I recently got a laptop and I'm thinking about getting a firewire soundcard to do some mobile recording. Nothing too hardcore, but I want something that will run reliably without requiring a degree in computer science.

I started looking around, and there are a ton of these things out there now, and I'm looking for opinions. I barely record anymore, and when I do it's mostly just stereo pair stuff, but I wouldn't mind a few more inputs just in case. At first I was looking at the cheaper M-Audio stuff, because it's doubtful that I'll ever really need more than 2 inputs at a time, but then it's not that much more for the FireWire1814, but then I'm in the same league as the Presonus Firepod and nearly the Mackie 400f, then there's the Tascam FW-1804 and Yamaha i88x lingering out there...

Does anyone have any opinions on these things?

The Yamaha i88x has two channels with some fairly good converters and then the remainder of the channels have lower cost converters, which are more than adequate for most home recordists. I'd pick this over any of the M-Audio offerings.

I've not used the Presonus converters but Warhead likes them a lot. He's got fairly good ears so I value his opinion.

If you don't necessarily need firewire then you might look at the EMU interface for laptops offering. The 1616m would be the one to get versus the 1616.

Thanks for the reply. I hadn't really considered anything non-firewire, but there's really no reason why. Definitely gives me something else to think about.

That Firepod is great, really a great do all box and the sound is quite decent. Most importantly the drivers have been rock solid the times I've used one for remote recording rigs.

I think you're on the right path with Firewire, I'm still PCI based but I enjoy the freedom of grabbing a laptop and a rack and going remote.

War

I'm liking my Firepod but it is just a tad on the large side for my mobile set-up -- needs to be racked up. Down the line, I might spring for it's little sister, the Firebox, which has plenty enough inputs for my live-recording needs.

Cool. I'll definitely try to get my hands on a Firepod/box to give it a whirl--I do like the idea of firewire because I could use the same interface on both my desktop and laptop, but that EMU card looks pretty interesting too.

With the Firebox, can you use the mic, line, and S/PDIF inputs all at the same time? If so, that would plenty of inputs for me.

Thanks for the responses.

Take a look at the 400F, too. It looks like a pretty killer interface. I've gone back and forth between the i88x and the 400F for some time, and think that i've settled on the 400F.

There's a thread over at the harmony-central forum where one of the moderators is doing an in-depth review of the 400F. Check it out.

Provided your software can accept that many inputs at a time, yes.

War

Focusrite Saffire LE has been excellent. Note: it is phantom powered for remote use BUT many laptops, including mine , have only 4 pin firewire ports. This can be solved by getting an express card which will bus the 6 pin port and give you true mobility. I had the joy of learning all this after I thought I had thoroughly researched compatibility/features, etc. before initial purchases.

I should correct my prior in formation on 4-pin/6-pin firewire connectors. It turns out the only way to have portable firewire phantom power is through macs. Apparently all pc notebooks only support 4-pin; even where a pc 6-pin card is added, the extra 2 pins still do not support phantom power. This seems to be due to either Apple refusing to license "true" 6-pin, or pc makers not willing to pay to license it, or royalties fights and uncertainty re: IP rights, according to various reports.

Two years later, this question is still relevant, but when you go to look for the recommended Yamaha product, you get a notice the product has been discontinued...plus a rack-mounted piece doesn't look as mobile as a Apogee mini something.


http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMI88X

There is still a Presonus product that will suffice, if not be better than the rest. There are at least 2 current Presonus firewire boxes that take at least 2 inputs and can be piggy-backed to increase inputs. For the money, I haven't found another firewire device I like as well (but then one of my prejudices is trying NOT to buy anything Japanese IF there is ANY other option!!).