Topic: M-Audio Firewire410

[John Kelly]

Not too long ago some people had asked me for samples from the fw410.  I've got a couple now that you may want to check out.  The first is Virginia Coalition from the 9:30 Club on 12/20.  Someone asked how it handles the low end, and this would probably be the best example.  
http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=9053

Also check out my tape of Carbon Leaf's acoustic show at the Birchmere on 12/16 or 12/17.
http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=8847
http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=9054

So far I've been pretty impressed with the sound.  Now I just want to run some decent mics in front of it.  Gotta keep saving for those AKGs...

[Chris K]

just wondering how this is powered for the field.

[John Kelly]

I have it powered via my firewire bus, and have an external battery for my laptop (a Valance NCharge).  It runs for about 5 hours that way...

[Chris K]

i figured it was firewire powered, but thought i'd ask since i saw it has an ac connection as well.

seems like it has better metering than the ua-5. and it has midi, and more analog outs, but the ua-5 has optical outs also.

how are the pre's?

has anyone done a fw410 vs ua-5 comparison? i'd like to see that.

[John Kelly]

The Firewire410 has optical output as well.  Only thing is that  with SPDIF it's either/or.  You can't have coax and optical going at the same time...

What do you mean by "how are the pres?"  Take a listen to some of the links in my first post...

As for a UA-5/FW410 comparison, I don't know of any direct comparisons.  But I have run both in the field, and I do like the fw410 better.  Nothing very quantitative, but just a preference.

Oh, and fyi, it's 12v DC powered, not AC.  So it shouldn't be too hard to get a battery for it in the field.

[MattD]

Also, I don't think the metering (lack thereof) is any better than that of the UA-5.

[John Kelly]

I believe it's the same as the UA-5.  You get a light for if you have a signal (usually a steady green) and then a light for if you clip (a red led right above the green one).  

[chase]

metering really shouldn't be an issue with something that is going into a computer via digital input.  the levels on the computer are better than anything.

[MattD]

Yes, but in many cases, you can't just sit there with the laptop open watching. As John knows, the ULN-2's meters rule your face

-Matt

[John Kelly]

Yeah, I love the ULN-2 meters.  It really is a lot easier to have them outside the computer, but I really don't mind...

[scb]

the ad2k meters rule all!

[zowie]

Question is when/if someone will figure out how to mod the FW410 for stand alone use like can be done with the ua-5.  Then I'd buy it.

[John Kelly]

I bet if enough people email the Oade brothers about it, they'd look into it.  

[mfh2014]

Mine just came in the mail today...very excited to try it out on friday at the ropeadope show in NYC...I'll be using it with Windows 2000 and Samplitude 7.02...all preliminary tests look good...

John...will the 410 pass along the digital signal via coax while recording??

[John Kelly]

Although I've never had anyone patch out, it should work fine.  Just be sure you set it up correctly in the mixer...