Any Comments On Tascam FireOne Audio Interface?

Well, I guess I have to respond to my own post. The Tascam FireOne arrived and I plugged it in to test it on my older iBook G4. I installed the software from the CD. The iBook is running the latest Tiger OS, I haven't had time to test it on my MacBook OS 10.5.3, but I'm sure it should be fine. So far, all is well. The box runs smooth, no latency issues, background noise, crashes, seems very stable. I went into the Audio/MIDI utility and the app picked it up immediately. I then set up the Sound Pref and the GB pref. Everything seemed fine. The Tascam is built like a tank, really heavy and solid. It has a large weighted control wheel that moves smooth as silk and various function keys that can be assigned to various tasks.

In the bundle, they also put in Abelton LIve Lite and a BBE Sonic Maximizer Plug-In, whatever that thing does, I don't have a clue, but it lists for $129. Unfortunately the plug-in can't be installed in Intel Macs. I guess I could install it in the iBook G4, but I am only running GB ver2. I want to use the MacBook for all my digital recording projects.

At this point, it looks like the Tascam FireOne is a good choice as an Audio/MIDI interface and a good price, $149, cheaper than some of the M-Audio USB boxes. It comes with a 6 ft, very thick well made FireWire cable, AC adapter and a few other toys. Of course the 6 pin FireWire input in the Mac self powers the box, so you don't need to run the AC.

That's about it for now

Steve

Hi. I have tested the Tascam FireOne on my MacBook, OS 10.5.3 and so far it performs fine as it did on my older iBook G4 running latest Tiger. I run the firewire cable to the MacBook and the headphones into one of the inputs and I am sending and receiving audio through GarageBand. The driver was recognized instantly in the Audio/MIDI utility and the Sound Preferences and the GB preferences. I am using a Casio PX-200. I attach the Casio outs to the FireOne' s ins and the signal is very good, no latency or noise, pure high end sound.

I still use my M-Audio Uno MIDI cable for MIDI.

For about $150, the FireOne is a good deal. The Tascam site looks like support is also available for Leopard now. If anyone else is using the FireOne, please let us know about your experiences, pro and con

Thanks Steve

As far as the wheel and function keys on the FireOne, I think they only work with Logic, Cubase or ProTools. They don't seem to operate with GB. Now the Apogee Duet has software that controls that interface with GB and Logic. I'll have to look into that and do more research. If I come up with any answers, I'll post them here

Steve

Well anyway, the main reason I went with a firewire interface is because I wanted to eliminate latency issues and hopefully avoid distortions and such. There maybe 3rd party software that also works with the FireOne in GB. It would be a shame though not to be able to use those cool function buttons and that wheel for something.

Let's wait and see if someone has a workaround

Steve

Hi. So with this app you can use the FireOne buttons to controll GB, is that right?