I plan on using my iMac G4 17" with DP4 and OSX 10.2.5. Would you recomend the Presonus Firestation or the MOTU 828? Why?

Good question - depends on what your needs are.

Both are good, Presonus I think, can function in standalone mode as d/a converter/s.
I think it had some other routing possibilities as well.

If you need more simultaneous analog input/outputs ( 8 ) and a simpler setup go with Motu.
If you need fewer analog in & outs and more flexibility, go with Presonus.

Also Presonus is more expensive ( somwhere between 200-400$ - if I remember ),
but you had better check that up.

Cheers: Dixiechicken

The Presonus Firestation is still missing osX drivers, so if you want to jump in immediately, the 828 is your only choice. This is unfortunate, because the Presonus has a better preamp section, and, as previously mentioned, will work as a standalone a/d converter. But the 828 is no slouch; I own one, and love it. It's also a great deal.

PlasTree: are you using the 828 in OS X? If so, with which sequencer and how's it working out for you?

I am thinking of buying an 828 for use in OS 9 and X. Generally, 828 reviews are positive, but I've read one or two negative comments about the 828's performance in OS X recently, so I'd like to hear from someone who is actually using it in OS X.

Any feedback much appreciated.

Now I'm confused. I presumed that the Firestation didn't have osX drivers because they are not available for download from the Presonus website and there is no mention of osX compatability in the product description. But I just saw a thread discussing Firestation drivers in 10.2.5. So perhaps I'm wrong about the lack of drivers?

Anyway, I haven't used my 828 in osX. I'm waiting for DP4. I use it with DP3 in 9.2 right now, and it works great. Most of my stability issues are related to the fact that I share the aforementioned setup along with a Digi 001 and ProTools on the same machine. I think Digidesign sabotages other brands of software and hardware. java script:emoticon(';)')

I've read some sketchy posts about the 828 in osX as well, so I honestly don't know what's up. I don't think any piece of hardware works perfectly on everyone's convoluted machine, though. Most people seem pleased.

The Motu 828 seems to work just fine in Mac OS X 10.2.5, from my very limited experience.
I'm wating for my upgrade to DP4 myself.

In the meantime ( shame on me )- fiddling around with a kracked version of anoyther famous DAW ,
which I dont like - and will get rid of as soon as I get my DP4.

If memory serves me right, the differences in the preamp section were not very great
between Motu & Firestation.
Signal to noise ratio a-weighted, was 105 DB in Motu and 107 DB in Firestation.
That's about the smallest difference a really discriminatiing ear can hear.

Cheers: Dixiechecken

Thanks plas and dixie: I've gone ahead with the 828. I think it'll be just fine - hopefully, anyway. And I'm getting a friend with broadband to download the 10.2.5 combo update for me.

Can you let me know what the latency is like? I'm using Mac AV on a G4 400 right now, looking for a soundcard (with preamps), and concerned about it taxing my computer.

I want to use Logic and the soundcard together as a digital mixer, so I guess I need low latency.

Can anyone tell me if it's worth getting (for instance) a Hammerfall with DSP, then getting a multiple output A/D converter (connected by ADAT ligtpipe)? Could be more expensive, and not many A/Ds pout for a small budget. I saw the Focusrite OctoPre, and that could do the job.....

Was thinking about the MOTU 24io, or a 2nd hand 2408. or 828...

Maybe even an Audiowerk8 ??

Any thoughts, please?

I have been using the presonus firestation since 10.2.4, runs fine in 10.2.5, but U need to use some setup in OS9 the first time.. after that everyting is ok in OSX

No so many programs support it, it works only with programs that use CoreAudio and NOT a ASIO driver....

Peak, spark, Deck, DP , Logic, Reason etc... are all OK!

sincerly helgaja