Time for new gear... interface shootout:Steinberg MR816 VS RME Fireface 800.. fight!

[Black neon bob]

Okay.. well im going to upgrade pretty soon.

Quad core PC, windows XP pro, cubase 4 a TC finalizer 96K and i need a good interface as well.

Problem being.. i can't seem to make a choice between these two.. while the FF800 has proven to be good, i do read up on a lot of issues that people are having, particulary with the cubase/windows XP combo.

So im thinking.. the Steinberg MR816 looks good, it's getting good reviews and this will probably not create any problems with cubase at all, seeing as how it's made by the same company, i think they tested it till no end.

Has anyone actually had the chance to see the Steinberg MR816 in action? maybe someone tested both of them, or has both?

cheers!

 

[Metaltastic]

I've actually heard the FF400 has more stable drivers, not to mention it's cheaper, has the same converters, and still has 18 inputs (8 analog, 2 of which are preamps) - it's what I desperately wanna get whenever I can spare $1300!

 

[Seizure.]

And then when your working on larger projects were you need more i/o your left wondering "why didn't i buy the 800 for that little bit of extra cash more? "

 

[Let it burn...]

there was a review of the steinberg in soundonsound 11-08. IIRC, they said it had awesome preamps but it missed a midi in and out

 

[Black neon bob]

there was a review of the steinberg in soundonsound 11-08. IIRC, they said it had awesome preamps but it missed a midi in and out

Oh hell no! i need ma MIDI ports..

FF 800 it is then.

 

[Let it burn...]

 

[AudioGeekZine]

If you use cubase, the MR816 is a no brainer.
you get 8 preamps, vs ff800s 4
dsp effects on input/monitor/or plugin
0 latency
control surface

no MIDI ports is really not a detraction for me.

 

[HeadCrusher]

+the Steinberg interface can be daisy-chained for more than 16 inputs.

 

[Carcass29]

Quad core PC, windows XP pro, cubase 4 a TC finalizer 96K and i need a good interface as well

what kind of PC are you looking into?

I have the macbook pro and I use XP pro(using bootcamp) to record and it crashes alot in Cubase when doing large projects(lots of VST's)...sounds like the fan is giving up. Whats good out there pc wise?

 

[Black neon bob]

Not sure yet dude.. im eyeballing something like this, maybe a bit cheaper:

http://www.compustunt.nl/store/product_info.php?cPath=282_406&products_id=9617

 

[Black neon bob]

If you use cubase, the MR816 is a no brainer.
you get 8 preamps, vs ff800s 4
dsp effects on input/monitor/or plugin
0 latency
control surface

no MIDI ports is really not a detraction for me.

Did you ever try the MR816 btw?

 

[Let it burn...]

if you have the cash for a fireface and are willing to spend it: do it. Remember that you need some additional pre-amps though

 

[Carcass29]

anybody want a march 2008 Macbook Pro?

 

[Seizure.]

if you have the cash for a fireface and are willing to spend it: do it. Remember that you need some additional pre-amps though

The FF preamps are cool mna.
Not perfect, but they work fine on about everything.
As if, if you can make a good mix with something recorded on them its probably you kinda quality but hell you can say the same about those digidesign preamps and i hate those haha

 

[Metaltastic]

I think he was referring more to the quantity of the FF pres, rather than the quality

 

[AdamWathan]

Mackie Onyx 1200F!

 

[Seizure.]

I think he was referring more to the quantity of the FF pres, rather than the quality

hahah more coffee please!