Audio-midi interface

[logihack]

Hello!
Im an apple user on macbook black 2008:
snow leopard 10.6.8
2.4 dual core
4 gb ram
80gb ssd
I sold my little echo audiofire2 and now i need something with more outputs. At least 4, but 6 or 8 would perfect.
My budget is 300â,¬, and really dont know what will be the best buy for my needs.
Im between:
Digidesign mbox2 pro... Its older firewire unit, so i should be fine with that one
Echo audiofire 4... Good experience with af2
Native instruments audio 6...some say its low latency, but usb
Focusrite scarlett 8i/6...usb
Presonus 44l...usb
M-audio fast track ultra...usb
Im just want something stable with low latency, for playing live...

[fishmonkey]

from what i've read the older mboxes are pretty crappy.

when you say "playing live" what do you mean exactly?

[logihack]

Yeah, ive also read  about problems with mboxes, but i think its about mboxes on usb connection, not firewire...
Playing live=playing concerts

[fishmonkey]

yes, but playing what and how. what does the interface need to do for you exactly?

[logihack]

Hehe...i just want to play drums 
So i have 2box module(drums), macbook black, superior drummer and addictive drums... In general i know how things works, but need someone who who may had any experiences with those audio interfaces...with that config+af2 ive played concerts, triggering ad, but i need more outputs...thats all

[edtc]

hello

if you have PCMCIA or EXPRESSCARD on your laptop , take a look at the RME multiface serie...  you can find some second hand for abour 2/300 â,¬ ...

you can easily achieve 64 or 32 sample .... and it s 8 I/O balanced with MIDI I/O

[edtc]

also RME babyface has 4 outputs .... 

[logihack]

i like rme a lot, but its out of my range right now  ...and yes, i would be happy with stable 64 sample...i know that 32 is better and easily achievable with rme gear, but i think 64 sample is good enough for almost every ears  ...anyway i found rme fireface 400 for 400eur, here on "local ebay" ...weeeell i must think over about all of this

[fishmonkey]

RME are definitely worth the price. excellent hardware and drivers, and the most flexible software mixer.

[edtc]

  i found rme fireface 400 for 400eur, here on "local ebay" ...weeeell i must think over about all of this

RME are more than rock solid....   and a Fireface wont lose so much value compared to "plastic consumer" models from M audio or focusrite ....  In 3 years you'll perhaps loose 50â,¬ if you resell it...

search better , it s possible to get FF400 for around 350â,¬ on ebay ... just 50 more than your actual budget ... also FF400 is bus powered ... really handy on stage ... 

[logihack]

yes i know i cant go wrong with rme...ive had fireface uc once, but than i thought i wont need it anymore and i sell it...but now im reading about m audio 610 and it seems that run smooth on apple system and the latency is in the range of rme babyface(2-3 m/s) ...maybe i will try with cheaper one first