Get the right Audio Interface for your Macbook, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, iMac and Mac Pro

1. Best Firewire Audio Interface For Mac Download
2. Best Firewire Audio Interface For Mac Windows 7
3. Best Firewire Audio Interface For Macbook Air
4. Best Firewire Audio Interface For Macbook
5. Best Firewire Audio Interface For Mac Windows 10

There are a few things to watch out for if you have a late model Mac. First, the PCI interfaces are not going to work with any of the Mac Pros, and of course not with any of the Mac Books, Mac Book Pros or iMacs. Today's Mac Pro has a PCIe slot format. This will not work with PCI cards. Most of us would probably not need a Mac PCIe interface. Professionals with high i/o needs may want to go the MOTU PCIe route with a MOTU 24io, and a MOTU 2408 Mk 3. These are for large multi track systems with digital mixers. The Home studio enthusiast has many other options and they are mainly firewire options. That is what we'll mainly focus on here.

Tweak: This is the back of a Tascam FW1884, and audio interface with plenty of i/o. Click the pic to enlarge.

• USB 1.1 is only good enough for 2 - 4 tracks of audio, but USB 2.0 interfaces are quite capable. If you are recording up to 4 tracks of audio in simultaneously, then USB 2.0 is fine. Firewire is better, and if you want to record 10 - 16 live tracks at a time then Firewire is the way to go.
• In this article, we’re going to be discussing the top 12 Mac OS audio interfaces in 2020. We felt that we really had to create this article, reviewing all of these audio interfaces suitable for Mac, as there seems to be minimal information on the topic, in a condensed, easy to read format!

When comparing features like i/o be sure to check out these comparison charts

Firewire interfaces generally work well with the currentiMacs, MacBook Pros, Mac Minis and the Mac pro. Note that newer Macbooks do not have firewire. USB 2.0 interfaces are valid for those Macbooks and all the others as well. At the bottom of the page you'll find lots of polls, user reviews and discussions from our forums.

Keep in mind there are more audio interfaces that will work with your Mac. This is more of a list of those that should form the basis of your research. I am not including Digidesign interfaces here because they have done extensive compatibility theses on their website. That is where you should research matching your Mac to an appropriate Digidesign or m-audio interface.

When considering any audio interface there are 4 things that create the perfect storm for you.

• 1. excellent functioning drivers for your OS and applications
• 2. excellent sounding converters
• 3. excellent sounding preamps
• 4. sufficient and appropriate i/o for your studio

The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Recording Audio Interface is another exemplary product by Focusrite that comes equipped with 2 in and 2 out USB recording interface. This is a complete audio interface to satisfy all your recording needs. Mac Apps for Audio Drivers. Audio interface driver. M-Audio FireWire 410 Apple FireWire Audio Driver. For BeBoB audio devices.

You can always add on different preamps and converters to nearly any audio interface. Preamps will plug into the line inputs and converters will use s/pdif i/o. But there are two things you cannot change, or fix, with the interface you eventually choose. You can't go in and re-write driver code. The drivers manage the 'traffic' from inputs to software to outputs and are at least partially to blame for latency issues, clicks and pops, and other nasties. Also you cannot change your i/o. If you get a box with 2 analog inputs and outputs, even if you buy a 100 channel mixer you can't change the fact that from the standpoint of the computer you have 2 channels in and 2 out and that will limit how many tracks you can record at one time to two. Its a great plan to get more i/o than you need. You can do this by choosing an interface with an ADAT 'lightpipe' input. This gives you 8 digital inputs into your system. You could add a rack of 8 analog preamps that have ADAT digital out.

The back panel of the MOTU 828mk3. Click the pic to enlarge

You can find audio interfaces for your Mac from $150 to $2,000 on this page. What is the difference? As above, quality of components for the preamps, converters and the number of hardware i/o. There is the research and development cost of making solid drivers, beta testing them among various applications, keeping the drivers updated through software and Operating system revisions. Finally there is the build quality of the box, brand name recognition, status in the professional community and how well the company follows Apple through its changes.

Low Cost (under $500)

Tascam US1641 USB 2.0 Audio/MIDI Interface

Apogee Duet

Also, look at the Mackie Onyx 820i 8-Channel Premium Analog Mixer with FireWire Interface

Mid Cost ($500-$1000)

Motu ultralite Mk3

Motu 8 pre

Motu 828 mk3, Traveler

Best Firewire Audio Interface For Mac Download

Higher Cost ($1000.00 plus)

Tascam FW 1884

RME Fireface 400

Best Firewire Audio Interface For Mac Windows 7

Apogee Ensemble

Metric Halo

Cool Threads

Best Firewire Audio Interface For Macbook Air

• Poll The Best Firewire Interface Under $300 for MAC is
• Poll The Better Firewire Interface for a MAC $300 to $500 is..

Best Firewire Audio Interface For Macbook

Cool Links

• Apple Discussions: Presonus Firestudio Project (See for Tascam us1641)

Back to Soundcards and Audio Interfaces

SoundCards and
Audio Interfaces

Audio Interfaces- Page 1
Audio Interfaces--Page 2
Firewire Audio Interface Chart-Page 3
PCI Audio Interface Chart-Page 4
USB 2.0 Audio Interface Chart--Page 5
Audio Interfaces- Page 6
Audio Interfaces: The Best of the Low Cost
Audio Interfaces for your Mac
MOTU 896Mk3 Review
MOTU 828mk2 Review
MOTU UltraLite
Emu1820M
Delta 1010
Audio Interfaces Prices

Speed is the language of technology as technology evolves fast. FireWire crushes USB in terms of data speed, transfer, and data back-up. Economy wise, USB hard drives are less costly than FireWire. USB drives are more common, too.

Comparatively, USB 1.1 offered a 12 Mbps data capacity, USB 2.0 provides a maximum theoretical bandwidth of 480 Mbps while FireWire has 400 Mbps data speed capacity.USB 3.0 can transfer data at the speed of 640 Mbps or 5 gbps while FireWire came up with 800 Mbps versions.

USB connections need a personal computer as the host to transfer data. USB was primarily designed to be used for cables and mice. With the advent of USB cable Type C or USB 4.0, FireWire nears phasing out.

Best Firewire Audio Interface For Mac Windows 10

FireWire 400 connection is 13 percent faster than USB copying, 10 percent faster when tested at duplication, 12 percent faster when tested with 5,000 files and 18 percent more quickly in reading and writing with AJA system scores.

FireWire 800connection is 42 percent faster than USB copying, 55 percent faster when tested at duplication, 32 percent faster when tested with 5,000 files and twice as fast in reading and writing with AJA’s System Test application.
FireWire connections are 4-pin and 6-pins.