Comparison Chart
- Best Firewire Audio Interface For Mac Windows 7
- Best Firewire Audio Interface For Mac Computers
- Best Firewire Audio Interface For Macbook
- Best Firewire Audio Interface For Mac Os
also see the PCI Chart and USB 2.0 Chart
Apple Mac Hardware. Pricing on the Best in Pro Audio You are logged in and shopping with special discount pricing. FireWire Audio Interfaces. Audio Interfaces. Audio Interfaces- Page 1 Audio Interfaces-Page 2 Firewire Audio Interface Chart-Page 3 PCI Audio Interface Chart-Page 4 USB 2.0 Audio Interface Chart-Page 5 Audio Interfaces- Page 6 Audio Interfaces: The Best of the Low Cost Audio Interfaces for your Mac MOTU 896Mk3 Review MOTU 828mk2 Review MOTU UltraLite Emu1820M Delta 1010.
As the first-ever 'hybrid' audio interface of its kind, the UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid provides flexible and mobile operation via FireWire or hi-speed USB2 connectivity to a Mac or PC computer, with professional audio quality at samples rates up to 192 kHz and plenty of I/O, including two mic/instrument inputs, six line-level analog inputs, ten. In this article, we’re going to be discussing the top 12 Mac OS audio interfaces in 2020. We felt that we really had to create this article, reviewing all of these audio interfaces suitable for Mac, as there seems to be minimal information on the topic, in a condensed, easy to read format!
Soundcards and Interfaces 12 3 45 6on a budget? See the 'best of the cheap'
product | total analog i/o | s/pdif i/o | pre-amps | ADAT i/o | MIDI i/o | head | Word | appr. street price | forum links |
2/2 | no | 0 | no | no | 1 | 100 | |||
2/2 | Yes | 0 | No | 1/1 | 1 | no | 180 | ||
M-Audio | 2/2 | Yes | 1 | no | no | 1 | 200 | ||
2/2 | No | 2 (on mixer) | no | no | 2 | no | 200 | ||
4/6 | Yes | 2 | ADAT in ONLY | 1/1 | 1 | 300 | |||
4/4 | Yes | 2 | no | 1/1 | 1 | no | 280 | ||
8/2 | Yes | 2 | no | 1/1 | 1 | -- | 300 | Rig | |
4/8 | Yes | 2 | no | 1/1 | 2 | 400 | |||
4/4 | Yes | 2 | Yes | 1/1 | 2 | -- | 400 | ||
0/2 | Yes | 0 | Yes x4 | 1/1 | 1 | Yes | 400 | ||
8/10 | Yes | 8 | No | 1/1 | 1 | -- | 500 | ||
product | total analog i/o | s/pdif i/o | pre-amps | ADAT i/o | MIDI i/o | head | Word | appr. street price | forum links |
Mackie 820i | 9/8 Mixer | No | 3 | No | No | 1 | 500 | ||
2/2 | no | 2 | no | none | 1 | -- | 500 | ||
8/8 | Yes | 2 | no | 1/1 | 1 | Yes | 600 | ||
8/10 | Yes | 8 | Yes | 1/1 | 2 | 500 | |||
8/2 | No | 8 | Yes | 1/1 | 1 | -- | 550 | discuss | |
Motu UltraLite Mk3 | 8/10 | Yes | 2 | No | 1/1 | 1 | -- | 550 | discuss |
8/2 | Yes | 4 | No | 2/2 | 1 | -- | 575 | ||
8/8 | Yes | 8 | Yes x2 | 1/1 | 2 | Yes | 650 | ||
0/2 | No | 0 | Yes x4 | 1/1 | 1 | Yes | 650 | ||
product | total analog i/o | s/pdif i/o | pre-amps | ADAT i/o | MIDI i/o | head | Word | appr. street price | forum links |
4/6 | Yes | 2 | No | 1/1 | 2 | Yes | 700 | ||
8/8 | Yes | 8 | Yes x2 | 1/1 | 2 | Yes | 700 | ||
12/4 -mix | No | 5 | No | 1 | -- | 700 | |||
12/12 | No | No | No | 1/1 | no | Yes | 700 | ||
(12x2 FW) | 18/8 Mixer (includes sends/returns, tape) | no | 4 | no | no | 1 | 700 | ||
8/8 | Yes | 8 | Yes x2 | 1/1 | 1 | Yes | 700 | ||
16/6 | No | 10 | No | 1/1 | 1 | - | 700 | ||
10/10 | Yes | 2 | Yes x2 | 1/1 | 2 | Yes | 750 | ||
8/10 | Yes | 8 | No | 1/1 | 1 | --- | 800 | ||
8/8 | Yes + AES | 4 | Yes x2 | 1/1 | 1 | Yes | 850 | ||
8/6 | input only | 2 | Yes x2 | 1/1 | 2 | -- | 900 | discuss | |
product | total analog i/o | s/pdif i/o | pre-amps | ADAT i/o | MIDI i/o | head | Word | appr. street price | forum links |
8/8 | Yes | 8 | Yes | 0 | 2 | Yes | 1000 | ||
(16x2 FW) | 26/10 mixer | No | 8 | No | No | 1 | 1000 | ||
