Whats the best recording interface for Mac under $500?
Moderator: Capt. Black
- TmcB
- I may have a problem
- Posts: 7717
- meble-kuchenne.warszawa.pl
- Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2008 12:17 pm
- Location: Kapiti
- Has liked: 656 times
- Been liked: 561 times
Whats the best recording interface for Mac under $500?
I'm struggling with this one;
Here's what I'm looking for
* 2 channels
* Fire wire
* Mac compatible
* under $500
* Midi if possible
Immediate contender is the presonus inspire, but I was wondering if the firebox will do much more?
Others?
Here's what I'm looking for
* 2 channels
* Fire wire
* Mac compatible
* under $500
* Midi if possible
Immediate contender is the presonus inspire, but I was wondering if the firebox will do much more?
Others?
Last edited by TmcB on Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Family Music Store - http://familymusic.co.nzGrantB wrote:Tony, your taste is, as always, very refined. Or as HG would say, "bloody awful".
- Kloppsta
- Vintage Post Junkie
- Posts: 2489
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 1:09 pm
- Location: Auckland
- Has liked: 84 times
- Been liked: 93 times
Re: Whats the best recording interface for Mac <$500?
For the sub $500 range you’re pretty much in entry level range for PreSonus, M-Audio, Lexicon, Digidesign, Mackie, Alesis & Focusrite. Anything in that price range is going to be pretty much identical in feature set and performance.
I don’t know exactly what you want / need out of an audio interface but for that price range you’re gonna get something pretty basic but still capable depending on your needs.
You could also look at buying something second hand for the $500 range.....so that would be interfaces that may have cost $1000 new a couple years ago....however these days the "sonic" difference between a $1000 interface and a $500 interface is negligible.
Keep an eye out on Trade Me as there are always second hand M-Audio, E-Mu and Digidesign (Mbox) units for sale.
Otherwise talk to the boys at Auckland Rockshop digital cause they may still have one of the Mackie Onyx Sattelite units lying around for under $500. They are exceptional value for money and come with a good starter pack (VST, DAW, loops etc) to get you started.
As far as MAC driver stabilty goes i'd probably stick with Digidesign, Mackie & M-Audio stuff.
I don’t know exactly what you want / need out of an audio interface but for that price range you’re gonna get something pretty basic but still capable depending on your needs.
You could also look at buying something second hand for the $500 range.....so that would be interfaces that may have cost $1000 new a couple years ago....however these days the "sonic" difference between a $1000 interface and a $500 interface is negligible.
Keep an eye out on Trade Me as there are always second hand M-Audio, E-Mu and Digidesign (Mbox) units for sale.
Otherwise talk to the boys at Auckland Rockshop digital cause they may still have one of the Mackie Onyx Sattelite units lying around for under $500. They are exceptional value for money and come with a good starter pack (VST, DAW, loops etc) to get you started.
As far as MAC driver stabilty goes i'd probably stick with Digidesign, Mackie & M-Audio stuff.
Little by little, by hook or by crook
- snitchez
- Vintage Post Junkie
- Posts: 1301
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 12:03 pm
- Has liked: 26 times
- Been liked: 36 times
Re: Whats the best recording interface for Mac under $500?
mackie isnt in business anymore i hear.
mbox only works with mbox stuff.
m-audio are pretty cool.
my recommendation would be the tc konnekt 6. a lil bit more expensive. but hey.
im selling mine for 545 =) lol. im just being cheeky n trying to justify an apogee purchase =)
mbox only works with mbox stuff.
m-audio are pretty cool.
my recommendation would be the tc konnekt 6. a lil bit more expensive. but hey.
im selling mine for 545 =) lol. im just being cheeky n trying to justify an apogee purchase =)
- TmcB
- I may have a problem
- Posts: 7717
- Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2008 12:17 pm
- Location: Kapiti
- Has liked: 656 times
- Been liked: 561 times
Re: Whats the best recording interface for Mac under $500?
I had a mackie spike...it was good to learn on but I now see how crap it was. If I had a bit more cash I'd going the Duet route myself...I'll definitely keep the TC offer in mind actually, could be a great compromise. How do you find it?
