Soundcard : Echo Audiofire 2
Soundcard : Echo Audiofire 2 Posted on: 04.04.2008 by Irvin Cee Has anyone ever used this piece of gear ? How does it perform ? How is the sound quality ? The latency ? Is the mini-jack headphone a problem ? | |
| hesham seleem 20.01.2010 |
Originally Posted by pier
worked nicely! thanks. |
| Twanda Reimche 20.01.2010 |
Originally Posted by Argus
As simple as that... the only problem is having your monitors plugged into 1/2 for production and then plug them to 3/4 for djing... but in any production software you should be able to use any output as the master output. So instead use 3/4 as your master output, and also in the OS configuration. Plus, most soundcards come with a software to route the signals. Maybe you can simply assign the headphones to 3/4 instead of 1/2. |
| Justin Annicchiarico 02.01.2010 |
Originally Posted by nudearchitect
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| Lael Blacke 10.12.2009 |
Originally Posted by Discob81
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| Twanda Reimche 17.03.2010 | Yeah, there are lots of good comments on the audiofire series too. I've been a GS user since 2006, it's one of the best community s for good opinions on audio gear, studio design, and audio business. There are lots of experienced pros, and even audio legends such as Bruce Swedien. BTW here's a post comparing 3 converters. An ART, an audiofire 8, and a 3000 dollars apogee rosetta: http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthr...ight=audiofire Most people said both apogee an audiofire were very close. Although it's true that the AF2 and AF4 have different converters than the AF8 and AF12. |
| Al Henger 17.03.2010 | from everything I've heard on the apogee duet, its gods gift to mac users. People over on Gearslutz have been staining their pants since it hit the market. |
| Twanda Reimche 17.03.2010 | I just received my echo audiofire 2 today. You can check the features at echo's website... but what the specs don't say is that this little unit sounds fantastic. I don't have my RME FF400 to do a serious AB test, but it sound as good. I'm not saying this lightly. I have owned many sound cards in my production life. From the cheap Creative AWE 64 Gold (does someone remeber this?), Terratec, Presonus, to more expensives MOTU, or even RME... and worked with as many other first class brands (Pro Tools HD, Apogee, etc). I only wanted some portable kick ass DA converters to listen to what's going out from Logic, and some occasional djing, and it's exactly what I got. No preamps, not tons of IOs, not a huge rack. Simply some really goog ADDA conversion in a small box. Of course the clock is not as good as the other more expensive units... but honestly for my home project studio and for the price paid it doesn't get any better than this. If you compare this little unit with other interfaces you may believe you're getting less features, but that money goes into crystalline detailed professional sound, not into more cheap IOs and cheap useless preamps. I considered buying the more expensive Apogee Duet instead, but having an independent headphone output on the AF2 was a great plus. Of course I still need to work more to see how stable this unit is, but as far as sound is concerned I couldn't be happier. Very recommended. |
| hesham seleem 20.01.2010 |
Originally Posted by pier
worked nicely! thanks. |
| Twanda Reimche 20.01.2010 |
Originally Posted by Argus
As simple as that... the only problem is having your monitors plugged into 1/2 for production and then plug them to 3/4 for djing... but in any production software you should be able to use any output as the master output. So instead use 3/4 as your master output, and also in the OS configuration. Plus, most soundcards come with a software to route the signals. Maybe you can simply assign the headphones to 3/4 instead of 1/2. |
| Lael Blacke 20.01.2010 | Try it through the analog jacks and use a Y-cable for your headphone to plug in (Master on 1/2 - Cue on 3/4). Another Option can be the SPDIF out. |
| hesham seleem 20.01.2010 | ok, I want to clear something up about the Audiofire 2/4 differences that doesn't seem to be clearly stated anywhere on the internet. on the Audiofire 2, the headphone output is INDEPENDENT from the master out. that means you can easily cue with it. however, on the Audiofire 4, which I just purchased, the headphone out receives the audio from the master out. which means cueing is not easily possible, maybe not at all, but it's made as a master output monitor for studio use. I want to use the card both in the studio and for DJing, so this might be a problem for me. there is an option to route channels 1/2 to analog out 3/4 though, so maybe I could get the master out to go through 3/4 and cue through 1/2. thoughts? |
| Justin Annicchiarico 02.01.2010 |
Originally Posted by nudearchitect
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| Bethanie Valledor 01.01.2010 | do you have any experience using the midi dongle on the Audiofire 2? |
| Justin Annicchiarico 29.12.2009 | Think about that with the echo audiofire 2 you also get a midi dongle which could b useful to plug other midi controllers saving usb ports( if u r on a mac ) |
| Bethanie Valledor 29.12.2009 | Is the extra 100 dollars for firewire worth it? |
| Lorene Boehler 29.12.2009 | I can't see the link for the custom DJ I/O |
| Irving Delgado 29.12.2009 | I would consider audiofire 2 as a basic pro soundcard first but now I would choose NI audio 2 dj instead. I'm pretty sure firewire 800 is backwards compatible |
| Bethanie Valledor 29.12.2009 | I'm currently favoring the echo audiofire2 soundcard. I'm looking for a firewire soundcard and it seems to be a much loved product. That said, the firewire port on my MBP is 800 mbps and the audiofire 2 is 400. Could this be an issue? If there is an issue, any suggestions to alternate firewire soundcards in the same budget range? For the same amount of money, is the presonus firebox a better product? |
| Lael Blacke 10.12.2009 |
Originally Posted by Discob81
