bubinga5 Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 I have a presonus audio box and it is a pain in the arse. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. I'm not sure if there is a problem with the Mac recognising it but I've had enough of it. Can anyone recommend me a good interface for the Mac Pro. All I want to do is make some youtube playa long,s/vids. Any ideas.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 I've had good results with the Scarlett. It's a bit keen to clip so I have to keep an eye on it, but it works fine for my needs.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Steinberg UR22 MK 2. Audio and Midi interface. Very solid on Mac. http://www.gear4music.com/Recording-and-Computers/Steinberg-UR22-Mk-2-USB-Audio-Interface/1F0O?origin=product-ads&campaign=PLA+Shop+-+GENERIC&adgroup=GENERIC&medium=vertical_search&network=google&merchant_id=1279443&product_id=66120d1&product_country=GB&product_partition_id=166006245199&gclid=Cj0KEQjw88q9BRDB5qLcwLXr7_sBEiQAZsGja0lCuLrIIfx9KjmXhLzJw8-qSAaRX4MMDX70DxQNb-MaAnZE8P8HAQ Review and comparisons. https://ask.audio/articles/review-steinberg-ur22-mk-ii-audio-interface Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 (edited) [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1471350793' post='3112350'] I've had good results with the Scarlett. It's a bit keen to clip so I have to keep an eye on it, but it works fine for my needs.. [/quote] Yup, the Focusrite Scarlett range provide excellent bang for your buck$. The 2i2 retails at about £80, or there's the Solo that's about £10 cheaper (not worth the saving IMO) and the 2i4 that has more output options if you want to connect speakers/monitors (and costs about £30 more). ^^ Can't go wrong with the Steinberg either Edited August 16, 2016 by Skol303 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Something that doesn't connect via USB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Another vote for the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesBass Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 ANY Focusrite will do an impeccable job for the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobthedog Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 (edited) This one: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/289887-focusrite-scarlett-2i4-1st-gen/page__fromsearch__1 I used this with my Mac with no issues, just happen to have bought the update. Edited August 16, 2016 by Bobthedog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 (edited) I've got an Apogee one which is very nice. It cost £80 from eBay. Edited August 16, 2016 by ambient Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Does it have a firewire port? I think they are generally obsolete but if your machine has one I have an old Mackie Onyx Satellite going spare... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted August 16, 2016 Author Share Posted August 16, 2016 (edited) You know I'm not sure im my Mac has firewire or not. My older Mac did. . And what do you mean its obsolete?. I've always used the USB. I do wonder why the presonus was so hit and miss. Edited August 16, 2016 by bubinga5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 (edited) [quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1471359905' post='3112481']Does it have a firewire port? I think they are generally obsolete... [/quote] Not so Admittedly you need to buy a Firewire to ThunderBolt adaptor for around £20, but you can run Firewire devices on a Mac - and I assume PC also? - with no trouble at all (and will be able to do so for as long as ThunderBolt continues... which is likely to be a [i]long[/i] time). Edited August 16, 2016 by Skol303 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 (edited) The thing to remember with the Scarlett 2i2, is that there is no Midi in/out connections. So you would need a Keyboard/Midi controller that has a USB connection for any Midi work. or a Scarlett 2i4 if you want to go the Focusrite route. Edited August 16, 2016 by lowdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 (edited) Obsolete as in you don't see them on devices any more. Mackie don't supply drivers for it after Windows 7, but Macs are still supported. No idea if needing an additional whatever-to-Firewire adapter in line will add latency, but it's a possibility. Anyhow, I've not used it in years, the base station with the extra ports is very hit and miss and would rarely fire up if ever, but the pull out unit (which has 2 line outs plus 2 mic/instrument inputs) always worked fine. Here's a review: [url="http://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/mackie-satellite"]http://www.soundonso...ackie-satellite[/url] Up for grabs for the price of the postage if Bubinga5 doesn't want it! Edited August 16, 2016 by dannybuoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 (edited) Looks like Thunderbolt-to-Firewire adaptors can cause issues with audio interfaces btw: https://cooltechpc.com/articles/thunderbolt-firewire-and-usb [quote]Although Apple has released a Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter, it isn’t a direct conversion. The Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter actually places another chip in between the Thunderbolt port and your Firewire device, which requires a driver. This will cause issues with audio devices, which are particular about which chipset your 1394 (Firewire) card has. External devices (such as the M-audio Project Mix I/O) may not even show up, unless you use a 1394 card that has a TI chipset. If you need to use a Firewire device (particularly for audio recording), we recommend using a Firewire card that has a TI chipset, instead of using Apple’s Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter. Alternatively, you could use onboard Firewire, but beware onboard Firewire doesn’t normally include a TI chipset, and is subject compatibility problems. This is why we use Firewire cards with the 1394 Ti chipset in them when building our digital audio pcs (if the customer wants the option of using Firewire).