier output to the input of the card or use a microphone in front of the amp but it gives a disappointing result ...
But what good is another matter.

I think I would do this choice.

I wanted to do the computer music ...

... Taken voice, guitar, bass ...

... I have not had the opportunity to use it for this purpose.

UTILIZATION

Need to make the scene, and find cheap stuff, I dug up a Behringer Xenyx 1002FX at 45 Euros, but there are only two slices preamp that I intended to vote.

How to add sound to scratch, bass, knowing that the other units are not and have no preamp Aqualisa?

Well I just plugged the FW Solo and offering me two separate preamplified inputs (XLR and jack).

On the XLR send the sound of scratching my amp picked up by a microphone Audiotechnica mb2k which, incidentally, is excellent and I get a Péchu his faithful and without having to touch anything else that 'to my guitar amp.

The input jack I plug my bass directly (an old Rickenbacker 4001) and nothing more I have a wicked sound.

Until we have more in this small FW Solo does more than help me ...

...

GETTING STARTED

No problem for the implementation (sound) ...

OVERALL OPINION

It's all a little (lot) of démerder, a little off topic ...

... But the result is surprising ...

You still think that I use this little box for what it is for one of these four ...

...

AMD Athlon 1900 +, 512Mb DDR 333, 120GB 200 GB Firewire Solo ...

I use it to enregisrter the electric guitar and bass. The guitar input, the phantom power, headphone jack with knob ... I was motivated to purchase.

I / O noon stereo output jack would have been welcome ...

UTILIZATION

Trouble free installation. DO NOT CONNECT THE CARD BEFORE INSTALL THE DRIVER! Manuel very simple (just to install c and description of the I / O

GETTING STARTED

Regarding the driver would have been better developed at the interface. Updated in January.

I use Cubase, 4ms latency, I record That a track at a time.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had two weeks. Quality / price ratio excellent for me. Buy 199 euros on the internet. I buy it back if I had to do it again.

You know!

UTILIZATION

As long as you got what exigXP + sp2), ca marche.utilise 1 month on a pc light (P4 2Ghz 256ram), it's easy, it crashes not alone what it's going ...

GETTING STARTED

Well, repeats j'me is stable.pas latency audible, even with little ram, and this with a lot of tracks and plug ins (Cubase SX).

OVERALL OPINION

I like the simplicity of use. The preamp is not too bad, but I do know that through dynamic microphones (m88, E835).
damage to the south.
it corresponds exactly to my use: decision-scratching, bass, vocals, percussions, one has.

I needed two line level inputs to connect my console. 4 between t'll have a better but hey, more needs to be bcp (the Firewire 410 has two inputs that also served me the 8 outputs not silent in the audiophile rca, and I wanted to have a pramp embarked on nomadism). Inca had a 88 which posed some problems in terms of stability. I never really shot one of the 8 i / o. Between the solo instrument is one of the nicer it allows me to connect my HeadRush that takes the output from the console monitor, or plug my bass line.
I chose the firewire because it is more stable than USB for APRS critics.

UTILIZATION

Installation without any worries. The card is recognized and fed by the firewire port (6 pin) of the PC (turn). Config very simple, it can not be simpler. Manual useless.

GETTING STARTED

Map trs trs stable, I had no desire to crash, at most a delay in reading qq t ms when it has not sought a long time and all of a sudden he was asked to read 10 tracks.

OVERALL OPINION

The micro pramp artificial sounds with my B1. This is a default but can also be a desired effect. It does not sound bad anyway. I keep my tube pre nanmoins gives me a more natural rsultat. Pay 215 this card is exactly what I was looking for.

The firewire on 24 Bit 96 KHZ
Home studio, model
MacMini 1.2 40GB 512 MB
Microphones (NT1, C414, MO1, SM58 ...), Electric Bass, Synth, Samples ...

