small portable audio interface for monitoring only??

[olioli]

Hey all,

i have a question, i was wondering if anyone could recommend a small portable audio interface to use with dp 4.5 on my powerbook.

I already have an 828 with my g5, and am using that to track. i just need something small to take with me and playback some audio.

i'm not gonna record, so that eleminates the need for something that's "extravagant".

Anyone have any ideas.
thanks.

[chrispick]

M-Audio has a few firewire interfaces that'll work for you. Check out your favorite dealer for prices. I've used their Audiophile and found playback to be efficient.

<small>[ July 25, 2005, 02:54 PM: Message edited by: heavypick ]</small>

[olioli]

thanks for the reply,

if i could only get one of these, which would would you recommend:

M-Audio FireWire Solo Mobile Audio Interface or the

TASCAM US-122 USB Audio/MIDI Interface

i haven't had experience with any of these units so i'm quite not sure. do think it makes a difference for playback purposes only.

Thanks again.

[chrispick]

Originally posted by olioli:
if i could only get one of these, which would would you recommend: M-Audio FireWire Solo Mobile Audio Interface or the TASCAM US-122 USB Audio/MIDI Interface.

I favor firewire over USB. Firewire IO is typically more reliable since it runs off its own card.

To add to the pot: Edirol might make an inexpensive firewire interface. Give their product line a look as well.

<small>[ July 25, 2005, 03:21 PM: Message edited by: heavypick ]</small>

[sdfalk]

http://www.focusrite.com/index2.html

The focurite Safire looks good

Here's a sweetwater price quote

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Saffire/

[olioli]

wow,

you guys are awesome thanks!

[olioli]

just saw this, i'm sure it'll work.

Edirol FA-66 6X6 FireWire Audio Interface

[maintiger]

you could take the ears off the 828mkii and take it with you when you go- I do that with no issues. i have the 828 on a shelf by my G5, I unplug everything and leave all the wires ready to put back when I come back- just takes me a minute and i can use the 828 at the studio or on the road.

[wonder]

i have the same needs...i was thinking of buying a second 828 taking the 828 on the road with me for playback and keeping it in a SKB rack case.

[olioli]

i also thought about buying another 828 or the traveler but i cant justify the price right now.

i'm looking for a cheaper solution, but again, i'm not recording just playing back during live performances.

i tried taking my 828 with me but it's still a pain in the ass racking and unracking and conecting all my stuff, and i guess i'm just lazy, but spending a couple hundred bucks aint bad, especially if i can just throw it in my backpack and roll.

[maintiger]

that's why I unracked mine and took the ears off. I have it set on a shelf in my mixing desk and all I do is to unplug everything, audio outs, spdif, MIDI cables and power cable and leave it all laying there. I take the 828 with me and the laptop and a new power cable. when I come back I just plug back all the wires that I left laying there waiting for me. Just takes a minute or so and it works super

[pcm]

Originally posted by olioli:
Hey all,

i have a question, i was wondering if anyone could recommend a small portable audio interface to use with dp 4.5 on my powerbook.

I already have an 828 with my g5, and am using that to track. i just need something small to take with me and playback some audio.

i'm not gonna record, so that eleminates the need for something that's "extravagant".

Anyone have any ideas.
thanks.

Why not just run the powerbook off Built-In audio? Plug a set of phones into the powerbook. Works great, and the sound quality is actually decent. All recent powerbooks will also do 48k, in case that is a factor. Sometimes I even check out DP sessions with my built-in speakers and my iSub.

If you are not recording, I don't see why you need an interface at all. Have I missed something?

[marzio]

i bought a Presonus Firebox for that.
it's firewire, less than half size and half price than a 828.
it's a good choise for a laptop if you don't need a lot of features but you want sound quality.

[Timeline]

I record exclusively at 88.2 or 96k. I could use a really tiny clock that ups the internal audio engine of a laptop to 96k.

Would that allow a newer PB to playback through headphones or would the external clocking device have to have the OP's?

I think I know the answer.