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| Justin Annicchiarico 09.12.2009 | thanks for the explanation bud |
| Lael Blacke 09.12.2009 | I couldn't get it running with the RCA connector. But there is definetly an output signal so if you're able to change the digital format to an analog signal - you will have two different outputs (1&2). By the way: The Pioneer DJM 800 does offer analog aswell as digital hookup! |
| Justin Annicchiarico 09.12.2009 | that'd b cool |
| Lael Blacke 09.12.2009 | Well, the SPdif connector allows the in- or output of a digital source! So you have two ins and two outs! Scratch Control is possible if your cd device offers a digital out. So you need Timecodes and Traktor with scratch functionality. Moreover the audiofire 2 has a brilliant sound quality and fits into every dj bag. Im Not sure wether you can plug Rca's to the spdif plug. But I can figure this out if you want... |
| Justin Annicchiarico 09.12.2009 |
Originally Posted by Dr.Beat
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| Lael Blacke 09.12.2009 | Yes, it works with a digital (coaxial) cable. It also features scratch control! You will have to youse the Spdif connector because the two balanced jacks on the front work as ONE stereo output. |
| Mittie Martignetti 09.12.2009 | Guys, do you know if it is possible to use Audiofire 2 for external mixing with Traktor ? The review on this web says no but I thought it has two independent stereo outputs, therefore it is possible to route deck A to input 1, deck B to input 2 and monitor via external mixer. Let me know, please, to be sure what to buy |
| Irving Delgado 16.11.2009 | I'm not even sure the RME fireface 400 really sounds alot better. Either way during a gig sound quality really doesn't matter as much as you believe as long as the sound card is pretty good. Don't worry, it's really something just for true audiophiles with extremly good ears (certainly in a live situation at such levels). Using your EQ properly etc. is way more important. |
| Xavier Emanuels 16.11.2009 | These cards have wiked A/D converters for their class, the next setup up in quality costs you ALOT - you would be looking at an RME fireface 400 as the next step up in terms of sound quality which costs ALOT more. |
| Twanda Reimche 16.11.2009 | "Headphone output is independent from line outputs (listen to cue mix separate from house mix)" http://www.echoaudio.com/products/fi...ire2/index.php That is pretty clear |
| Irving Delgado 15.11.2009 | Yes it is that delay. Some built in sound cards give you a latency of 30ms or more. I believe that is still acceptable but many people don't believe it is. <5ms is achievable with the AudioFire and the chances are really low you'll notice the difference lower than 6ms. |
| Charline Dunch 15.11.2009 | i've been using this card for quite some time and am satisfied. sound quality is really important to me and this thing sounds just awesome on my PA. super clear sound! can anyone give me a link to what latency does? is it the delay between the action in traktor and the output on the speakers? |
| Irving Delgado 15.11.2009 | I'm pretty sure you can monitor like you want. Otherwise it wouldn't be recommended here. With the Audiofire 4 though one pair of outputs is the same as the headphones all the time but you can easily monitor correctly by using the other pair of outputs for the speakers. I was just testing a UCA202 for someone and it's only 2in2out. That makes it pretty useless for a DJ. I've seen Surgeon (together with Ben Sims) use the Audiofire 2 at 10 Days Off in Ghent (Belgium). That again makes me believe the Audiofire devices are certainly high quality. |
| Twanda Reimche 14.11.2009 |
Originally Posted by Guust-Fi
The chip is one thing, the clock another completely different business. Have never used the audiofire, just wanted to point out that converters are not the only thing you need for a good conversion. Anyway, is the headphones output an independent output? I mean, can you send differente signal that from the main outputs? |
| Lael Blacke 14.11.2009 | can the rca/spdif adapter be used as an input? the specs say that there are 2 inputs (1+2 & 3+4)?? |
| Salina Belonga 27.04.2009 |
Originally Posted by dozen
"Which cables?" Use the 1/4" outputs on the back with RCA connector adapter. Just plug the adapters into the jacks, then the RCA plugs into the connector. Blamo. Easy money |
| Salina Belonga 27.04.2009 |
Originally Posted by Peter Willis
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| Christen Hedayati 24.04.2009 | I didn't read all this because I'm getting ready to head out, but just wanted to say I got the Audiofire2 on eBay for 120 shipped, brand new but without the box, and I definitely DO NOT regret it. I picked up some Bose noise canceling headphones, which came with a 1/4 to 1/8 adapter (score) right in the box, so used that for my speakers and the phones fit right in the 1/8 front jack. Overall, couldn't be happier! As a bonus, the sound quality is really excellent compared to the stock card in my Macbook Pro, especially noticeable through the phones. Drivers work well on mac, and the AudioFire Console is pretty much standard throughout all of their cards. This is my first real soundcard though so I could be a little biased |
| owen ingram 27.05.2008 | So I could run a firewire cable out of my Macbook to the Audiofire 2 firewire jack on the back, then I run what type of cables out of 'line output' 1 & 2 to two separate channels on the mixer (and headphone cue from there?)? Or do I run a firewire cable out of my Macbook to the Audiofire 2 firewire jack on the back, then one 'line output' to one channel on the mixer and headphone cue from the front of the Audiofire 2? |
| darren Morriss 27.05.2008 | I used AudioFire 4 about 1 year, the sound is execellant in it's price range. The only one thing I don't like is the power socket is a bit loose. |
| owen ingram 27.05.2008 | So how do you connect this piece of gear to the Macbook? I've only used headphone-to-rca before... |
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