NZGuitars.com

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?

I don't know about anything else, but I've been really happy with my Inspire.

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 guess I should have said that I use a PC and not a Mac.

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 =)

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?

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?

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?

Oh thanks for that!It looks like a good unit.

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

where'd you find a Mac for under $500??





still too expensive

rocklander wrote:You're a Mac, I'm a PC

Fuxt

I'll add a +1 to the TC unit. They sound bloody good.

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.