firewire

Mark of the Unicorn (MOTU) has announced the 10 input/14 output Ultralite-mk3, an audio interface that they say is the first ever “hybrid” audio interface, offering FireWire and USB 2 connectivity to Mac and PC computers.

They haven’t put up official availability or pricing info yet. If you know anything on this, leave a comment.

Details on the Ultralite-mk3 below. Read more…

Maybe the worst Christmas special ever…..but Randolph’s got the scoop on a deal if you’re looking for a FireStudio Project or FireStudio Tube –  you can get a “free” Faderport USB controller.

There’s an online petition asking Apple to save the FireWire port on Mac laptops.

More than 6,000 people have already signed the petition.

Here’s the text of the petition:

To: Apple Inc.

We all love your products, Apple Inc.! But your recently refreshed line of consumer notebooks lacks the possibility to plug in digital audio and video equipment as well as fast mass storage devices. Therefore, we pledge to purchase a new MacBook or MacBook Air if you, the inventor of FireWire technology, would be so kind to bring back FireWire ports to those products.

You can sign the petition here.

Apple pissed off a lot of musicians today, by introducing a new line of sexy MacBooks with no FIreWire ports. 

Here’s the port lineup for the new MacBooks:

• MagSafe power port
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• Two USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 Mbps)
• Mini DisplayPort
• Audio line in
• Audio line out
• Kensington lock slot

T.C. Electronic has introduced the Desktop Konnekt 6 FireWire audio interface, which looks like it’s well spec’d out and nicely laid out for a relatively inexpensive audio interface.

Features:

• High resolution meter
• Tracking reverb level control
• Direct monitor control with input/DAW control
• DIM switch for convenient speaker dimming
• Instant scene recall
• Separate headphone level control
• IMPACT Mic preamp with 48v phantom power
• Input configuration: mic + instr/instr+instr/stereo line
• Balanced stereo outputs
• True Hi-Z guitar inputs known from TC’s high-end guitar processors
• Headphone out with separate level control and separate source
• Studio sound reverb based on hardware technology
• Hall, Room and Plate algorithms
• Part of monitor mix and included as VST/AU compatible plug-ins
• Cubase LE4 included
• C NEAR compatible: works with all other Konnekt products
• FireWire 1394, bus powered
• DICE digital interface chip with JetPLL jitter elimination technology
• Low latency drivers for Mac and PC, WDM, ASIO and CoreAudio
• 24-bit/192 kHz sampling rate
• External power supply included

The Desktop Konnekt has a MSRP of $295.