Amazon.com: M-Audio FireWire 410 4-In / 10-Out FireWire Mobile Recording Interface: Musical Instruments

Product Description

Now compatible with ProTools M-Powered Software FireWire 410 is a FireWire-compatible audio/MIDI interface that has it all - power, flexibility, compact size and low price. Its 4-in/10-out configuration with preamps is perfect for personal recording, routing discrete outputs to a mixer, or directly driving a surround sound system. The on-board ASIO 2-compliant mixer and software control panel provide total routing flexibility - including monitoring with external effects. You also get ultra-low latency software monitoring and zero latency hardware direct monitoring - and two headphone outs with independent level controls let you collaborate with a partner anywhere, anytime. FireWire 410 can even be completely bus-powered for total mobile operation*. Features 2 x8 24-bit analog I/O 192kHz output (output 1 and 2 only; 96kHz on others); 96kHz input Digital I/O w/ S/PDIF, AC3 and DTS (coax and optical) 1 x 1 MIDI I/O Powered via DC supply or FireWire bus* Dual mic/instruments preamps w/ gain control (66dB available gain) and phantom power 2 headphone outs w/ individual level controls Low-latency software monitoring; zero-latency direct hardware monitoring Analog outs can directly drive up to 7.1 surround Software-assigned level controller for tactile control of all input and output levels 2 convenient high-speed FireWire ports * requires 6-pin FireWire port Includes Maximum Audio Tools containing a great collection of software ...

Customer Reviews

45 Reviews

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(20)

Average Customer Review

2.7 out of 5 stars (45 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I owned two and they were a royal pain in the @$$, March 6, 2007

By

Ken B. (Burbank, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: M-Audio FireWire 410 4-In / 10-Out FireWire Mobile Recording Interface (Electronics)

I have had two different units (and access to a third for a short time), I used them with three different computers (all macs: a PowerMac G4, PowerMac G5, and a PowerBook G4), and I had loads of problems with every configuration. The units were a bit temperamental and I sometimes had to restart the computer to get them to work properly. As mentioned in other posts, these units are not hot-pluggable and doing so could render the computer, the FW410, or possibly other connected firewire devices permanently disabled. This is particularly a problem since firewire cables have no mechanism to be locked in place--like thumb screws--and they can easily become accidentally unplugged. I called M-Audio and they really tried to shrug this off as if it was no big deal although the FW410 comes with an urgent warning sticker covering the firewire ports that tells you not to hot plug. In fact, I personally know of one computer where the logic board was fried due to the FW410 being unplugged and plugged back in while the computer was on.

Also mentioned in other posts is the FW410's propensity not to play well with other firewire devices, particularly firewire 800 devices. I can attest to this. On my PowerMac G5, I had the FW410 as the only device on the firewire 400 bus and I had an Iomega FW drive plugged into the FW800 bus. Everytime I would restart my computer I would have to make sure that I turned my speakers off because of the loud popping and clicking noises that would happen when the Iomega drive was plugged in. I'm not really good at remembering things like that and I believe that this is what blew one of my M-Audio BX5a powered monitors (which, by the way, I like). To back up my computer to the Iomega drive, I would have to shut my computer off, unplug the FW410, then restart my computer and back up. Otherwise, I would get those horrendous (and loud) popping and clicking noises, or the FW410 would become disabled and I would have to restart anyway to get it back.

You're probably wondering why I had two of these units. Well, the first one became stopped working and, fortunately, it was under warranty and M-Audio sent me a new one (though I was without music for over a month). I thought my problems might have been due to a faulty unit but the second one was no better. I had all the problems described above (and others...yes, there was more) with different versions of the drivers (up to 1.8.1) even after reinstalling the drivers many times. I always thought the problems were just my setup until I did more research. I should point out that I am using Macs and everything may work perfectly with PCs, YMMV.

I own other M-Audio products (the aforementioned BX5a powered monitors and an M-Audio keyboard) and I have had no problem with either of those. One thing that I didn't like about M-Audio is that their tech support made it seem like I was the ONLY user that is having problems with this product. As for my FW410, you can look for it on eBay (it's only a couple of months old).

At this point, I have just unplugged the FW410 because I am in fear for my system. After further research, I'm probably going to buy a PreSonus Firebox. This unit seems to work well with Macs, is hot pluggable, and six simultaneous inputs are possible unlike the FW410 in which only two simultaneous inputs are possible (despite the name).

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29 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Beware Mac Users, December 1, 2004

By

William H. Barber (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: M-Audio FireWire 410 4-In / 10-Out FireWire Mobile Recording Interface (Electronics)

I bought this soundcard and have been wrestling with the drivers non-stop for two months... nothing seems to work. Crackles and a high level of whitenoise in the background.

Tech Support responds very courteously and quickly, however, their advice is to reinstall the drivers... Gee who would have thought of that. I've only done that about 100 times... Sometimes the meters on the driver interface are dancing wildly when no sound is going through it... Sometimes when I reinstall the meters behave normally. That's the only thing "fixed" by reinstalling - however the fix is always temporary...

I get the impression that the tech support knows that there are some problems with the driver and with the unit. Hot swapping has blown a lot of firewire boards - including mine (replaced it and now I never hotswap).

I have had nothing but problems - my ipod's system software is trashed if ever I plug it into the firewire port beside the 410. It took me three times to realize that the problem was the 410 not the iPod. This was just salt in the wound... Solution from Tech support - "don't plug an Ipod OR ANYTHING ELSE into the firewire port if the 410 is plugged in also. But, whatever you do, don't hot swap the 410 or it could blow your board!" Thanks a lot. So I have to shutdown. Unplug the 410, plug in the iPod and restart just to sync my iPod... so much for the convenience of firewire.

Tested the 410 in my powerbook in an attempt to isolate the problem... bad idea. Now my once rock solid powerbook doesn't recognize the firewire card and the wireless PC card would not talk to the airport base station. Solution: reset basestation, clean reinstall system software to reinstall drivers for the PC cards (native to OS 10.3). Thanks alot.

I have read reports of people having problems with this unit. It only seemed like a fraction. I hoped I wouldn't be one. I am.

If I had a G5 that was dedicated to music, I bet I could get this soundcard to work great. But, unfortunately, I have a G4 (maxed out with RAM and the hottest processor I can put in it). And I use it for writing, photos, video, games AND music.

For any mac user who is not making a dedicated music work station, I would highly recommend that you steer well clear of the 410 and of M-audio products just to be safe. There are other options out there that don't have the same problems.

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25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Avoid it and save yourself headaches!, June 11, 2008

By

Mantis Guy (Bay Area California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: M-Audio FireWire 410 4-In / 10-Out FireWire Mobile Recording Interface (Electronics)