Is Firewire Still Viable?.......

[TurboPablo]

... For a home studio?

Looking around at used prices on interfaces, etc. and it got me wondering. Is it worth throwing a Firewire card into the PC and grabbing something like a Fireface800? It seems like you could end up with a bunch of great pres/inputs for not much money that way. Not to mention the options for running digital I/O. So I guess it could integrate with a USB interface.....

Just thinking out loud. Not looking to expand.... Yet. But I am coming up on the time to upgrade my PC.

[jgreenwd]

IMO, yes... it is viable. I'm using a Fireface 400 and have never had any issues with it in recording. Granted, I have never tried to record more than 2 tracks at once. If you're comfortable installing a firewire card, Windows 10 does support it (you would have to download the Win 8 legacy drivers). If you're on a more recent Mac without a firewire port, Apple sells firewire-to-thunderbolt connectors. If you find an interface for a smoking deal, I wouldn't be bothered by it being firewire (400 or 800). I *would* be bothered if it was USB 2.0.

Port speeds by spec:
USB 2.0 - 480Mbps
Firewire 400 - 3Gbps
eSata - 3Gbps & 6Gbps
USB 3.0 - 5Gbps
Firewire 800 - 6Gbps
Thunderbolt 1 - 10Gbps
Thunderbolt 2 - 20Gbps
Thunderbolt 3 - 40Gbps

[newholland]

i use it

plus it's cross compatible with thunderbolt, if you're so inclined to go that direction.

and you can always go full digital across lightpipe to add more inputs a lot of times-- so once you have your clocked, wired connection hammered-- it's all 010001010...

i'd seriously pick yer flavor... hell, a solid firewire card isn't a hideous investment, and if you find one that's compatible with your machine, they just keep rockin basically ad infinitum. i can barely believe mine is almost 8 years old and never a single hitch, and still fast for the sub 30 track projects i'm usually getting involved in, and sure fast enough for the 8-12 track biz i engineer myself.

i have two focusrite saffire pro40s hitched together, and it's more or less effortless for stupid small money considering what it does. and considering 'stupid small money' is the amount i generally get paid for my efforts, it fits the bill nicely...

[TurboPablo]

This is good info for my future studio upgrades.

[TurboPablo]

If you were going to grab a Firewire PC card, which would you get? I am aware that the Texas Instrument chip is usually recommended. Outside of that, I am not knowing.

[newholland]

If you were going to grab a Firewire PC card, which would you get? I am aware that the Texas Instrument chip is usually recommended. Outside of that, I am not knowing.

oof.. that's a tough one. i think it comes down to the interface and the machine yer running it in- and what yer running .

from what i remember-- don't mix 400 and 800. go for the TI chipset. SIIG makes a coupla good ones (i'm using a siig m'sef). and check yer manufacturers recommendations.

THAT alone is the PITA of firewire. beyond that, once you got one that works, the rest is freakin' simple as long as you don't try to hot swap shit.

fwiw.. i've run 30 track projects and not bogged down with 24 gigs of ram on an i5 with the things. no fuss. the meters on the VSTs dont correspond exactly to what's going on, but the audio NEVER bogs down. maybe it'd work more exactly with a beefier throughput.. but i have literally never had a problem with audio information.. just that video bit with something in the realm of 100 vsts open.

[Ostinato Rubato]

Maybe a silly question, but why do you feel you need firewire?

[TurboPablo]

I don't. It's mainly just curiosity. It seems like you could build a pretty raging home studio with a lot of inputs/pres for not much money.

Although I admit it has me rethinking my longer term plans.

[TurboPablo]

If you were going to grab a Firewire PC card, which would you get? I am aware that the Texas Instrument chip is usually recommended. Outside of that, I am not knowing.

oof.. that's a tough one. i think it comes down to the interface and the machine yer running it in- and what yer running .

from what i remember-- don't mix 400 and 800. go for the TI chipset. SIIG makes a coupla good ones (i'm using a siig m'sef). and check yer manufacturers recommendations.

THAT alone is the PITA of firewire. beyond that, once you got one that works, the rest is freakin' simple as long as you don't try to hot swap shit.

fwiw.. i've run 30 track projects and not bogged down with 24 gigs of ram on an i5 with the things. no fuss. the meters on the VSTs dont correspond exactly to what's going on, but the audio NEVER bogs down. maybe it'd work more exactly with a beefier throughput.. but i have literally never had a problem with audio information.. just that video bit with something in the realm of 100 vsts open.

SIIG! I couldn't think of the brand name.

[colejustesen]

I had a SIIG when I was running my Steinberg MR816csx without any hangups. Solid card and that interface was great too, though I think you will have better support with the RME, as well as stability with their drivers. Steinberg still posts updates to the MR816 units, so they are still viable too.

Cole

[CptCyanide]

I'm still using a Presonus Firestudio Project on a Windows system. I've built two computers over the years to work with the interface, first using a Windows XP system and a TI firewire card. Most recent build was a Windows 8.1 and I went with a thunderbolt II card (needed a specific mobo that was TB compatible). No issues running the interface, just had to get a FW to TB cable from apple. If you are somewhat computer savvy it shouldn't take much effort to get something up and running provided you've got the right system.

I've had the same thought of picking up a first gen UFX, can't beat the RME driver stability.

[ibenhad]

Hell yeah. PM me. I just did exactly that. Plus you should be able to use a thunderbolt to firewire adapter. I have a Saffire Pro 40 and a Motu 828 MKiii that I upgraded from. Both Firewire and both amazing. I just wanted to try a BLA modded RME and it came with a BLA MK ii clock. I am happy. Selling both of my older units if your interested. Mint shape and no issues. Firewire is still very very viable IMHO.

[colejustesen]

Awesome ibenhad! What does BLA do with those units? They are already really solid to begin with.

Cole

[TurboPablo]

That's very good to hear. I am all set for now with my Audient ID22. But when I am ready for something better, I will almost certainly go with a RME piece and Firewire.

[ibenhad]

Awesome ibenhad! What does BLA do with those units? They are already really solid to begin with.

Cole

We are offering the following modifications for the Fireface 800:

Standard Mod

Analog

– New, high performance op-amps on EVERY analog input and output (mic preamps, line inputs, instrument input, headphone outputs, and line outputs)
– Improving the performance of the analog stage circuits makes a drastic difference for tracking, mixing, and mastering (expect amazing micro-dynamics and space)!
Premium Mod (includes Standard Mod)

Digital

– New, proprietary decoupling on all A/D and D/A converters
– Our approach to converter decoupling reduces noise generated during the conversion process, leaving you with crisp, clear audio!
Hear what happens when you combine good with great!