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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: John Kelly on January 02, 2004, 08:47:45 AM

Title: M-Audio Firewire410
Post by: John Kelly on January 02, 2004, 08:47:45 AM
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...
Title: Re:M-Audio Firewire410
Post by: Chris K on January 02, 2004, 03:06:00 PM
just wondering how this is powered for the field.
Title: Re:M-Audio Firewire410
Post by: John Kelly on January 02, 2004, 03:31:22 PM
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...
Title: Re:M-Audio Firewire410
Post by: Chris K on January 02, 2004, 03:51:03 PM
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.


Title: Re:M-Audio Firewire410
Post by: John Kelly on January 02, 2004, 04:29:07 PM
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.
Title: Re:M-Audio Firewire410
Post by: MattD on January 02, 2004, 05:19:45 PM
Also, I don't think the metering (lack thereof) is any better than that of the UA-5.
Title: Re:M-Audio Firewire410
Post by: John Kelly on January 02, 2004, 07:07:33 PM
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).  
Title: Re:M-Audio Firewire410
Post by: chase on January 03, 2004, 03:21:03 AM
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.
Title: Re:M-Audio Firewire410
Post by: MattD on January 03, 2004, 10:39:54 AM
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
Title: Re:M-Audio Firewire410
Post by: John Kelly on January 03, 2004, 10:49:40 AM
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...
Title: Re:M-Audio Firewire410
Post by: scb on January 03, 2004, 11:22:38 AM
the ad2k meters rule all!
Title: Re:M-Audio Firewire410
Post by: zowie on January 06, 2004, 06:18:41 PM
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.
Title: Re:M-Audio Firewire410
Post by: John Kelly on January 06, 2004, 06:33:26 PM
I bet if enough people email the Oade brothers about it, they'd look into it.  
Title: Re:M-Audio Firewire410
Post by: mfh2014 on January 06, 2004, 06:56:18 PM
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??
Title: Re:M-Audio Firewire410
Post by: John Kelly on January 07, 2004, 12:38:04 AM
Although I've never had anyone patch out, it should work fine. ;)  Just be sure you set it up correctly in the mixer...
Title: Re:M-Audio Firewire410
Post by: Spinman on February 27, 2004, 10:35:39 PM
I just purchased a 410 from Jef.  It's a really nice unit, and like John said, it's able to be powered by the firewire bus.  However, this only works if your laptop is 6 pin, not 4 pin.  If you have a 4 pin 1394 port, then you will have to have external power.  Also, the unit hates NEC 1394 chipsets, which one of my computers has.  
Jef told me he powered his unit, via a battery from batteryspace.com and it worked flawlessly.
Here's the link to the battery that he used.
http://www.batteryspace.com/product.asp?0=238&1=287&3=172
It's only 30 bucks... so, it's very reasonably priced, for an SLA and charger.
Peace,
Dave