10/2 Mix | No | 4 | No | 1/1 | 2 | -- | 1000 | ||
8/10 | AES+ | 8 | Yes X2 | no | 2 | Yes | 1000 | ||
8/10 | Yes | 8 | Yes X2 | 1/1 | 2 | Yes | 1000 | ||
8/8 | Yes | 8 | Yes | 4/4 | 1 | Yes | 1100 | discuss | |
8/8 | Yes | 8 | Yes | 0 | 2 | Yes | 1200 | ||
8/8 | Yes | 4 | Yes | 1/2 | 2 | Yes | 1200 | discuss | |
8/4 | Yes | 8 | Yes | 1/1 | 2 | Yes | 1250 | discuss | |
8/8 | Yes | 2 | Yes | 2/2 | 1 | Yes | 1300 | ||
product | total analog i/o | s/pdif i/o | pre-amps | ADAT i/o | MIDI i/o | head | Word | appr. street price | |
8/8 | Yes | 4 | Yes x2 | 1/1 | 1 | Yes | 1700 | 1 | |
16x16 FW | 26x14 mixer | no | 16 | no | no | 1 | 1700 | ||
22/12 | Yes (out only) | 16 | no | none | 1 | -- | 2000 | ||
8/8 | yes | 4 | Yes | none | 2 | Yes | 2000 | ||
20/6 | Yes | 16 | Yes x2 | 2000 | |||||
8/8 | Yes | 4 | Yes | 1/2 | 2 | Yes | 2200 | ||
product | total analog i/o | s/pdif i/o | pre-amps | ADAT i/o | MIDI i/o | head | Word | appr. street price |
How to Read this Chart
This handy chart can help you narrow down your choice of a firewire audio interface. It can save you hours of research and will cut through some of the confusion caused by the inconsistent definitions manufacturers often use. Manufacturers may count inputs and outputs differently. This chart is an attempt to fairly compare the above devices, based on an interpretation of what constitutes a discrete audio channel.
Analog i/o refers to actual analog input and output channels, not necessarily how many input and output jacks are on the device. The first number is the number of input channels and the second number is the number of output channels. This number includes the mic preamps but does not include headphone outs. If a Mic preamp and a line input share the same channel, that channel is only counted once. This is to give you a true idea of how many analog input and output channels the box has. Likewise if the main output pair has 'main outs' and 'monitor outs' these channels are only counted once, as they 'share' the same channels.
Best Firewire Audio Interface For Mac Windows 7
Note that Mixer/Interface combination units are really mixers with an audio interface. The mixer might have 16x8 i/o but the interface may only be 16x2 (16 outputs to the computer and only 2 channels returning. Don't assume because you see 16 faders you can mix 16 separate channels playing back on the computer.
How many analog inputs you need depends on how many sources you want to record at the same time. Also, if you have a synthesizer or drum machine you need inputs through which to record and monitor these. How many outputs you need depends on how much gear you have that you want to send audio to. If you want to use an FX box, you need to use an output to send it audio and you need two inputs to get it back. If you want to mix your song on an analog mixer you need a lot of outputs. If you are mixerless and are mixing in your software you only need 2 outputs--those to which you connect your monitors.
S/pdif i/o is either yes or no. This is a stereo digital pathway, and may be either coaxial or optical. S/pdif is useful for connecting digital audio devices, like external a/d converters, effects processors, CDR recorders, even some preamps and keyboards that have digital outs.
Preamps refers to the number of microphone preamps the interface has. Usually these can double as instrument inputs (guitar, bass, etc.) But check on that before you buy. Also some interfaces (but not all) will have insert jacks or send outputs for connecting compressors and other processors. You might want to check on that too when evaluating an audio interface.
