Where Are The Firewire Audio/midi Interfaces?, Inexplicable absence of what should be Options

[Levon River]

Firewire has been around for over ten years. Does anyone have any insight into why there are so precious few audio/midi interfaces utilizing this technology?

The field is glutted with USB interfaces, which only carry about 1/40 the bandwidth and information transfer capability of Firewire.

Of the few Firewire interfaces on the market, the cheapest I can find (MOTU's 828) starts at over $800.00--and that doesn't include MIDI, while being complete overkill on the audio side for my needs. Five years ago I expected to SOON see Firewire interfaces for audio and MIDI that would be affordable and accessible. Now there are quite a few under $500.00 using USB, but NONE in t hat price bracket using Firewire.

I think the market is ripe for a Firewire interface with, e.g., four audio inputs and two MIDI ins and outs priced for the masses. Why, oh, why was it not there years ago?

[chrisk4]

I think the market is ripe for a Firewire interface with, e.g., four audio inputs and two MIDI ins and outs priced for the masses. Why, oh, why was it not there years ago?

I was reading a review of a visit to MacWorld Tokyo earlier this year and to quote the reviewer who said something like the following, upon checking out the audio-related booths/stands:

'If somebody were to produce a firewire audio interface for under $400 they would clean up.'

With this in mind I had a brief email dialogue with a company by the name of Miglia in the UK who specialise in firewire devices, namely external disk(s) and the Director's Cut firewire video interface.

Miglia have apparently discussed this idea but they have no expertise in this area and would have to check out the design and manufacturing requirements.

I emailed the spec of the Edirol UA-3D (no midi) interface to them. I may not have included mdi interfaces as I don't use them much and I really would like a portable firewire interface for audio only - my mistake not including the midi.

Why has nobody produced such a thing yet - probably due to the number of PCs without it as already indicated here. We can only wait and see.