Akai EIE Vs Akai EiE Pro

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Matt Guitar
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Akai EIE Vs Akai EiE Pro

Post by Matt Guitar » Mon Oct 29, 2012 2:40 am

Hi

I'm new here so hope this hasn't been put out there before. I'm looking at getting an audio interface but want to check if either of these Akai EIE's can be used to record 4 tracks at once using Auria on the iPad 2??

I know it says that the non pro version is compatible but not sure of the capabilities of this unit...

Does anyone have one of these?? They look great. :?:

Erik dP
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Re: Akai EIE Vs Akai EiE Pro

Post by Erik dP » Mon Oct 29, 2012 4:33 am

I've seen on youtube that the red non-pro model works with Garageband on Ipad. Supports 2 channels - I am pretty sure I have read that it only works as a 4 to 2 channel mixer, but that could be wrong. Or that could have been updated since the early reviews I read. I think I ruled it out because of the 16 bits limitation. I can't see any confirmation of 4 inputs to 4 channels in DAW.

My impression is that the pro needs drivers and doesn't work with Ipad.

...Looks isn't everything. (Even I got married.) I wanted to buy the Mackie Blackjack as it is supposed to work with Ipad, but couldn't find one. However, I bought an Apogee One (mono interface) which works for me.

(Need of phantom power means USB hub or external power.)
Last edited by Erik dP on Thu Nov 01, 2012 11:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
Song writer http://www.youtube.com/erikdepomian
"Your Comfort Lie" "White Feather" "Canyons" "Where No Monsters Go" ...and more.

Matt Guitar
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Re: Akai EIE Vs Akai EiE Pro

Post by Matt Guitar » Mon Oct 29, 2012 5:48 am

Hmmm... Really would like 4 tracks available to record drums. Have you heard when the alesis o mix is coming out?? A lot of press about it but can't see any for sale.

Erik dP
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Re: Akai EIE Vs Akai EiE Pro

Post by Erik dP » Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:44 am

Whatever interface you get, make shure that you don't get stuck with the current, but soon old, dock conector. There will be adapters, but at a cost and bulkiness. But you have to have a camera connector kit fitting your device.

Also, make shure you can record at 24bits for more headroom. Not all interfaces support this.

One non-expensive Ipad compatable USB interface with 4 inputs (i think it has 6, but records to 4 tracks) is the old Lexicon Omega. It is also supposed to be possible to use as "stand alone". I.e. not having to connect an Ipad for mixing usage.

It also have MIDI.

I think this one can record on all 4 inputs at 24 bits.

You probably can get this one from the second hand market for almost nothing.
Song writer http://www.youtube.com/erikdepomian
"Your Comfort Lie" "White Feather" "Canyons" "Where No Monsters Go" ...and more.

Matt Guitar
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Re: Akai EIE Vs Akai EiE Pro

Post by Matt Guitar » Mon Oct 29, 2012 2:57 pm

Awesome, will look into it. Thanks a heap!!

Matt Guitar
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Re: Akai EIE Vs Akai EiE Pro

Post by Matt Guitar » Mon Oct 29, 2012 3:49 pm

Does anyone have a Lexicon Omega?? How does it go? Does it definitely record4 tracks at once with iPad 2 and Auria.

Looks pretty good...

Albrecht
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Re: Akai EIE Vs Akai EiE Pro

Post by Albrecht » Mon Oct 29, 2012 11:58 pm

I tried both....

1.Akai EIE Pro is definetely NOT working
2.Lexicon Omega is working fine, up to 4 tracks at once, with all my apps like Auria, DAW, Garageband, Meteor....spdif and Midi are working as they should, sound is very good - thanks to good D/A converters from Lexicon
I use it daily without any problems

Matt Guitar
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Re: Akai EIE Vs Akai EiE Pro

Post by Matt Guitar » Tue Oct 30, 2012 1:33 am

Great!! Looks like Lexicon is the go.

Cheers

GuitarPhil
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Re: Akai EIE Vs Akai EiE Pro

Post by GuitarPhil » Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:40 am

I had been seriously considering the Lexicon Omega until I read the reviews on Amazon - seems like it has reliability problems :(

My second option is the Akai EiE but, though it has four inputs, can it actually record four tracks at once? AFAIK It only has USB 1.1 so that makes me doubtful it would have the bandwidth to do four simultaneous tracks. I'd appreciate it if anyone has tested this aspect with the Akai EiE and Auria and could let us know.

Dubhausdisco
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Re: Akai EIE Vs Akai EiE Pro

Post by Dubhausdisco » Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:34 pm

I can confirm that the EIE works perfectly with Auria. True, it's stuck at 44.1/16 bit, but its a solid piece and when Auria introduces midi it has a hub built in (for USB midi controllers) and one DIN midi I/O.
Which I can confirm works excellent in beatmaker 2.
For the money, it can't be beat. Best kept secret as far as iPad interfaces go.
dubhausdisco

iPad 3
iOS 7.0.4
Akai EIE
Auria 1.14

GuitarPhil
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Re: Akai EIE Vs Akai EiE Pro

Post by GuitarPhil » Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:42 pm

Thanks for the info dub. Just to confirm, the Akai will happily record four tracks at once in Auria?

Dubhausdisco
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Re: Akai EIE Vs Akai EiE Pro

Post by Dubhausdisco » Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:55 pm

Absolutely. It's also built very solid, and has a cool headphone/monitoring setup. Well worth the money!
dubhausdisco

iPad 3
iOS 7.0.4
Akai EIE
Auria 1.14

GuitarPhil
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Re: Akai EIE Vs Akai EiE Pro

Post by GuitarPhil » Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:59 pm

Cheers! I think you just helped me make up my mind :D

Dubhausdisco
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Re: Akai EIE Vs Akai EiE Pro

Post by Dubhausdisco » Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:28 pm

No problem! I've been using this setup for a few months with zero problems.
Here is a link to my setup
http://youtu.be/yAse5PmOX8I
dubhausdisco

iPad 3
iOS 7.0.4
Akai EIE
Auria 1.14

Matt Guitar
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Re: Akai EIE Vs Akai EiE Pro

Post by Matt Guitar » Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:22 am

Nice set up. Do we know that it will work with an iPad 2??

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