S/PDIF I/O, AES/EBU I/O, MIDI I/O and word clock I/O.8 analog line inputs, including 2 Instrument inputs.8 microphone preamps with trim control and +48V phantom power switch for each channel.24-bit resolution, up to 192 kHz sampling rate.
This is switchable you obviously wouldn't use both at the same time.
FireWire (IEEE 1394) and USB 2.0 audio interfacing.I've done all the outside shots, but want to take it apart, check out the interior build quality, and include pictures of that as well. We'll start off with the standard-issue Pro Review photo tour. This is what we used to get the lowdown on the performance of Mackie's Blackjack interface, so we'll get a definitive idea of how the 808 stacks up in terms of noise, distortion, crosstalk, etc.
#Phonic helix board 18 firewire driver install
Next, we'll look at how easy or difficult it is to install and get working, and then we'll run it through its paces specs-wise using the RightMark Audio Analyzer. The price is compelling: Although the MSRP is about $670, you can often find it for less if you look around.Īs a result, we're going to start the review by describing the available features, as there's a lot going on. So here we have the Firefly 808 Universal interface, with the "universal" part coming from its ability to work with FireWire or USB 2.0, and work up to 192kHz (with some limitations - more on this later). I've also had a chance to play with their Helix Board X16 digital mixer (nee the Summit mixer), which is impressive in terms of cost-effectiveness. I must say I was somewhat surprised that a piece of test equipment received so many page views, I guess I'm not the only geek here ).
#Phonic helix board 18 firewire driver update
When the update arrives, I'll finish off the review based on whatever changes the update brings. (Incidentally, that Pro Review is not yet done I put it into suspended animation when Phonic announced that a software update was forthcoming, but it took longer than expected. I started paying more attention, and then two Winter NAMMs ago, a friend turned me on to their PAA6 Analyzer (well actually his words were "You're a geek, Craig, you'll dig this thing over at the Phonic booth") and I thought it was quite cool - an opinion that was verified when I did a Pro Review of it. I'd dutifully stop by their booth at Frankfurt, see products that looked kind of similar to ones I'd seen before, and figured it was more me-too stuff.īut then one year, I noticed that they'd introduced a bunch of FireWire mixer/interfaces, which piqued my interest as they got into this product category pretty early. Phonic is one of those companies that always sort of flew under my personal radar.