VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

....any suggestions for a reasonably priced replacement?

I'm using a Mac Mini. Thanks for any suggestions. It's been awhile since
I've been in the market for an interface.

heyguido · Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:14 pm Post subject:

Propellerhead Balance. Compared favorably by many to the quality of the Duet. I run one, and I love it, as do a few others here.

Also, it's Core Audio compliant, so it's plug and play.... No drivers needed with your Mac Mini.

Retail runs $499 last time I saw, but you can pick one up new on EPay for $349 from a number of trusted commercial vendors.
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Frank F · Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 11:52 pm Post subject:

The Focusrite Scarlett (2i2, 2i4, 6i6, 8i6) have great clean Pre's, are portable and have enough horsepower to keep your engines in gear for a long time to come. The ADDA is sweet with little color and as clean as you can get in a $1500 standalone preamp.

The Scarlett series runs the gamut of pricing from $150 to $350 to $500 USD depending on your needs.

The interface is USB 3.0 but defaults with 2.0.

The Saffire series is very nice if you have a FireWire/Thunderbolt interface however they are a tad pricier.

Don't get GAS, save it for you car.

Just a note of (lack of...) interest - - you are the second person in a few days with a dead or comatose Apogee Duet I have heard from. I steered the other VOist in the same direction.

Frank F
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sdaeley17 · Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 12:09 am Post subject:

Hi Rob! Sorry to hear about your interface. Good luck on your quest for a new one! Hope this list helps:

Focusrite Itrack solo (107.00 at amazon)
Focusrite 2i2 ($124 amazon)
Mackie onyx blackjack ($150 amazon, sw)
Steinberg UR 22 ($150 sw)
Roland DuoCapture Ex ($200 amazon, sw)
Roland QuadCapture ($269 sw, but $168 amazon)
Propellerhead Balance ($270 amazon, sw)
Apogee one for ipad ($349 amazon, sw)

And the 500+:

RME Babyface, Apogee Duet 2, Focusrite Forte
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FinMac · Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 2:27 am Post subject: Lovin the iD22

Have an Audient iD22 with a Mac Mini. It sounds and works great! ' Smile

'

Preamps are very good but I bypass it very simply and use the GR.

Have recently figured out how to do a mix minus with the software for Skype.

If you want more information just PM me.

Mac
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Thanks folks.

I really like my Great River pre so all I need is something with good converters.

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Actually on second thought if I bought one with really good pres I could sell
my Safesound preamp which pretty much never gets used, and have the new interface pres as a backup...I thought the Apogee pres were fine but a little sterile to my ear......any input on which of these has the best preamps for the $$$$?

BTW if any of you are successfully using Source Connect with the interface you recommend but bypassing the pres and going to a separate preamp, that is important also.....for some reason with my backup/travel interface (MOTU Ultralite) Source Connect won't let me bypass the MOTU pres and use my Great River pre....I have to use the mic pre on the MOTU to get a signal through via Source Connect......

Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

Try the Focusrite Forte if you want something similar to the Duet.
http://us.focusrite.com/usb-audio-interfaces/forte

sdaeley17 · Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 9:39 am Post subject:

Just did a quick google search on the forte, and B&H is sellin it for $389. ($500 at SW)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Forte&N=4291099260+4294550051
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"There's Magic all around us; you just have to see it. And the most wonderful Magic of all, is just bein' alive." -Uncle Montork, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

graemespicer · Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 10:24 am Post subject:

+1 for the Focusrite Forte. I've used/installed a couple of them. Nice pres (as one would expect from Focusrite). Recommended. A steal at $389.
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heyguido · Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 11:15 am Post subject:

Good suggestion, Eddie.
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

That is a good deal at B&H.
I've been using mine for about 6 months now and love it. It pairs up real nice with my 415. The Midnight Suite of EQ (ISA 110) and Compression (ISA 130) that come with it is great too.

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Eddie,

Are you using the pres or bypassing them?

Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

I'm using the pres
They are the same ones they use in their Rednet series.

bransom · DC Joined: 06 Nov 2008 Posts: 650 Location: St. Louis, MO

Rob,

There was some issue in the past with Source Connect and some of the Focusrite pre's. Check the SC website to double-check.
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Bob Ransom
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