Firepod to Fireface 800 ?

Hey guys I've seen a few people here using the fireface interfaces and was just wondering.....would it be a truly noticable investment to move from my firepods to a fireface 800? My firepods have been great, no problems what so ever for 4 yrs but I have been told that the converters and clocking alone would be worth the move, and that I would be nothing short of amazed at the quality of my recordings in comparison.(the sound quality of the recorded audio anyway not necessarily the end product....still has a lot to do with my recording and mixing ability). I would also have to get a multi-channel preamp and was looking at the presonus digimax fs or d8, not sure exactly, one says adat and one says adat lightpipe.....is there a difference in adat and adat lightpipe? I'm assuming there is. The Fireface 800 only says adat nothing about lightpipe. Also I'm using KRK Rokit 5 monitors for mixing, would I need to upgrade, to possibly really hear the difference? Because if I go with the fireface and digimax I would have no funds left for the monitor upgrade....I am also having a new computer built this week so technically there goes my monitor funds...but a much needed upgrade. Any input would be much appreciated. -scott

IMHO, I think monitors are the most important thing. You need it all, but if you can't here it your stuffed. This is a highly debated point, but I think you need to hear what your doing. My 2c

Latency wise and an easier ability to go to 26 channels make the FF800 a good upgrade If you dont mind the latency and have enough channels as it is, then maybe like the other poster said, spend money on monitors or something

Pipe....Moliere....thanks again for the input. So anyone have some suggestions if I had $1000 to drop on some monitors? Maybe I need to hear the true sound of what I'm doing already with my firepods before I put big money in a new interface thinking that will take my recordings to a new level....only to still be mixing and listening back on a $300 pair of KRK's.... :) Everything I have seen on this forum and others or read in various rec. mags seem to always start with a good mixing and listening environment (which I think I have) and then really good monitors to truly take advantage of said environment (which I don't think I have). So maybe I should back up a little and take care of that end first before I put many hours into learning the ins and outs of a new interface, only to in the end, still need a monitor upgrade. :) Thanks again guys -scott

From everything I've experienced, good room treatment and monitors make a vast amount of difference in mix quality, whereas an upgrade in converters is very small in comparison. I'm not sure how much they are, but I've got a pair of JBL LSR4326p as my main near fields, and they are fantastically detailed. *edit* actually, just checked sweetwater and they are $1000 USD a pair. They get a good rap in the Post Production realm from what i've heard, but monitors are really a very personal thing since you're sitting in front of them for hours. You can't really go wrong with some genelecs, adams (might be a bit pricy) or dynaudio. comes down to preference in that dollar bracket. Depending on your room, 8inch guys could be a bit of overkill, I've found my 6inch's not lacking at all at any volume I care to use.

Now I'll really put my feet in it: For the most part I mix on Jensen 6X9's stuffed into NS-10 boxes. I also have NS-10's, Mackie 824's, HS-50's, HS-80's and often some of those KRK Rokkit 6's My main problem is that 6x9's just arent meant to take the sort of sustained levels we put them thru, even the idling from a studio power amp seems to burn them out. Often I have to use 4 or 5 ways which I dont like as much as the 2 or three ways If I could find a way to cut the back half of my car and stick it in my control room, I would

Is that a Dart? Bitchin!

Holy crap... I'm in love with that car... how do I get one?