Alternative:
ESI QuataFire 610 - Way below S$700
http://www.esi-pro.com/viewProduct.php?pid=16&page=1
QuataFire 610 is an ultra-compact, FireWire compatible audio/MIDI recording interface for laptop and desktop computers. QuataFire 610 offers top quality 24-bit 192 kHz output and 96 kHz input audio performance and its 6-in/10-out configuration offers great flexibility whether you’re recording, or routing discrete outputs to a mixer. QuataFire 610 features MIC/line inputs with built-in preamps and +48V phantom power, individual gain controls, headphone output with volume control, 32 channel MIDI I/O, and S/PDIF digital I/O. It also allows you to monitor your inputs through the internal digital mixer for Direct input monitoring. QuataFire 610 can be completely FireWire bus-powered for ultimate mobile applications.
FRONT PANEL: 2 combo [XLR & 1/4 inch] jacks for inputs 1&2, Mic/Line switch, Instrument (Hi-Z) switch, +48V phantom power switch, Input gain control, headphone output with headphone volume control.
REAR PANEL: RCA type connectors for analog inputs 3&4 and outputs 1-4, S/PDIF coaxial I/O, 1/4 inch jacks for analog outputs 5-8, MIDI 2 in 2 out.
QuataFire 610 works under Windows XP (Service Pack 1 is required) and Mac OS X (version 10.3.6 and higher). It integrates easily into all common professional audio applications under Windows XP and Mac OS X.
Specifications.
- 4 channel analog input (24-bit/96kHz)
- 8 channel analog output (supports up to 24-bit/192kHz)
- 24-bit 96kHz 2 channel S/PDIF [coaxial] digital I/O
- 2 Mic/Inst Preamps with +48V Phantom Power
- 2 port MIDI I/O [32 MIDI channels]
- Headphone Amp with volume control
- Powered by FireWire bus or external power supply
- supports WDM, MME, CoreAudio and ASIO 2.0
- Ableton Live ESI software for PC included
- Windows XP Service Pack 1 required
- Mac OS X 10.3.6 and higher version required
- Ultimate Audio Tools;
- Live ESI by ableton : Real time audio sequencing Instrument,
- Tassman ESI by AAS : Sound synthesis studio
- VST Plug ins and VST instruments
- - Khaerhus Audio -the classic series (7 complete VST plug ins)
- - Audio Nerdz- Delay Lama
- - MDA-VST - Piano, ePiano
- - Sinus · Freeverb Too
- - Silverspike · RoomMachine 844
- - Abyss · Cushion, Exciter, Filter
- - PSP audioware · PSP Piano Verb
- - CSI · C FFT, C Tuner, C Super Stereo
- - Steinberg · Leveler, Tools One
- - Externalizer, Stereo Expander
- - Voxengo Stereo Touch
- - Supaphaser
- Technical Tips
- - External adaptor is needed for laptop.
- - Does not support None PCM pass thru for digital output.
- - External adaptor is needed for +48V Phantom microphone.
- Limitation on the MAC
- - Sample rate: 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96kHz are supported, even though
- 176.4 and 192kHz are displayed on the AMS, these sample rates
- cannot be used at the moment. (NOV, 11, 2004)
- *176.4 & 192kHz are intend to use for monitor output only
- - 4pin IEEE1394 Port laptop users have to use external adaptor which
- included.
- - Some of Bass guitars can be occurred noise during recording.
- - Note 1 : Quata Fire can be used bus power basically. But you should
- use external adaptor which included for laptop or desktop PC which
- does not provide full power.
- - Note 2: IEEE1394 cable which 6-4pin does not supports power supply
- from 4pin connector of your PC.
- - Note 3: It does not support GSIF and DirectWire3.0
- - Note 4: You must setup on volume to more then 80% when input from
- some of microphone or electronic guitar for Characteristic Impedance .