[/quote] Edited August 16, 2016 by dannybuoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 From 2012 onwards Macs have usb 3, I don't think there's much difference between that and FireWire, at least from what I read when I was looking at interfaces myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 I've been using a NI Komplete Audio 6 without any issues at all. Solid built bit of kit too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted August 16, 2016 Author Share Posted August 16, 2016 Ok it looks like I have Thunderbolt, Fire wire and 2 x USB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 The problem with USB on the Mac is that the bus structure is quite convoluted, so that your USB interface may be sharing the bus with other devices without you knowing it. And just because you have multiple USB ports doesn't mean that they are separate buses. From the photo it looks as though you have the same MacBook Pro as me - (13" Mid 2012). Looking at the bus structure in the System Profile there are 2 separate USB buses - but one already has the keyboard, trackpad, IR receiver and Bluetooth controller attached to it, and the other has the built-in FaceTime camera. Also despite the fact that the Mac supports USB3 on one of the buses, this is ultimately connected via an internal USB hub to one of the main USB2 buses, so despite supporting the USB3 protocol the speed will be throttled back to USB2. And every other USB peripheral that you add will be competing for USB2 bandwidth. That's why FireWire and Thunderbolt are always better options on the Mac. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1471369348' post='3112589'] The problem with USB on the Mac is that the bus structure is quite convoluted, so that your USB interface may be sharing the bus with other devices without you knowing it. And just because you have multiple USB ports doesn't mean that they are separate buses. From the photo it looks as though you have the same MacBook Pro as me - (13" Mid 2012). Looking at the bus structure in the System Profile there are 2 separate USB buses - but one already has the keyboard, trackpad, IR receiver and Bluetooth controller attached to it, and the other has the built-in FaceTime camera. Also despite the fact that the Mac supports USB3 on one of the buses, this is ultimately connected via an internal USB hub to one of the main USB2 buses, so despite supporting the USB3 protocol the speed will be throttled back to USB2. And every other USB peripheral that you add will be competing for USB2 bandwidth. That's why FireWire and Thunderbolt are always better options on the Mac. [/quote] What does RME do differently with their USB Interfaces ? Curious really. Because their units are very reliable on Macs. Unfortunately, there are very few USB 3 Interfaces on the market at the moment, and they are on the pricey side. A good article here about USB 3 vs Thunderbolt, and USB 2 for that matter. http://proaudioblog.co.uk/2015/09/usb-3-vs-thunderbolt-interfaces/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinny Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 I've been using one of these for a few years now and haven't got a bad word for it. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sweex-7-1-External-USB-Sound-Card-SPDIF-IN-AND-OUT-BUS-POWERED-SC016-/262082729844?hash=item3d05591774:g:Sj4AAOSwuWVWFWHc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted August 16, 2016 Author Share Posted August 16, 2016 (edited) [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1471369348' post='3112589'] The problem with USB on the Mac is that the bus structure is quite convoluted, so that your USB interface may be sharing the bus with other devices without you knowing it. And just because you have multiple USB ports doesn't mean that they are separate buses. From the photo it looks as though you have the same MacBook Pro as me - (13" Mid 2012). Looking at the bus structure in the System Profile there are 2 separate USB buses - but one already has the keyboard, trackpad, IR receiver and Bluetooth controller attached to it, and the other has the built-in FaceTime camera. Also despite the fact that the Mac supports USB3 on one of the buses, this is ultimately connected via an internal USB hub to one of the main USB2 buses, so despite supporting the USB3 protocol the speed will be throttled back to USB2. And every other USB peripheral that you add will be competing for USB2 bandwidth. That's why FireWire and Thunderbolt are always better options on the Mac. [/quote]Ok BRX i know about music theory and bass guitars but that just went totally over my head. Edited August 16, 2016 by bubinga5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted August 16, 2016 Author Share Posted August 16, 2016 (edited) [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1471369348' post='3112589'] The problem with USB on the Mac is that the bus structure is quite convoluted, so that your USB interface may be sharing the bus with other devices without you knowing it. And just because you have multiple USB ports doesn't mean that they are separate buses. From the photo it looks as though you have the same MacBook Pro as me - (13" Mid 2012). Looking at the bus structure in the System Profile there are 2 separate USB buses - but one already has the keyboard, trackpad, IR receiver and Bluetooth controller attached to it, and the other has the built-in FaceTime camera. Also despite the fact that the Mac supports USB3 on one of the buses, this is ultimately connected via an internal USB hub to one of the main USB2 buses, so despite supporting the USB3 protocol the speed will be throttled back to USB2. And every other USB peripheral that you add will be competing for USB2 bandwidth. That's why FireWire and Thunderbolt are always better options on the Mac. [/quote]Ok BRX i know about music theory and bass guitar but that just went totally over my head. Edited August 16, 2016 by bubinga5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinnyman Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 I use a Zoom TAC-2R. Works brilliantly for me via the Thunderbolt port. Got it on offer from Gear4music. Cheap as chips but really nicely put together and simple to set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsfreddy2003 Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Apogee Jam - never let me down yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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