ADAT refers to an 8 channel digital input and output. It is useful for connecting more mic preamps, a second audio interface or computer, a digital mixer, or can be used to add more analog i/o through an 8 channel ad/da converter. When you see ADAT x2 in the chart that means the device has two ADAT ports in and out or 16 channels in and out. (Sometimes two ADAT ports may be used for eight channels at a high sample rate like 96kHz)
MIDI i/o refers to the number of 16 channel ports there are on the interface. 1/2 means it has one MIDI input and two MIDI outputs. MIDI inputs and outputs are used to connect a MIDI synthesizer, keyboard controller, drum pad controller, and some control surfaces. You need one port for every device you want to connect to the computer. You can always add more via separate MIDI interfaces.
Headphones refers to the number of stereo headphone jacks on the unit.
Word Clock refers the presence of a BNC connector through which word sync signals can be sent to other digital devices. It is important that all digital devices connected through s/pdif or ADAT share the same word sync. For simple setups that may have two digital devices, having a word clock connector is not usually necessary. Sync can be sent along through the s/pdif or ADAT connection. It becomes important in rigs where there may be multiple digital devices where it is impossible to send word sync to all devices.
Best Firewire Audio Interface For Mac Computers
Prices and specs may change from when this chart was made. You can check the product descriptions at the manufacturers websites for up to date details.
No Longer Available at zZounds
2/2 | yes | 1 | no | 1/1 | 1 | no | 150 | |
4/2 | no | 2 | no | no | 1 | -- | 200 | |
2/6 | No | 2 | no | no | 2 | -- | 180 | |
2/4 | Yes | 2 | no | 1/1 | 1 | -- | 200 | |
4/2 | Yes | 4 | input only | 1/1 | 2 | -- | 200 | |
2/8 | Yes | 2 | no | 1/1 | 2 | -- | 350 | |
4/6 | Yes | 2 | no | 1/1 | 1 | -- | 300 | |
8/8 | Yes | 2 | no | 1/1 | 1 | -- | 380 | |
2/2 | no | 2 | no | 1/1 | 2 | 300 | ||
8/8 | Yes | 8 | no | 1/1 | 1 | -- | 400 | |
2/2 | Yes | 2 | no | no | 1 | no | 200 | |
2/2 | No | 1 | No | no | 1 | -- | 230 | |
4/6 | Yes | 2 | no | 1/1 | 1 | -- | 300 | |
8/8 | Yes | 8 | 1/1 | 2 | 400 | |||
Presonus FP10-Megastudio | 8/8 | Yes | 8 | No | 1/1 | 1 | -- | 650 |
8/8 | Yes | 4 | No | 1/1 | 2 | Yes | 780 | |
8/4 | Yes | 2 | Yes | 1/1 | 2 | Yes | 500 | |
4/4 | Yes | 2 | Yes | 1/1 | 2 | -- | 700 | |
8/8 | Yes | 8 | input only | 1/1 | 2 | 400 | ||
10/10 | Yes | 2 | Yes | 1/1 | 1 | Yes | 680 | |
8/8 | Yes | 4 | Yes | 1/2 | 1 | 1000 | ||
8/8 | Yes +AES | 4 | Yes | 1/1 | 1 | Yes | 850 | |
0/2 | s/pdif | 0 | Yes 2x | 0 | 1 | Yes | 1100 | |
14/4 Mix | no | 8 | no | 1/1 | 2 | -- | 1500 | |
12/8 | Yes | 12 | Yes x2 | 2/2 | 4 | Yes | 1700 | |
4/4 | Yes | 2 | No | 1/1 | 1 | 280 | ||
2/2 plus 2 monitor ch | Yes | 2 | No | 1/1 | 2 | -- | 280 | |
4/4 | Yes | 2 | Yes | 1/1 | 2 | -- | 450 | |
12/10 | Yes x2 | 4 | Yes+TOS | 1/1 | 2 | Yes | 1050 | |
20/6 | Yes (out only) | 2 XLR 3-31 (TRS) | no | 1/1 | 1 | No | 1900 |
Best Firewire Audio Interface For Macbook
Threads
If you want to comment or report errors on this chart, please post in this thread
Best Firewire Audio Interface For Mac Os
Links
Soundcards and Interfaces 12 3 45 6
On to the Next Page Go to the Previous page |
SoundCards and
Audio Interfaces