apogee duet FW interface

[edgecom]

im in the market for a new interface that my direct goal is to have the highest quality of sound for my home studio, though i do at some point in the future plan to play out with it so the portability is key as well. guitar center employee/good friend of mine stands behind the apogee duet. as do two touring friends of mine (myspace.com/twofreshbeats)

my question is anyone have experience with this? i know its has very little expandability (though there is a breakout box) but i was told that yes its very simple and doesnt have allot to it cause its sound quality is far superior to other devices like that.

right now i have a busted (soon to be shot) firewire 410 m-audio and im looking for something new. any and all tips advice is welcome and appreciated!

dont know how impt this is but

mac pro / macbook pro
2 yamamha HS50M
mackie 8 ch mixer.

[Sharmaji]

duet's great.

only problem is that it's stereo-only. no separate mix for headphones, so you've got no way to cue stuff up. If you play that way, then it's an ideal bit of kit.

[Depone]

Whats your Budget? theres a lot out there...

[edgecom]

well i would have the interface just be the connection from mixer to computer. i have my tables, korg micro, mpc yada yada all through mixer.(is this a good technique for basic studio setup)

as of now my ableton production is mnml, meaning i wouldnt need the cue ups when playing out through laptop, but in the future it might be a draw back.

can you elaborate on a scenario that would hinder me from cueing? like my botched ableton scenario i just said.

im trying to visualize it see how impt it is.


my budget is about 500$ unless there is a huge PRO to getting something a little bit more.

[fi-full]

I owned the Apogee Duet for the past few years and I just got rid of it. The Duet seemed like it would be the most quality product for the money, yet, it isn't. The duet does not hold up to the apogee name that is infamous for quality. The Apogee Ensemble, is their renown product which does live up to the Apogee name, and price. I just sold the duet, here is what is wrong, IT IS LOUD!!!!!! I have never heard such weird noises out of hardware when your volume is off like the duet has. Read a few forums around the net and you will find that every one who has these usually get rid of them due to the noise. I also didn't like the break out cable set-up, it was messy, you have all these cables dangling around. Your work station will never look clean again. So put these fact s into account before you go buying a duet, I had the same aim for quality as you do. Instead check out, other brands, after i sold my apogee I ended up trading my Akai 49 midi key board, for a novation X-station, which has been pretty good, synth and audio interface, decent quality, no noise like the apogee duet, thats all.
Take my word for it i've experienced the duet and don't buy!

[edgecom]

also im now reading it only has 2 outputs, i guess i should have realized that a while ago. because my interface is the intermediary from mixer to the computer, it must be the device my monitors hoook up to. i have 2 monitors right now + a subwoofer, right off the bat im screwed for the sub.

i think this is maybe designed for real portability. i think i need something bit more studio friendly.

[Depone]

For portability and awesome sound quality try the MOTU line of portable interfaces

http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/ultralite-mk3/

The older versions of this interface are quite cheap on ebay and as good.
If your looking at a higher spec, try Some Metric Halo interfaces - http://www.mhsecure.com/v5mm/ULN2_2dExpanded.html
They sound amazing...

[chewie]

I had a duet and i recommend it for basic 1 stereo input studio work. The convertors are great but i needed more ins/outs so i got an rme fireface 400 and the DAC quality is awesome. Highly recommended.

[Wikum]

i've got one. duet's great. sounds great. simple. no nonsense. don't expect anything other than what you see.

i had a m.audio delta 1010 but my g5 didn't support it. now it just sits in my g4 collecting dust.