Echo AudioFire 12 FireWire Audio Interface

No longer available at zZounds
Don't need mic preamps on your interface? Get 12 channels of pristine analog-to-digital conversion with the Echo AudioFire's 12 analog 1/4" line inputs.

The Echo AudioFire 12 is perfect when you need a great multi-channel FireWire audio interface with professional-quality A/D conversion, but don't want to waste money on built-in preamps that you don't need.

Filling an Essential Void

Ah, the great digital conversion is underway. And if you're reading this, you probably know what that means: the gear in your rig doesn't always line up perfectly with the newest products on the market. Like many engineers and artists gradually converting to a digital setup, it's possible that you've already spent years building up a great collection of preamps for your mics and instruments. As a result, you probably now find yourself in a situation where you'd like a dependable FireWire-based computer interface with professional-grade A/D conversion, but don't want to drop mad money on an interface that comes with its own preamps on every channel. That's where Echo Audio comes to the rescue with the AudioFire 12!

A Straightforward Solution

The AudioFire 12 is the first digital audio interface on the marketplace to simply and elegantly offer 12 x 1/4-inch balanced analog inputs and outputs for recording and playback. It offers full duplex 12 channel ins and outs, operating at 192 kHz/24-bit resolution.

Dependable Software Interface

The Echo AudioFire 12 comes with straightforward proprietary software ready for Mac or PC, allowing you to monitor your dynamics and settings levels.

Plays Nice With Others

You'll notice that the AudioFire read more 12 has a second FireWire port on the back of the unit. It's there so that you can easily daisy chain the unit to another AudioFire 12 to expand your I/O to 24 independent channels!

The AudioFire 12 also comes equipped with a standard MIDI I/O and Word Clock for easy synching when working with these protocols.

Rock Solid and Easy to Transport

The AudioFire 12 comes in an attractive heavy-duty aluminum case. It mounts easily in your rack and takes up a single breakout box-sized space.

Features:

- FireWire (IEEE 1394a) interface
- 15' FireWire cable included
- 12 balanced 1/4" analog inputs
- Powered by standard 90-260VAC adapter
- Proprietary GUI software console for monitoring, metering, and level setting
- Super low-latency drivers will work all major pro audio software
- standard MIDI I/O
- Word Clock syncing
- 32-bit / 1.6 gigaflop DSP for digital mixing
- Full duplex 12 channel inputs and 12 channel outputs, at a 24 bit, 192kHz sample rate
- Rack mountable in a single space breakout box
- Attractive and heavy-duty aluminum case design
- 113dB (A-weighted) dynamic range
- +4dBu / -10dBV nominal levels
- 12 balanced 1/4" analog outputs
- 114dB (A-weighted) dynamic range
- +4dBu / -10dBV nominal levels
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Hardware
- FireWire (IEEE 1394a) interface with 15' cable
- 12 balanced 1/4" analog inputs
- 113dB (A-weighted) dynamic range
- +4dBu / -10dBV nominal levels
- 12 balanced 1/4" analog outputs
- 114dB (A-weighted) dynamic range
- +4dBu / -10dBV nominal levels
- MIDI I/O
- Sync via word clock
- Supports full duplex 12 channel in, 12 channel out operation at 24 bit, 192kHz sample rate
- Rack mountable single space breakout box
- Heavy-duty aluminum case
- 32-bit / 1.6 gigaflop DSP for digital mixing
- Near zero latency hardware monitoring

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

System Requirements
- PC System requirements
- Windows XP or Vista
- 256 MB RAM (512 MB recommended)
- Mac System Requirements
- Mac OS X (10.3.9 or later)
- G4 or better processor
- 256 MB RAM (512 MB recommended)

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

Echo AudioFire 12 Interface

AudioFire12 offers the same high quality hardware and software as the AudioFire8, but with 12 balanced analog inputs and outputs for 24 bit 192kHz recording and playback. If you already have a mixer and tons of microphone / instrument preamps, but you need to get all that audio into your computer then the AudioFire12 is just for you.

The AudioFire12 has 12 balanced analog inputs and outputs (TRS), 2 FireWire ports, MIDI I/O, word clock synchronization, and 12 channels of full duplex 24 bit 192kHz recording and playback.

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. (26 ratings)
Submitted January 31, 2008 by a customer from hotmail.com

"Best converters under $2k"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This is hopefully going to last me a long time. With 12 inputs I don't see the need for adding any more converters (I only have 8 preamps).
Sound
friggin' amazing converters. it will not be a bottle neck for your gear. i'm using custom made neve, api and great river preamp clones. No problem replicating the tone.
Features
wish it had a headphone jack. maybe one instrument input on the front. of course a spdif connection would be nice too. but that's all extra crap i probably wouldn't ever really use anyways. you're gonna need to get a headphone amplifier or use with powered monitors if you want to hear the signal.
Ease of Use
overall easy to use except it too some time figuring out the software mixer. i had to mute the outputs there so i could monitor directly through the software.
Quality
i got mine as a "scratch and dent" from here. So far i saw no scratches or dents. It was a steal!
Value
If you are looking for pro grade converters and don't want to pay for the consumer type features this is the way to go. I researched for years before making the firewire plunge. This hasn't made me regret it!
Manufacturer Support
You can actually call and talk to a real person. I think the guy I was talking to actually was the guy working on the drivers. He seemed to know quite a bit about ricoh chip compatibility.
The Wow Factor
its a damn sexy looking beast and the meter bridge led read outs are great!

Musical Background:

active musician

Musical Style:

rock
26 of 26 people (100%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
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No longer available at zZounds

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