UTILIZATION

No installation pbe
Recognized by GarageBand, Audacity: no incompatibilities so far
The manual is detailed enough: whether on paper or on the installation CD

GETTING STARTED

The drivers are stable
Garage Band and Audacity especially on OS X
Near-zero latency
Up to now 8 Tracks

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a week
I tried a USB MBOX a ONE EMI 6 / 2 a MOTU Traveller. Apart from the MOTU or there is nothing wrong (except the price) the big pbe met the other interface is the limitations USB 1.1
Quality / price ratio excellent: Firewire for about € 200
If I remake it again the same choice

Map "Swiss knife" that allows the leads connected to line-level sources, microphones with phantom power supply or not, and an instrument (guitar or bass) live!

This card allows me to record a variety of sources without any complications in my home-studio use.

In addition, the firewire is really nice.

However, I take off one point for the absence of conenction noon.

UTILIZATION

Following the installation, everything went perfectly.
No concerns noted.

GETTING STARTED

I did that yesterday, but for now, it's all wonderful!

Just installed, I run Amplitube to test the beast and the sound is really good: no breath, no latency, and confess that directly enter a skyscraper in its sound card is really a luxury for this price.

Then test in cubase, and idem, no worries.
The sound of the XRL input is good, the sound of the instrument input also, I have not tested the spdif or line input.

OVERALL OPINION

I did that yesterday but I'm already filled with this card! It is so easy to use that I have been able to take advantage of just 5 minutes after unpacking the beast.

What I like most is its versatility. Its connectors are few but varied! and this m'interressait for my home studio. In addition, its drivers are complete: What are the cards at this price that are compatible ASIO2, WDM, GSIF2, MME and Core Audio?

I have not tried many cards before this one paper because their characteristics do not suit me already. Indeed, the cards often favor a large number of outputs rather than inputs, and me the opposite I'm looking for.

So given its characteristics, I find the quality / price excellent.

<p class="bbcode-offtopic"> Off topic: <span>PS: to fill the lack of connectivity noon, I have a little Midiman UNO (https://fr.audiofanzine.com/produits/avis/index% 2Cidproduit 2C68970.html%)</span>

For the price this card has very good characteristics for a solitary composer: it can record guitar, bass, and any microphone. 2 inputs, one XLR with phantom power supply and the other jack with impedance matching for guitars.
But one dark spot: the phantom power supply creates a small hiss when the active (at least that's what I get by combining it with my Behringer B2-Pro)

UTILIZATION

Simple installation, we must not think that once connected the drivers installed.

GETTING STARTED

Simple, uncluttered control panel on the computer.
A small bug when pannelisation active monitoring on the control panel, but can be adjusted by touching the knob.
inaudible latency (4-5 ms).

OVERALL OPINION

In the end very good card for its price, portability interesting. The sound reproduction itself is significantly better than on a map "multimedia" general public.
PAr cons when using condenser microphones you may be forced to buy a preamp in addition to avoid the whistling of the 48 V. ..

I chose this interface because of its performance, and her firewire port, both faster and safer than the usb. I use a laptop with PIV 3 ghz. Y are connected to various electronic instruments (including old synths) and a microphone.

UTILIZATION

Easy installation ... Except that it currently does not work well with the original drivers supplied in the box. Once downloaded the latest drivers and soft, smooth! As for the manual, if I remember correctly, there is not paper at least (probably a pdf on the cd rom ...)

In short, it is true that all is not always clear about the installation and settings ... A little way to go in this area as often. There are not that pure performance that should count, but the ergonomics, ease the daily ...

GETTING STARTED

Latency is extremely low, I have not yet reached the maximum of simultaneous audio tracks in Cubase and Acid!

OVERALL OPINION

I was very informed before you buy and do not regret my choice.

I have since bought another interface ... USB and not good! The computer no longer recognizes the end of a year! And change of drivers, no disconnections reconnections do anything!

What would be even better? Same but wireless! Hours not yet possible I think ...

I was looking for a mobile interface for lugging around with my powerbook 12 "and can save drafts of components (bass and vocals) any o.
Old PB, so no USB2, Firewire Bond or nearly so.

priori in this price range, all interfaces are connected, so I especially chosen for ergonomics suited me well.

I connect an SM58, a variety of low (active and passive).
Today I use tantt with PB12 "and Audacity, tantt a macbookpro and GarageBand.
I use it occasionally in concert to record - but two tracks is a bit lightweight.

