What is the BEST usb audio interface for the aluminum 2.4 ghz macbook

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Level 1

1 points

What is the BEST usb audio interface for the aluminum 2.4 ghz macbook

i went to my local guitar center and ended up purchasing an m-audio interface. The thing blows, will not work with garage band at all. Drivers wont install correctly, and i have heard other mac users with this problem.

Im going to return it tomorrow and purchase something different, any suggestions?

Macbook 2.4ghz, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Apr 16, 2009 9:49 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 16, 2009 11:49 PM in response to Ciavash

I'm also curious about this. I've got an old M-Audio FireWire unit that I hate (it's always been a pain to use) and would love to get something that works with less hassle. I'm also interested in switching to USB-2, because I plan on getting a new aluminum MacBook in the next month or two.

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Answer 2

Pancenter

Level 6

14,782 points

Apr 17, 2009 12:02 AM in response to Ciavash

USB audio will never be as robust as Firewire, however... Edirol, Tascam and MOTU make some decent USB interfaces.

Look here for a listing.

http://www.sweetwater.com/c695--USBAudioInterfaces

pancenter-

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Answer 3

Ciavash Author

Level 1

1 points

Apr 17, 2009 8:55 AM in response to Pancenter

i was looking at the tascam US-122L, it looks like it has everything i need, the phantom power (bc i have a audio-techniqua condenser mic. what do you think about that one? what would be the best one out of that list that is under $400 ?

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Answer 4

Pancenter

Level 6

14,782 points

Apr 17, 2009 1:22 PM in response to Ciavash

I can't give you any direct input on any of the USB interfaces except for the
original Tascam US-122.

Quite some time ago I purchased US-122 (came with Cubase recording software) that I used to record some school choir demos. It worked very well with both PC and Mac. Everything else audio I own is pro-level stuff and is either an internal card or Firewire.

All I can say is, do your homework, read all of the reviews, make sure you purchase for a reputable dealer with a return policy.

Available options would be

Tascam US-122L
Edirol UA-25EX
Presonus AudioBox

It doesn't say if the US-122L ships with any software, they usually do.
The Edirol does but it's all PC applications.

pancenter-

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Answer 5

Ciavash Author

Level 1

1 points

Apr 18, 2009 10:01 AM in response to Pancenter

hmm, yeah ive been researching, its really hard to find a decent usb, compared to how many good firewire interfaces there are. the ****** part is i cant return my macbook to get a pro bc i bought it from the university store and they dont accept returns on macs for some reason, i just found this out.

so im a little let down on changing to firewire but how did the tascam interface sound? good quality? Was it pretty easy to set up and get working through garageband?

sorry for asking all of these questions, ive gone everywhere else and people just screw me over, u probably know more about interfaces than i do

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Answer 6

Pancenter

Level 6

14,782 points

Apr 18, 2009 5:20 PM in response to Ciavash

Google this:

Macintosh US-122L

You will see some problems, I don't know if they've been worked out yet.

Google the the other two, leave macintosh as the first search term followed by the interface.

Edirol UA-25EX
Presonus AudioBox

My feeling is that the Edirol is probably the best of the lot.

pancenter-

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Answer 7

dazzer

Level 2

152 points

Apr 18, 2009 6:41 PM in response to Pancenter

NI Audio Kontrol gets a lot of love on the Ableton forum (I use a MOTU Ultralite myself but obviously that's not an option for you).

Also, there was a deal as some US online seller that got you a free copy of NI's Massive synth with it, which sounds like a great deal to me.

Check it out.

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Answer 8

Ciavash Author

Level 1

1 points

Apr 20, 2009 7:07 PM in response to Pancenter

okay so i went and returned my macbook and spent the extra money to get the 15 inch 2.4 ghz pro. I went and returned my M-Audio and got a Presonus Firebox. alot of people told me this was a good one, but i opened the box and there was no firewire cable that came with it.. guess i have to go get it myself, but i dont know what kind of cable to buy. i think its an 800? but im not sure. i know the firebox has 6 pins but what cable do i buy exactly?

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Answer 9

Pancenter

Level 6

14,782 points

Apr 20, 2009 7:56 PM in response to Ciavash

What!?! It should have come with a cable, call or go to the place of purchase.

pancenter-

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Answer 10

Ciavash Author

Level 1

1 points

Apr 20, 2009 8:04 PM in response to Pancenter

this is ridiculous... i just watched an unboxing on youtube and the first thing he pulled out was the firewire cable.. i dont know why but my luck keeps running into these things. they either pulled it out of the box or never put it in there at guitar center. im taking it back tomorrow morning and asking where the **** the firewire cable is.

that cable will work with the macbook pro? or do i have to get a different one?

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Answer 11

Apr 21, 2009 1:36 PM in response to Ciavash

that cable will work with the macbook pro? or do i have to get a different one?

The current MacBook Pros only ship with a FireWire 800 port (a more square port with 9 pins). I don't know about your device, but it probably has FireWire 400 (a more rectangular port with 6 pins). It is possible to buy a cable that has FireWire 400 on one end and FireWire 800 on the other like this:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/TP320LL/A

-Doug

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Answer 12

Pancenter

Level 6

14,782 points

Apr 21, 2009 1:54 PM in response to Douglas McLaughlin

Or adapters like these, (first on the left.)

http://www.amazon.com/tag/firewire%20800%20to%20400%20adapter

pancenter-

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Answer 13

Ziatron

Level 5

4,214 points

Apr 21, 2009 2:27 PM in response to Chris1973

There are no decent USB audio interfaces.

FIREWIRE IS A MUST for audio. Unless you are positive you will never be recording more than one instrument at a time you should consider a Firewire multi-channel audio device. Some examples of when you might need such a unit include recording a jam session utilizing more than two mics or maybe recording a drum kit with more than two mics (common). A multi-channel device will allow for much more flexibility in the long run.

All of the below audio manufacturers released NEW Firewire ONLY equipment in 2008.

Digidesign
Yamaha/Steinberg
MOTU
Lexicon
PreSonus
Apogee
M-Audio
TC Electronic
Focusrite

There are no USB to Firewire adapters. (Desperate aluminum Macbook owners are looking, but it can't be done.) USB can not "keep up" with Firewire.

The NEW (early 2009) white Macbook has Firewire. (and the new NVIDIA graphics.)

http://www.apple.com/macbook/white/

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Answer 14

Apr 21, 2009 2:39 PM in response to Ziatron

that is not quite right ziatron!

the best USB audio interface is about to be released soon. its from RME, and by the bay there is a great motu USB interface too with multiple track-at-once recording.

so for all of you who keep saying firewire is the one and only PRO solution, please check out the link and also do some research for yourself how that machine exactly work and the performance claimed is achieved.

keep rocking! peace

http://www.rme-audio.de/productsfirefaceuc.php

Message was edited by: kongnator

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Answer 15

Ciavash Author

Level 1

1 points

Apr 22, 2009 9:22 AM in response to Pancenter

ok this is just one reoccuring problem after the other, sorry guys.

so i got the 9 pin 800 to 6 pin 400 wire, i connected it to the Presonus firebox interface and everything is connecting and working great.

my only problem is i hear a slight fuzz, or buzz when i record through instrument or mic.

is this the interface, or could i set some kind of settings to cancel this out?

when i got my old m-audio working (for the 30 minutes it decided to..) the sound quality was excellent, with no fuzz in the background. but with this presonus there is a slight fuzz sound.

please tell me i dont have to get another interface again

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