Need a new soundcard - recommendations?

[magma]

My trusty Mackie Onyx is firewire only and my new laptop is USB only, so I've gotta get a new one. Need a couple of inputs, phantom power so I can use my mics and preferably a couple of outputs so I can use it for Traktor/etc.

Been looking at the NI Komplete 6, but everso slightly wary because of the low Phantom power rating meaning it can only really run one mic at once (I tend to use a matched pair for recording live instruments)

Happy to spend up to around £150, but can always push that if something's more but obviously fucking awesome.

What are Production Ninjas currently using?

[fragments]

I always recommend MOTU. Im using a used 828 MKII. Im not sure what you can get for 150 your currency from MOTU, but they have interfaces with less options than the 828. Check out their webpage or look them up on Sweetwater.com (they have particularly good product descriptions. Better than the manufacturer sometimes.

I paid like 265 USD for my used 828.

[Musick]

Or you could bypass the sound card altogether, and get better quality out of a DAC

AudioQuest Dragonfly, will be the best $100 you've ever spent

[Electric_Head]

Or you could bypass the sound card altogether, and get better quality out of a DAC

AudioQuest Dragonfly, will be the best $100 you've ever spent

He is asking for a high end soundcard interface.
He would already be bypassing the onboard sound.

[rockonin]

Is it a Window's laptop or a Macbook? Have you though of maybe getting a Firewire express card?

[fragments]

my new laptop is USB only

[Milaflore]

Hey up,

I have had my Focusrite Saffire 6 for a while now and its a great solid piece of kit, never failed on me once and I think it has all the requirements you need (phantom Power etc). It's around about £140 brand new, so within your budget.

http://uk.focusrite.com/usb-audio-inter ... fire-6-usb

[forbidden]

Hey up,

I have had my Focusrite Saffire 6 for a while now and its a great solid piece of kit, never failed on me once and I think it has all the requirements you need (phantom Power etc). It's around about £140 brand new, so within your budget.

http://uk.focusrite.com/usb-audio-inter ... fire-6-usb

interesting, this model is discontinued on the american site. this is the interface i use and i highly recommend it. only thing i'd change is i wish there was some kind of LED on the volume knob so i could see it in the dark. probably could have achieved this with a different brand but this interface is extremely well reviewed and i got it used for a steal at $80.

[nowaysj]

Saffire 6, does the saffire 6 have multiclient drivers? Can you watch youetube, and work in your daw at the same time?

[forbidden]

Saffire 6, does the saffire 6 have multiclient drivers? Can you watch youetube, and work in your daw at the same time?

yes

[fragments]

I would have bought a higher end focusrite when I ended up with my MOTU if they had more straightforward explinations of how and what kind of I/Os their sound cards actually have. Either that or Im an idiot. Either is possible.

[nowaysj]

Saffire 6, does the saffire 6 have multiclient drivers? Can you watch youetube, and work in your daw at the same time?

yes

Thanks, dude.

[erratech]

The saffire 6 has terrible, terrible latency. If you can find the ScanAudio latency charts they are at the bottom. They are old as the hills. They seem to have a fairly weak output volume wise, need to push the gains a bit in my experience. Also the volumes on the inputs arent calibrated on mine to be identical which is an absolute pain when recording something that is stereo. I dont recommend them.

[nowaysj]

[Tom_Autobot]

On a sub £200 budget you have two main options.

The NI KA6 has great low latency performance (and the phantom power problem was solved about a year ago), but the Focusrite Scarletts have better quality converters and preamps.
If you are someone (like me) who maxes the CPU on every track you do, then get the KA6, you'll get about 20% extra tracks and instruments with it.
If you do live recording quite a bit or dont tend to max the cpu, get a Scarlett.

Dont touch the Saffire 6 with a bargepole, even secondhand.... you can REALLY hear the difference to modern interfaces in quality and the latency is shockingly terrible. Anyone who has one really needs to ebay it to an unsuspecting newbie and put the cash towards a Scarlett. It was a fair inteface in its time, but it was USB1 and usb tech has progressed loads in the 13 or so years since it came out.

[legend4ry]

Saffire 6 is discontuned and after having mine for about 4 years I fucking hate it.

Its a terrible soundcard for long-term.

Bad drivers.

Horrible pres (though, were the best for the price range).

Headphone jack crackled after a week (after cleaning it out properly too!).

Over time the general loudness of the card what it was pushing out has dipped about 25%.


I now will stay away from Focusrite unless I am getting their high end stuff.



Save yourself some more money and get a MOTU.

Buy quality .

http://www.musicmatter.co.uk/motu-audio ... tAod_WEAwQ

[magma]

Thanks for this everyone - think I'm gonna go with the KA6 if the Phantom Power thing's been worked out.

[magma]

Thanks for this everyone - think I'm gonna go with the KA6 if the Phantom Power thing's been worked out.

Ended up going for the Akai EIE Pro... similar price to the KA6 and pretty unanimously good reviews, plus it's got a little USB hub on it which might come in handy and some fancy needle gauges.

[LUNCHPADDLE]

focusrite scarlett 2i2 or 2i4.
check em out, bus powered glory-machines.

[LUNCHPADDLE]

Thanks for this everyone - think I'm gonna go with the KA6 if the Phantom Power thing's been worked out.

Ended up going for the Akai EIE Pro... similar price to the KA6 and pretty unanimously good reviews, plus it's got a little USB hub on it which might come in handy and some fancy needle gauges.

^ soz, didnt see youd found a replacement..