UTILIZATION

No problem with install From the time of drivers using date, the original ones (books on CD with the card) as rotten.

I think not m'tre never used the manual, the card plutt as simple ...

She sometimes weird things at the mmorisation the config, but nothing insurmountable.

GETTING STARTED

The drivers are not being updated prs stable. Plant it once or twice, not particulirement under a heavy load, and no rptable fawn, so nothing mchant, has not the plant or Systm the application so nothing lost!

I mainly use it with Audacity, sometimes with DP4 (but I never took the time to me) and just today with GarageBand.

Latency and silent just leve pnible to beginners in Audacity, but a priori Audacity had more than the card I ever gave a look that prcis ment in GB since I do not hear it.

OVERALL OPINION

I have about two years.
I tried an Audiophile, an M-box and FA66, the ergonomics are quite content and price that made my choice, sound quality issue, the M-box I thought might be a little above the rest c'tait kif-kif - without testing exhaustively defined. And I did not need MIDI, so exit the audiophile.

But I will rpter: j'apprcie ergonomics.
on the other hand I quickly finds its technical limitations, mainly that I record the bass. For voice, flte, Jew's harp, your exact trs is correct, but the bass is lost normment dynamics and clarity even by inserting a pramp ddi .

The report price is honnte quality, it was a good tool, easy to use, for a reasonable price, yet I found this product line a little shaky: that too much or not enough.
If c'tait again, I would most definitely a card to be of lesser quality around 100 Toneport kind, either, now that I know my needs better, the range above, just to be sr not to be soon by the quality of pramp and converters, and in fact I currently eyeing on the Apogee Duet.
But I do not regret at all, for beginners and better understand my needs, it has amply fulfilled its mission.

Opportunity makes the thief, but I was looking for the firewire

Models home and recording rps with a static hanging from the ceiling

Dell Precision M6300 Core 2 Duo 3GB of RAM, 40 GB for XP, Linux 40 + go to an external USB drive of 120 GB

Behringer three in a static, one-half cash Yamaha and Godin.

UTILIZATION

Zero problem
not
simplissime
not need not read

GETTING STARTED

I have the latest updates downloads directly, no problem
know
Reaper, Audacity, Hammerhead, Windows, Ardour, Audacity on Linux
8ms
2 (no more simultaneous input)

OVERALL OPINION

1 month
+ Connectivity-the number of
not
unbeatable (but occasionally as new and half price ...)
yes

What characteristics have motivated your choice?
Firewire, the price!


With which instruments or systems (console, preamp, DTD ...) and you use the connection with what? Connected to the Firewire port of the Macbook, HS80M output (Jack 6.5 sound card side, XLR side monitors)


For what purpose? What is your config (Motherboard / CPU / Ram / Disk ,...)?
Home studio, connected to a Macbook 2007, 2.16Ghz, 2GB RAM, 160DD, MACOS X.6.7

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable?
RAS, even at low latency.


What software do you use most often?
Logic Pro 9, Ableton Live 8.


They are often updated?
No idea, I have recently.

GETTING STARTED

The installation is done it without problems?
Yes, under MacOsX we insert the CD, it installs, it works.

The general configuration is easy?
Very simple, the software is fairly succinct.


Have you experienced any incompatibilities?
Not at the moment.


The manual is clear and sufficient?
Clearly yes, plenty enough ...

OVERALL OPINION

For how long have you been using it?
Two days ...


Did you try many other models before getting this one?
That incorporated into the BCD3000 which I used to do anything other than sound card backup (Even though quite bulky as sound card if you know what I mean ...).

What thing do you like most/least about it?

+ The price (199 euros at Energyson)
+ Firewire
+ Fairly compact
+ Power Phantom
+ Quality of preamp
+ Audio Quality

- Unable to use the connector on the front in addition to the rear facade
- No balance on Outputs
- The simple design (which can also do its charm)


What is your opinion about the value for the price?
Good.


Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice?
Everything depends on the number of In / Out that is desired, it good enough for me personally.

