Multi-channel external audio interface for under $300

I want to get an external multi-channel audio interface to connect to my powerbook. My budget is $300. How you feel about firewire or usb? Does anyone use or have any comments to make about the following:

M-audio: fire410, or Fast Track Pro
Tascam: US-122
Edirol: UA25 USB Audio Interface
PreSonus: FireBOX, or Inspire 1394

Hi,
I can’t answer to your post, because I have same situation: I would like to buy an external audio interface that could be compatible with my linux Kubuntu…

I know that m-audio_Firewire 410 is a really good device! with a good ratio quality/price!!! In principle, I suggest this audio interface…(but I don’t know very well others on your list)

I also would like to buy it (firewire410), but I am not if it is compatible (I try to search on: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FireWire410-main.html, but I did not find any indication…).

I had a Mbox-digidesign for win, and I didn’t succeed to find drivers to use it with linux, so I would like to change!

any suggestions?

Whatever distro you are using, if you have the right driver somewhere, it’s ok.

I would not recommend any USB devices.

As far as firewire is concerned, there a driver project here that brings support for a certain number of firewire audio boxes.

The list of supported devices is there : http://freebob.sourceforge.net/index.php/List_of_Supported_Devices

Marc-Olivier Barre,
Kinoko en Orbite

I haven’t heard good things about USB either, unless latency isn’t an issue… (the reason for Jack is that it adds ZERO latency on top of the hardware delays)

Firewire is the best bet, however it is still earily… Check the Freebob stuff out, I’ve heard good things about the FirePod’s and FireBox’s from PreSonus (that and PreSonus is one of the hardware folks helping to provide support for their Firewire audio hardware)… I prefer to reward those that do that! :wink: However it already has good support on Mac OS X… I am talking about support for Linux.

–Doug

I’ve heard good things about the FirePod’s and FireBox’s from PreSonus that and PreSonus is one of the hardware folks helping to provide support for their Firewire audio hardware.
clubpenguin

did you have a look at Lexicon Alpha?

http://soundsoflinux.blogspot.com/2010/04/lexicon-alpha-works-with-linux.html

hi,

I DEFINITIVELY think the best sound card for the quality and the price is MACKIE SATELLITE (firewire),
with 2 microphones input and 6 ouput for 150Euros.

http://www.mackie.com/products/satellite/index.html

Is that Mackie unit fully supported for Linux boxes?

No the Mackie Satellite is not supported in Linux to my knowledge. There is a chance the Mackie Blackbird or Blackjack would be, I am going to be likely be obtaining the blackbird here before long and might be able to check via a LiveCD when I do if people are interested(The internals come from Echo Audio and is based on their AudioFire series IIRC so there is a good chance it works even if not supported).

 Seablade

Presonus Firebox does not work with linux.

Presonus Firebox does not work with linux.
Yes it does. Mine works fine.

I’ve use the Edirol: UA25 USB Audio Interface for years on Windows and the Mac. It works very well as an input and output (to my monitors, or other devices); extremely stable, solid and flexible enough to move between Operating Systems.