Still confused: Apogee Ensemble or Symphony or Rosetta or ? with new setup

I'm planning on buying a MacBook Pro and Logic Studio.

I'm confused, though, as to which Apogee interface to buy.

Most of what I will be doing with either be:

(1) 1 track at a time where I have my Shure KSM44 mic plugged into my Universal Audio SOLO/610 tube preamp, and that going into the Apogee interface. I think in this case, even the Duet would suffice.

(2) 8 drum mics plugged into my Focusrite OctoPre (8-channel preamp); I assume, then, that I will go ADAT out into the Apogee interface, right? In this case, the Duet is out because it has no such interface.

So, do I get Ensemble, Symphony, Rosetta, X-this or that? I'm confused. I think the Ensemble is the right answer, but if my OctoPre goes into the Apogee via ADAT, I'll never need 8 channels of input, right? So do I get one of the others? Also, would one of those other require that ExpressCard so can connect to my MacBook Pro?

I heard that maye the Rosetta or Symphony or both had better A/D converters than the Ensemble, but not sure.

Thanks for whomever can straighten me out.. I appreciate it.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Jan 30, 2008 2:57 AM

18 replies

Jan 30, 2008 5:42 PM in response to amplayer

amplayer..

How exactly do you control the latency in the maestro software?

Thanks

dval3

Level 1

5 points

Apr 11, 2008 6:17 PM in response to rcook349

A FW800 Ensemble might increase track count because of the increased bandwidth, but won't tackle the latency issues. I concur with BOTR. The Apogee Symphony is absolutely amazing. I didn't think that I would hear that much difference from my RME FF800, but the difference was astounding. Everything is so much clearer. Latency is no longer an issue. Go with the Symphony system.

Apr 11, 2008 7:24 PM in response to rcook349

Some great points made on this thread, I have heard many converters, never heard the Prism but I have to honestly say that the Apogee 800 is TOTALLY an ear opener.
I too want to get the Ensemble for a remote recording gig but fear doing so because it is a step down in quality than the Rosetta, and that I wish I spent the few extra bux on the Rosetta 800. The other options like headphones and preamps are fixed with a small Mackie board...1202 etc.
So back to what I meant about ear opener...it is a pretty vague observation of what I hear when even listening to CD Audio so apologies.
The system i use is set up with an API 7600 which sounds amazing, so out of the gate there are some better pieces of gear that the signal is being played thru, i have yet to test it out with a Mackie board or direct from HD.
Everything is patched thru API.
Basically all of the excerpts where everyone says how it sounds more open and the soundstage is 3 dimensional...that is not a lie.
Once your ears hears it, it will never forget it.
That is why i am on the fence about the Ensemble.
Let us know how you make out whatever you decide and I will do the same!

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Still confused: Apogee Ensemble or Symphony or Rosetta or ? with new setup