See other reviews

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable with my faith magix music studio (versio sill samplitude): Reading April 6 VSTi + 4 10 audio tracks and recording a stereo track over this small world.

Little or no latency.

But it was the only crouchcougnasse .... MIDI tracks have a base latency inoperative and "unchangeable"!
Suffice to say that recently prs 6 years that I use, I abandoned the use of the south. Fortunately, VSTi work well and are of better quality than midi sounds: indeed, they operate on the principle of sound and suddenly sank all cool without latency.
May be my PC config but addresses another problem ...

The days are made expressly studied and operate GENERALLY.

GETTING STARTED

Then the other point is wrong with the beast: for it makes little 3 or 4 manip unconventional, bah ... the PC to know more, or that it is the sound card!
Example of manipulation: I tried my sound card on my new macbook pro and when I tried plugging the firewire on the PC, the card DTECT silent but impossible to AUse as map basic sound (mp3 or wav file playback on media player, more sounds systm). Fortunately, magix still running with.

Today is deuxime has happened to me once and the first time I have to format my BCAN as far to say that I spend some days in any reinstall PC and I'm starting to want me dbarrasser my m-audio.

OVERALL OPINION

6 years that I use. This is my first sound card.
I did not change gear by lack of budget.

I try to remain objective despite my msaventures which are related certainly raise the use of PCs IN GENERAL (config too DIFFERENT same type on a PC) but I 'm really time I lose because of drivers who do not always work according to the BCAN connected.

Today I would look may be to another brand as M-Audio because of these concerns but they propose the installation of power for not very expensive and when it works, it works well.

GOZ 'What

Purchased in order to make the taking of good quality and rere at home: guitar via DI in AmpliTube
taken acoustic micro + di
taken a few voice
for use in portable stereo recording

preamps are excellent for the price and collect fairly
HI-Z is a blessing to play with the amp simulation style or AmpliTube guitar rig ... and it is indispensable

acien on my config (Pro Xeon Dual-generation S604 SURT pc-dl + 2 GB RAM) I had to go back many buffers to mix without problems

with the new config (on p5wdh E8400 + 4 GB ram) I play and I do not lag up the buffers when the project is already very busy: good point.

It is a perfect tool for msusiciens soloists, guitarists singers, nomadic or not you can make recording at home and send your tracks to the studio without getting burned by the sound engineer for the preamps are very good.

I now feel a boundary with the XLR only because my skills were better that 5 years ago I feel the need to refine my acoustic and taken to use several microphones.

The other drawback is that the headphone output is driven by the same knob that monitor outputs: clock at night, fancy a bit of his I plug my headphones j sends the high impedance level and there ..... aaarg my monitors that I had forgotten to turn off wake the whole house ... and it is especially peinible damage to the mix when you switch from headphones to monitors.
So many small console routed quality essential.

The big downside is the lack of midi interface. If you are equipped with a USB keyboard but do not worry if your keyboard dude comes home with his gear or you need a live sync you should invest in an external interface which significantly reduces the side nomad machine ...

UTILIZATION

I'll respond to some opinions that talk about problems with the drivers: the firewire card (which also supports the PSU) is not hot-pluggable, so it is normal that after a bet Standby or re-connection of the card it is no longer recognized by the system.

but frankly that takes the risk of seeing his project planting in the making with his standby in windows activated??

The updates are regular.

Buffer adjusted to 128 samples I work with 4 ms latency without problem.

GETTING STARTED

Installation is not very clear: we must let the software install multiple components and wait for Windows to recognize them and you often have to try several times even if you always follow the same procedure.

OVERALL OPINION

So I used it and it made me so many services that would be hard to note too severely.

To have worked on 410 of the same brand more upscale, I confirm that the audio quality is identical and very good.

The high input impedance Instrument is a blessing and is essential for direct take on pain of being left with a sound all rikiki.

Think twice before buying these two points:

- I'm fairly sure that jaume need more than one XLR input?
- I am sure never need MIDI?

... And make your choice.

The price / quality ratio is excellent, especially on the second hand market. The companion

(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 &quot;hot-swappable&quot; 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)