Audio and MIDI interfaces for both Mac and PC

[jwofford]

I have a couple of questions here. Basically it comes down to this. I'm setting up a small project studio. I currently have a PC (custom, 1.2 Ghz Athlon TBird, Abit KT7A w/ VIA KT133A), but I hope to switch to Mac in the future. None the less, I will need to run my studio on PC for the time being. This means that whatever I get needs to work on *both* Mac and PC, and hopefully quite well with each. Also, I would prefer it be expandable at a later date, and have at least 8 channels of analog I/O. After looking at several different audio and MIDI interfaces... I've only become more and more confused. Here's what I've looked at so far (with their benefits and drawbacks):

Audio:
1. MOTU 2408mkIII - Looks like a good card. This was my first option. I even ordered it, but canceled when I found it wouldn't be out till the end of November. Which brings us to the first drawback. I'd like to get to work pretty much immediately. Also, I need Mic pre-amps. Of course, I could always get external Mic pre's, but that costs a bit more. In reality, the biggest drawback is my lack of patience (and a little lack of faith in MOTU for producing workable PC drivers first try).

2. RME Hammerfall DSP w/ Multiface - This looks pretty good on the spec sheets. I really haven't heard all that much about them though except that their tech support can be hell (or worse) to contact. Once again, no Mic pre's. Also, I've heard their support for Mac's is not-so-good at best.

3. Digidesign Digi002 - Oh the features! and... of course, Oh the limitations! It's all in one, it's portable, it's firewire (which may be important if I get a iBook or iMac). The biggest drawback for me here are the software limitations. ProTools LE just doesn't seem to stack up with Cubase SX (which I already have and know). I also colaborate with other Cubase SX users. Either way, it's a viable option, it's relatively cheap (especially for having pre-amps, midi interface, control surface, and software with it). Money *is* a concern here. Another side note is the apparent lack of expandability options.

4. MOTU 896 - 8, count them, 8 pre-amps! But how is the quality? How is the PC support? I've heard bad things especially from the PC end of the spectrum. This, of course, is firewire... so it would work with all the nifty, compact solutions.

MIDI Interfaces:

1. MOTU MidiExpress XT USB - This was my first choice untill I started reading PC compatability reviews... generally rated a 0-1 on a 1-10 scale. I think this one's probubly right out unless I hear otherwise. I really like the midi patch matrix though.

2. MidiMan MidiSport - I've heard good and bad. No midi matrix though. I'd kindof like the matrix because I could achieve alot of the things the looback drivers that like to crash my computer do, hopefully, without crashing my computer.

3. Steinberg Midex - Supposedly excellent timing with Cubase (wich, as I've stated, I use). No matrix. Somewhat proprietary (LTB only works with Steinberg software... though, it still can use LTC). A bit costly.

4. Edirol UM-880(or UM-550) - It has the matrix. It uses standard protocols. It claims support for both Mac and PC... but I can't find a single review on it. Is it any good? No one seems to know.

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So... at present I'm leaning towards the MOTU 896 and the Edirol UM-550, but as I've mentioned, there are issues. There are always issues I suppose... but I'm lost. I've already bugged a Sweetwater customer service rep to no end getting this far, I figured I'd get others' viewpoints.

Any help anyone can give me here would be wonderful. I'm sorry this got to be a bit of a long post. Thanks for reading.

-John

[NukleoN]

Hi there,

Since you already own a PC, I see no reason to get a Mac when you're not going to benefit too much from it..unless you just like Macs and want to spend all that cash for some reason.

Really, the gear you get depends on your OS. If you're on a PC, I'd use Windows XP with either Cubase or Sonar 2, get the M-Audio Delta 1010 which has WDM drivers for low latency (good for softsynths). I've heard good things about the Hammerfall, but you know the Delta 1010 has SPDIF on it too I believe and it supports 24 bit\96KhZ recording. No preamps...but you can always get a quality preamp such as the one I just ordered, a Grace Design Model 101.

As for a MIDI interface, I have the AMT8 by Emagic and it works great under Windows XP with Sonar 2. No problems at all. Hopefully Apple won't go and hose the PC driver support like they killed Logic for the PC.

No matter what you do, if you're going to use a PC, use Windows XP and make sure your audio interface driver has WDM support.

Also, check out the Aardvark Q10 pro...looks pretty good.

[jwofford]

My intension is to get a Mac when I can afford it because I want a dedicated studio machine, and if I'm going to have a dedicated studio machine I'd much rather it be a Mac than a PC.

The Aardvarks have serious compatability problems. I have a friend who has been using them for years and has unceasing problems with them. It just so happens that the VIA KT133A chipset I have is not compatable with Aardvark cards. Also, Aardvark cards lack the expandability of the others and I do intend for this studio to expand when money allows.

Why WDM drivers? WDM are the bottom feeders of the driver pool IMHO. I'm requiring full ASIO 2.0 support for any card I am going to purchase, and, at very least I want DirectX driver support. (though I see no reason to go without ASIO 2.0). As for WDM, nothing that the studio card is used for will require it (I will be primarily using Cubase or Nuendo). I will have another standard soundcard present for simply playing back audio for general listening (SB Life! Platinum 5.1 on the PC).

As far as the M-Audio. For some inexplicable reason I've never been fond of M-audio. I don't really have a solid reason for this... so, with that in mind, perhaps I'll investigate a bit more.

I suppose the real question here is what is going to cross platforms the best. The digi002 would do it excellently, but I'm not fond of it's limitations. I know the MOTU stuff works well on Macs... and arguably well on PC's (i.e. Some people say it works perfectly on PC's, some say don't even bother for PC's).

It is also important to note that I will ideally run XP Pro on PC and OS X on Mac (when I get it). Luckily for me, Cubase SX for OS X is scheduled to be released in one week from today, so hopefully by the time I can get my Mac they'll have the bugs worked out. Of course, ProTools LE will run on XP and... in the relatively near future should be showing up on OS X (though I've heard no promised release date). Once I make the studio switch to Mac, my PC will convert back to the all Linux system that it has been in the past.

[jwofford]

I got impatient and went ahead and ordered the MOTU 896 and Edirol UM-550... any comments are still appreciated on the subject.

[PRESONUS Dustin]

Also don't rule out the firestation by presonus. See specs on the web site
presonus.com