Need some friendly advice. Making a new interface purchase. I have narrowed it down to 3 options. I will be using it for live use as well as studio use. I see the pro's for all 3, hence the reason I need some help. The most important thing is that they have 16 in AND 16 out of adat (for linking with the yamaha ls-9 for live use)

Things I KNOW about each:

RME Fireface 800:
Used around $800. Great drivers and converters. Tried, tested, and true.
Cons- older model.

MOTU 828mk3:
$750. Hybrid. Can use firewire or usb3. Meaning I can use this recording with any laptop. Most new laptops dont have firewire unfortunately.
Cons- never used a Motu product before

Presonus Studio 192:
$899. New. I'm used to presonus gear. I use Studio One now as my DAW of choice so will integrate well.
Cons- cannot be used in standalone like the other 2. Not that it's a dealbreaker, but not needing a computer sometimes could be nice.

Please help. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you you to the AS community for always being such a help!

 

None.

Grab my StudioLive 16.4.2 (16 in and 16 analog outs) i have in 'for sale' and youd be happy with Studio One integration AND it is one of the best live mixers. It is firewire.

I initially said Universal Audio interface, but if your doing live id say no. StudioLive kicks its ass for live. But it is much simplier for the kind of studio work i do.

 

Last edited: Oct 17, 2015

I've used the StudioLive before. Definitely cool. But no adat in I believe. My LS9-32 has adat out card. (All 16 physical outs are already in use live) And I'm a windows user and I believe the UA stuff is better with MAC. And also too far out of the price range for similar I/o.

 

mmm. i never used adat stuff with it. nevermind!

Id say stick with presonus. Motu has been junk IMO. RME is nice, but unless your going to pay the big bucks for them id say go presonus.

Ive seen with the SL that someone went in through the lines/mic with an adat system. analog out to line/mic in. LOTS of cables. No idea though pal. Sorry. Two of these to be exact

 

Last edited: Oct 17, 2015

Point taken. Thank you. But the RME Fireface 800's I'm looking at are around $800 used. At that price is it worth going with the RME? Or spend the extra 100 to get the presonus new.

 

Id just get the presonus used. Ebay, amazon, guitarcenter, musiciansfriend. You can find an openbox model for cheaper im sure. OR contact proaudiostar and they will always go less on the price for you. So if its $900 new, they may do $800 new or less. I like them for gear.

 

what is it you do, or want to do with the interface.
for instance
what other gear are u using, do you do stage work, recording etc.

rme is "technicly"the best here, there isnt a really con, ask the rme techs about support cutof

google "MOTU 828mk3 problem" and see if the problems still persist today

Presonus falls under the same catogory as motu imo

but all depends

edit:
sorry glanced over the beginning
rme
better clock
rocksolid drivers
lowest latency at higher bitrates & samplerates
the best software/control package

cleanest sound

 

Last edited: Oct 17, 2015

Thank you so much! RME it is!