presonus firebox or m-audio fastrack pro

[remanthony]

masters i need your help.
im retiring my old behringer audio interface and im choosing between these two.
the presonus firebox or the m-audio fastrack. ill be using it in my home studio for simple recordings of vocals and a few instruments. it'll be paired with a macbook pro 13".

thanks in advance for your inputs

[savadious]

I prefer M-Audio if I had that choice...

for teh simple reason that it comes bundled with Pro tools !

And even if you get a 2nd hand one without teh protools bundle - its always an option to later run ProTools.

Protools M-Powered is the M-Audio version...

Which is now Protools since they are all owned by Avid now.

Which version of FastTrack were you considering?

What software do you use for recording?

FastTrack USB bundled with Protools at JBmusic was around 7k last time I checked.
Without Protools maybe 5k lng

You will need FastTract PRO for midi - around 12k last I checked. (dont remember if it had a ProTools bundle)

Apparently all new FastTrack USB include a baby Protools Mpowered http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrack.html

Fast Track Pro doesnt mention it (but still 100% compatable) http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackPro.html

[travism]

Presonus is firewire while the M Audio Fastrack Pro is USB... Personaly, I still am leaning towards firewire devices for recording. But like sava said, there are some points to consider. I would consider the program you are using... If you are a Garageband, Logic or Live user than go for the Presonus but if you are a Pro Tools user than hit up M Audio. Remember that Firewire audio interfaces are a bit different than USBs. (It's really technical...) but of course, you have to always check the program you're using and it's requirements. Putting together the right combination always is best!

[savadious]

Presonus is firewire while the M Audio Fastrack Pro is USB...

Travism is correct.

USB copared fo Firewire 400 is a very close match and if the price is extremely larger for one - you may as well save a bux.

Firewire 800 on the other hand makes them all look like babies but...

For audio interfaces our main concern is to minimize echo (aka latency)

I will reconnect by USB M-Audio devices and report back with latency. If I recall correctly I had 6ms latency with the fast track USB devices... (lower number is better)

Using built in soundcard with PD ASIO drivers I got about 250ms latency!

Its a REAL pain to have high latency when you are adding multiple tracks of audio while monitoring and trying to match things up.

6ms - i never even noticed

NOTE: To get 1 second of delay you need 1000 ms.

My built in audio was about 1/4 second delay - which created an echo and was unbearable for even hobby recording...

M-Audio gave me 6ms (going off memory lng) - so it would need to be 41x times worse to give a 1/4 second echo delay like the built in audio....

[savadious]

I just connected the M-Audio Fast Track Pro and got 5ms latency

Standard ASIO with internal soundcard 325ms latency



My numbers from memory were a little off - but not by much...

[remanthony]

@savadious,travism
thanks so much for your educational and helpful tips. first off,i was really leaning towards the firebox just because it uses the firewire route. i was disappointed with my samson usb condenser mic's latency so i was thinking firewire would be better/faster. it is the fastrack pro that im looking into now and im aiming for a used one. there's a 500 peso difference between the two options that i have but im uncertain if the FTP has protools with it. ill have to check. my only experience with protools was at the mic's end/as an artist. it looked really smooth but then i guess it takes a lot of getting used too, or am i wrong about this?
i still have a few days to decide. again, thanks so much for your help. this really means a lot to me

another thing. if my mbp uses fw 800,and the interface uses 400,ill get an adapter for it. but then...would it run on 400's or the 800's speed? if im not mistaken it'd be the slower one right?

[savadious]

@savadious,travism
another thing. if my mbp uses fw 800,and the interface uses 400,ill get an adapter for it. but then...would it run on 400's or the 800's speed? if im not mistaken it'd be the slower one right?

Yes - From my past experiments- always the slower speed when using an adaptor.

2nd hand may not include Protools but you can buy the FULL software online for 6k lng whenever you need direct from protools/avid. Included is a "baby version" in new units.

(NOTE: DOWNLOADED FULL VERSION requires USB dongle to keep your license but JBmusic sells EMPTY USB dongle you can download your license to)

Last 2nd Hand FastTrack Pro I saw on sulit was 11k and new they are 14k so I hope the best deal is waiting for you...



NOTE:
If you have no need for MIDI - you can get a new Fast Track USB for about P4k - Just saw one in SM Southmall last month at that price and +2k for ProTools included new model. (It had a "new" name also - like production bundle or something - so just examine ALL m-audio USB products if they think they dont carry it)

New FAST TRACK USB d2 (no MIDI and no Phantom power like PRO version) but includes Protools (baby version)


NOTE2: "baby" version of protools is limited to 16 audio tracks... not bad in my book...
http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=...5e77ed72c233ce



note3: Im not trying to sell you on this to get a comission... I just like linking photos... really... I mean... I really do

[_geo_]

Is the presonus firebox available locally?

[essay]

@remanthony

Have you considered Apogee Duet or One?




And logic?

[remanthony]

@savadious
thanks again bro. ill be needing more than one input so i cant go with the fastrack usb's simplicity. im still finding out if the used ftp will have protools in it. im excited to tinker with protools but how steep is the learning curve?
@essay
thanks for the suggestions. i saw these products when i was in the US a few months back. i thought long and hard coz it was really highly recommended by everyone i know,but then, i ended up leaving it and got myself a macbook pro. its hard to be budgeted. but now its really out of the budget as much as id like to have it and try it out also. so i guess i might be stickin with the cheaper ftp thanks again