Family Music Store - http://familymusic.co.nzGrantB wrote:Tony, your taste is, as always, very refined. Or as HG would say, "bloody awful".
- sty
- Vintage Post Junkie
- Posts: 2952
- Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2007 5:26 pm
- Location: Christchurch
- Has liked: 208 times
- Been liked: 264 times
Re: Whats the best recording interface for Mac under $500?
Hi Tony, I picked up a PreSonus Firebox last week, as new, for just over NZ$400 and it seems great, there's good feature overview on the presonus web site and a review from sight and sound.
When I was doing some checking out on various audio inputs for my mac the biggest issue I had was making sure you could hot swap it over firewire since I don't want to leave it on all the time but I never turn my home mac off - and I have loads of firewire disks I need to bring and off line. This one seems fine.
The NZ distributor for presonus seems to sell the Firebox new on trademe for NZ$499 which seems like a good price, I was looking at them when I was in London and that was about 229GBP
PS. hows the Radian going?
When I was doing some checking out on various audio inputs for my mac the biggest issue I had was making sure you could hot swap it over firewire since I don't want to leave it on all the time but I never turn my home mac off - and I have loads of firewire disks I need to bring and off line. This one seems fine.
The NZ distributor for presonus seems to sell the Firebox new on trademe for NZ$499 which seems like a good price, I was looking at them when I was in London and that was about 229GBP
PS. hows the Radian going?
- TmcB
- I may have a problem
- Posts: 7717
- Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2008 12:17 pm
- Location: Kapiti
- Has liked: 656 times
- Been liked: 561 times
Re: Whats the best recording interface for Mac under $500?
Oh thanks for that!It looks like a good unit.sty wrote:Hi Tony, I picked up a PreSonus Firebox last week, as new, for just over NZ$400 and it seems great, there's good feature overview on the presonus web site and a review from sight and sound.
When I was doing some checking out on various audio inputs for my mac the biggest issue I had was making sure you could hot swap it over firewire since I don't want to leave it on all the time but I never turn my home mac off - and I have loads of firewire disks I need to bring and off line. This one seems fine.
The NZ distributor for presonus seems to sell the Firebox new on trademe for NZ$499 which seems like a good price, I was looking at them when I was in London and that was about 229GBP
PS. hows the Radian going?
The radian doesn't get much rest...it sounds and plays great! Sorry I haven't got it back yet I like it too much
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
Family Music Store - http://familymusic.co.nzGrantB wrote:Tony, your taste is, as always, very refined. Or as HG would say, "bloody awful".
- rocklander
- no offense, but I'm not a guitarist
- Posts: 10358
- Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 9:05 pm
- Location: Rotorua
Re: Whats the best recording interface for Mac under $500?
where'd you find a Mac for under $500?? ![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
still too expensive![Razz :P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
still too expensive
![Razz :P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)
.__Some Bozo wrote:dogs represent the qualities we like to see in a friend, and cats represent the qualites we'd like to be able to get away with in ourselves
. __\___
. _____D)
. __)
. __)
.__)pull my finger
stagepass
- TmcB
- I may have a problem
- Posts: 7717
- Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2008 12:17 pm
- Location: Kapiti
- Has liked: 656 times
- Been liked: 561 times
Re: Whats the best recording interface for Mac under $500?
Fuxtrocklander wrote:You're a Mac, I'm a PC
Family Music Store - http://familymusic.co.nzGrantB wrote:Tony, your taste is, as always, very refined. Or as HG would say, "bloody awful".
- bender
- Darth Fader
- Posts: 11856
- Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2007 12:46 pm
- Location: Dorkland
- Has liked: 416 times
- Been liked: 1016 times
Re: Whats the best recording interface for Mac under $500?
I'll add a +1 to the TC unit. They sound bloody good.
Re: Whats the best recording interface for Mac under $500?
Yeah the Presonus Firebox would suit you absolutely fine. I have a Firestudio which serves me very well. Presonus, while not the very highest quality interfaces, are pretty much top of the game with ease of use, stability, features, expandability, and general sound quality. Great balance of everything, I highly recommend them.
(((Òran Mór