E-Mu 0404 USB 2.0

Question

Level 1

55 points

E-Mu 0404 USB 2.0

Hello,

I just purchased an E-MU 0404 interface for my portable setup on my MacBook Pro (10.6.4) and cannot get it to work well with anything. In Logic I get "error trying to sync MIDI and audio" (and in Ableton Live the playback stutters). I've searched online, tried different settings, but no dice. Very frustrated. I'm really looking for something easy to use. I've pretty much decided to return the E-MU, but first wanted to see if anyone is running it successfully with Logic. Or if anyone can suggest a portable audio interface that is easy to set up and use. They convinced me that the E-MU was the best choice at the store, but I was also considering the MBox 2 Mini, M Audio Fast Track Pro, Presonus Audiobox USB, and M-Audio Firewire Solo, though I would need a firewire 400-800 adapter and I'm not sure about going there.

Any input or tips anyone might have would be really appreciated.

Dual 1.8 G5; iBook 500, Mac OS X (10.3.x)

Posted on Jul 25, 2010 2:46 PM

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Answer 1

45rpm

Level 3

795 points

Jul 25, 2010 4:52 PM in response to Nic-ky

error trying to sync MIDI and audio

You might get some ideas from this: "Logic Pro/Logic Express: Error while trying to sync Audio and MIDI."

You could also try a new OS X user account, to see if that makes any difference. You could also try EMU tech support.

Something that makes me a little suspicious about this product is that I think their drivers haven't been updated in a long time. Take a look at this item:

Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/MIDI Drivers/EMUMIDIDriver.plugin

And this item:

Macintosh HD/System/Library/Extensions/EMUUSBAudio.kext

Are they dated 11/26/07? Drivers don't necessarily have to be updated every time Apple makes any change to the OS, but those dates strike me as a bit old. Unless maybe what you have is more recent.

M-Audio

My experience with M-Audio hasn't been so great.

Presonus Audiobox USB

This unit doesn't include drivers. It uses drivers that are already part of your OS. This can be viewed as either an advantage or a disadvantage, but I lean in the former direction.

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Answer 2

Nic-ky Author

Level 1

55 points

Jul 25, 2010 5:13 PM in response to 45rpm

Thanks for your reply. E-Mu tech support is email only and from what I read online, can be horribly slow to respnd. I usually like to check online first. But I've decided to return this, it shouldn't be so difficult to set up an interface. And yes, the drivers are dated 11/26/07.

After more research I'm looking at the PreSonus Firestation Mobile or Apogee Duet. My only reservation is that I would need an adapter as I only have FW 800. But I'm assuming that's not an issue?

Thanks again.

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Answer 3

45rpm

Level 3

795 points

Jul 25, 2010 6:18 PM in response to Nic-ky

I'm looking at the PreSonus Firestation Mobile or Apogee Duet

Both those companies seem to have a good reputation.

There have been a couple of reports here recently ( link) of Duet owners running into trouble with 10.6.4, but I think those might be just isolated incidents that you shouldn't overinterpret. I think Apogee customers generally seem to be quite happy.

My only reservation is that I would need an adapter as I only have FW 800. But I'm assuming that's not an issue?

I think you should treat that as a complete non-issue.

You can mix FW400 and FW800 devices, and they will each operate at full speed, as long as you put the FW400 device(s) at the end of the chain. There is a widespread misconception that the faster device is forced to slow down, but that's a misconception.

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Answer 4

Nic-ky Author

Level 1

55 points

Jul 25, 2010 6:32 PM in response to 45rpm

Thanks so much for this info. Very helpful and appreciated.

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