Audio/midi Interface (usb/firewire) For Imac Options

[pompair]

Hi,

I'm a guitarist, and just switched from Windows to Mac and bought brand new intel IMac. Could anyone recommend a audio/midi interface (either usb or firewire based) that works well with OS X? My sequencers are Garage Band and Tracktion (a cheap but nice program).

Thanks!

[lepetitmartien]

Trouble is, right now, the interfaces with macintel support have their macintel drivers in beta (MOTU, M-audio), add to this the market is not ripe as mostly only Apple software are UB. But all this will clear in the coming weeks.

Do you want a "generic" interface or one specialised into guitars?

[pompair]

Thanks for an answer lepetitmartien!

I just want an interface that I can use to record guitar, vocals and midi-stuff. Minimal setup would be with 1 audio port and 1 midi-in port. Preferrably 2 audio ports and 1 midi-port.

But what about usb and firewire? Is USB fast enough to handle real-time recoding?

-pom-

[cornutt]

Thanks for an answer lepetitmartien!

I just want an interface that I can use to record guitar, vocals and midi-stuff. Minimal setup would be with 1 audio port and 1 midi-in port. Preferrably 2 audio ports and 1 midi-port.

But what about usb and firewire? Is USB fast enough to handle real-time recoding?

-pom-

If you're doing 16 bit/44.1 recording, USB is fine for one or two channels at a time. If you think you might ever go to 24 bit/96, look for a Firewire interface.

[seabass069]

I bought a USB interface and the latency (the time from when you strum the guitar to when you here the actual sound) was bad. I returned it and bought an M-Audio Firewire Solo. It allows one guitar and one mic to be plugged into the system. I think it works great!

[aswindler]

Actually, MOTU released Mac Intel drivers for all their products in January

http://news.harmony-central.com/Newp/2006/...ac-Drivers.html

I just picked up a Fastlane MIDI interface to use with my MacBook Pro. Works like a champ. I haven't tried it yet with my MOTU 828 but I have no reason to believe it won't work. I like MOTU products anyway, and I recommend supporting companies who are on the ball with the transition.

That said, I was very close to getting the Fast Track Pro from M-Audio:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Fast...ckPro-main.html

Looks like an attractive product, and it does have beta drivers for Mac Intel. But I haven't used it so can't speak to the quality/latency issues.

Good luck.

aSwindler

[BassMule]

I'm still shopping for an audio interface for an Intel Mac myself. There still isn't much out there. The M-Audio Firewire Solo, at the moment, looks like the best deal to me. I'm holding off because I'm hoping Presonus will have an Intel-compatible version of its 1394 Inspire model in the reasonably near future. Check it out here. It costs $200, and it has a few more bells and whistles than the M-Audio, including the ability to daisy-chain up to four units. This meets a long-term goal of being able to record my band live all the time.

Anyway, good hunting and good luck.