Echo AudioFire4 6-Channel Portable FireWire Audio Interface

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Perfect for road warrior creatives, this compact interface packs everything you need for 24-bit, 96 kHz recording and playback.

6 In 6 Out Portable FireWire Audio Recording with Preamps
AudioFire4 offers a compact audio interface with all the connections you need for your studio. With the flexibility of FireWire and bus power, you can also take the AudioFire4 on the road. The AudioFire4 can record 24-bit 96kHz audio with low latency monitoring on any Windows XP or Mac OS X computer (desktop or notebook) with a FireWire port.

AudioFire4 is the perfect center for any home studio, whether at your desk or on the road. It has 2 universal inputs with mic preamps, phantom power, and trim knobs so you can just plug in your microphone or instrument and record whenever or wherever you want. AudioFire4 also comes with 2 balanced analog inputs (TRS), 4 balanced analog outputs (TRS), a stereo headphone output, 2 FireWire ports, S/PDIF I/O, MIDI I/O, and 6 channels of full duplex 24-bit 96kHz recording and playback.

Hardware Features:

- FireWire (IEEE 1394a) interface with 8 foot cable
- Bus powered with 6-pin FireWire interface
- External 12VDC power supply provided
- 2 auto-sensing universal inputs (mic/guitar/line):
- Meters, trim knobs & 48V phantom power
- 2 balanced 1/4" analog inputs:
- 112dB (A-weighted) dynamic range
- +4dBu / -10dBV nominal levels
- 4 balanced 1/4" analog outputs:
- 114dB (A-weighted) dynamic range
- +4dBu / -10dBV nominal levels
- S/PDIF I/O at 24-bit/96kHz
- MIDI I/O
- Stereo headphone output with volume knob
- Sync via S/PDIF
- Supports full duplex 6 channel in, 6 channel out read more operation at 24 bit, 96 kHz sample rate
- Heavy-duty aluminum case
- Near zero latency hardware monitoring

Software Features:

- Software console for monitoring, metering, and setting levels
- Low-latency drivers support all major pro audio software:
- Low Latency ASIO 2.0
- WDM kernel streaming mode
- GSIF 2.0 (Gigastudio 3 w/ low latency MIDI)
- CoreAudio & CoreMIDI

All specifications are preliminary and subject to change without notice.
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Analog Input
2 Neutrik Universal connectors for balanced TRS or XLR

2 Balanced TRS connectors

Accepts unbalanced signals

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz, +/-0.1dB

Dynamic Range: 112dB A-weighted

THD+n: <0.002% A-weighted

Nominal Input Level: +4dBu or -10dBV (software configurable)

48V Phantom power on XLR inputs

Analog Output
4 Balanced TRS connectors

Frequency Response: 10Hz-20kHz, +/-0.1dB

Dynamic Range: 114dB A-weighted

THD+n: <0.002% A-weighted

Nominal Output Level: +4dBu or -10dBV (software configurable)

General Converter Specs
128x Oversampling converters

24-bit data resolution maintained throughout signal path

Multiple standard sampling rates supported: 32k, 44.1k, 48k, 88.2k, 96k

S/PDIF Digital Input/Output
Up to 24-bit resolution

Coaxial connector

Consumer/Professional Switch

Sample rates from 32kHz - 96kHz supported

MIDI
MIDI input

MIDI output

Digital Sync
S/PDIF in/out

Headphone Output
High quality 1/8 in. headphone jack

Volume control on front panel

General
Digital mixing

Near zero latency hardware monitoring

Dimensions: 6 in. (w) x 5 1/2 in. (d) x 1 1/2 in. (h)

Host Interface: 2 1394a (FireWire) ports

Mic Preamps: Echo spec their "studio quality" mic pres at -128 dBu EIN (equivalent input noise) and spec the A/D inputs at 112 dB dynamic range and a THDN of less than .002%, both A-weighted.

System Requirements
PC:
Windows XP-SP2 and Vista
256 MB RAM (512 MB recommended)

Mac:
Mac OS X (10.3.9 or later)
G4 or better processor
256 MB RAM (512 MB recommended)

All specifications are preliminary.

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 805-684-4593

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (8 ratings)
Submitted November 1, 2007 by a customer from gmail.com

"Do Not Hesitate:-)"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I'll only want to replace this beauty if I should be so lucky as to find my self with more room, so I could record drums. Then, I'd need more inputs. I used to own an AudioFire12...
Sound
Very smooth indeed! On all accounts. Plug and Play. Good converters. Good for vocals, guitars, bass... I've used it in several settings with no problems.
Features
Built in preamps can't replace real vacuum tube preamps, but hey... Comes with Mackie Tracktion, a brilliant piece of SW
Ease of Use
Plug and Play.
Quality
All in all: very good. Sturdy feel to it. Here's the flaw: The line I/O. They're physically placed to close to each other (problem if you use pro jacks), and they're of the typical consumer type with no washer restraints. In a permanent installation, this isn't an issue, though. There is room for improvement with the headset out as well, one should be able to switch whether to monitor ch. 1+2 or 3+4 in a recording situation, or at least ch. 1+2 should be muted if the headset is connected.
Value
Awesome hardware at a ridiculous cost.
Manufacturer Support
Support via email. Fast and helpfull.
The Wow Factor
It's good looking IMHO... the jack-thing is a bit of a turnoff, tho...

Musical Background:

Musician/ producer

Musical Style:

Rock/Ska/Reggae/HipHop/Electronica/Jazz/Country....
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