Upgrading from M-Audio Profire 2626

[KillFrenzy]

Hey guys!

I'm preety much looking for better converters and better pres, with the same input capabilities of the Profire (26 inputs) and possibily nicer drivers/control panel.

RME Fireface UFX is way out of my $$$ reach. I was thinking of Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56 or even Steinberg UR824.

Unfortunately, finding used stuff around here (Brazil) is very difficult and only a few sellers from eBay would send their used stuff here. That means I'm looking for new products up to $1000.

What are your experiences? Thanks a lot for the inputs!

Edit: if any 16 input interfaces are really worth, I can consider that. The 26 inputs (24 actually, because I don't use S/PDIF) are mostly used for some rare live situations.

 

[Fox Mulder]

Are the converters in the Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56 that better than the ones in 2626?

 

[KillFrenzy]

I've read that in a few places but since I have no way to compare them directly, I'm counting on opinions!
And of course, converters alone won't be decisive. Stability, latency, etc are also (maybe more) important.

 

[drew_drummer]

Honestly, you're not going to get much of an upgrade from your 2626 by going to anything in that price range - Presonus, M-Audio, Focusrite, and the lower end AVID stuff all have pretty similar hardware components - the main differences are in the drivers. If you can't afford Apogee or RME, I'd invest your cash in something else.

 

[KillFrenzy]

Thanks for the reply! And if I can stretch my budget a little more (say $1500), what would you suggest?

I feel there's a market gap between $500 and $2000 interfaces in terms of quality because $1000 ones are not very different from $500 ones, right?

 

[LeSedna]

I second these guys, I have a profire 2626, and now an Apogee Duet (needed something easier to carry with me), and although the difference of quality in the ad/da is tremendous (I got an immediate "3D" effect the first time I listened to an mp3 through the apogee DA), it's because for the same price you get only 2in/out. I don't think for that kind of budget you will find anything worth it. Better save for something better in the long term indeed, or spend on something else because the profire is still more than a decent unit IMO.

 

[KillFrenzy]

I'm a Windows guy, so a Focusrite Forte, a Sound Devices USB2Pre or even an Echo2 (would give me noticeable better results for 1/2 track recordings, right?

 

[JonWormwood]

motu 838mk3

 

[KillFrenzy]

Thank you all for the opinions. Anyone else??

 

[Studdy]

My fireface 800 has never fucked up once. Although conversion, preamps and other things are important, the most important thing to me is something that doesnt fuck up. I bought the Fireface 5 years ago, if buying today, i'd probably lean towards and apogee ensemble or new Rme Stuff, UFX i believe its called. But i dont see myself moving from the fireface until i reach a higher level, which could be never, Im gonna be hard pressed to outgrow the FF800.

Also I honestly wouldnt even know how to track as session anymore with out TotalMix. The rme totalmix is the shit. Headphone mixes, any routing. So solid.

my 2 cents. \m/\m/
Good luck.

 

[R.Kelsey]

UAD Apollo

 

[KillFrenzy]

If there's any chance I can afford, I'll go for the Apollo (also because of UAD plugins).

 

[Auster]

Buy my RME Digiface!
http://quebec.kijiji.ca/c-acheter-e...uendo-audiolink-96-digiset-W0QQAdIdZ456193825

400$ CDN, it's a no brainer!

I'm a little far tho! Will cost you some shipping.
But, if you can find one used on ebay, you could upgrade your interface to an RME pcie card and still use your profire as preamp converter until you get more money to buy a really good Adat preamp/converter.

RME make one of the finest drivers, the totalmix mixer is overkill, latency isen't an issue like steinberg slow ass rotten drivers.

You might also look into some used MOTU, almost as good as RME

 

[MatrixClaw]

You're really not going to find anything better sounding than what you have for any less than 2 grand, unless you're willing to sacrifice inputs.

Buy my RME Digiface!
http://quebec.kijiji.ca/c-acheter-e...uendo-audiolink-96-digiset-W0QQAdIdZ456193825

400$ CDN, it's a no brainer!

I'm a little far tho! Will cost you some shipping.
But, if you can find one used on ebay, you could upgrade your interface to an RME pcie card and still use your profire as preamp converter until you get more money to buy a really good Adat preamp/converter.

RME make one of the finest drivers, the totalmix mixer is overkill, latency isen't an issue like steinberg slow ass rotten drivers.

You might also look into some used MOTU, almost as good as RME

It's too bad you're in Canada, or I'd totally buy that for my SSL Alpha Link

 

[The StabbinCabin]

Got my eye on this

 

[KillFrenzy]

Some good options and ideas popping out!

I almost grabbed a Fireface UFX for a very good price, but I wasn't quick enough... :\

Omg, that SSL is beautiful!

 

[MatrixClaw]

Got my eye on this

Wow, that's a great deal with the card. Almost want to sell my AX and just get one of those since I don't need 24 inputs and outputs, but dunno that I could only deal with 4 outputs :\

 

[Melodeath]

I own both the Liquid Saffire 56 and the Profire 2626. I have not noticed any massive differences, and I wouldn't expect there to be. I only use the Profire when I need more than 8 preamps, but that's more the fact that I prefer the look/feel of the Focusrite, and I occasionally use the Liquid pres. If I was forced to guess which interface sounded better (however miniscule it might be), I'd say the Focusrite. But I havent felt the need to spend the time to compare them and see if that's true.

If I were you I'd spend $1,500 on mics over an interface, unless you already have everything you need.

 

[The StabbinCabin]

That's where a Monitor Station and an HP60 would come in handy. But yeah that would be kind of a shit work around with cue mixes and then reamping or something. 6/8 outs would have been the ticket.

I'm curious as to how the card acts with monitoring- it seems to be a bare bones version of the Xtreme

 

[KillFrenzy]

If I were you I'd spend $1,500 on mics over an interface, unless you already have everything you need.

Yeah, that's what I'm figuring. I already have some mid-budget LDCs (AT-4040, a pair of M-Audio Solaris, Rode NT1A, Shure KSM27) and a 2 pairs of SDCs (inexpensive but nice and different flavoured CAD E70 and M-Audio Pulsar II)
I really liked what I heard on TLM 102 tests. Liked better than the 103.
Also, I don't have a SM7B yet, which is a must.
After those 2 (SM7B is on it's way to my studio!) and a pair of KM184, I'm good to upgrade pres and then converters.

Unfortunately, for me, it's not only about how much money I get from the studio, it's about how ridiculous the prices of gear are here in Brazil. So it's always a small step at a time.