Should I Replace This (Working) 12-year Old Audio Interface?

That's what I did. Had the M-Audio Delta 1010 forever and a day. Way out of date on drivers. But it did the job. Finally upgraded my computers a couple times removed from the original computer on this interface. At the same time, some issues started to crop up with a channel or two, wanted to have 16 channels in to do a full band all at once. Wheels fell off as far as I was concerned, onto a couple Focusrite Saffire Pro40 boxes. Now I guess they're getting old, but hey, they still work great. I'll drive the wheels off them now.

So hey, if it still does what you want it to do...

 

The thing that drives obsolescence of audio interfaces is more often the platform to which they are connected. I had an Aardvark Q10 that worked great. The advent of Win XP made it into a boat anchor. All things considered, XP was such an improvement that I'm not sorry, but progress has its drawbacks.

Use it until you can't.

 

I would keep it but still be looking for an updated model or, more and more preamps and inputs. Because...
Well really, just because

 

If the interface is still functioning with your computer and its current OS, you like the sound of it, it performs with serviceable latency that doesn't detract from your artistic process and doesn't lack anything you've identified as being present on other interfaces then the answer is "no reason to move on." If any of those items is deficient then you've got something to consider.

 

I still mix through an Echo Layla24/96 and Gina3G combo and they still sound great. They link together in via drivers, too, so no need to time sync them externally. Luckily, they stopped support at Windows 7 drivers, but Windows 10 uses them just fine. I'm gonna run these until I can't anymore. I use a newer Tascam US-1800 for remote recording and it's just ok. Not nearly as nice as the Echo units, but it is USB and works with my remote tracking laptop. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

 

I think the M-Audio ProFire series all sounded pretty darn good. I'd just plan to potentially need to replace it the next time you make a significant upgrade elsewhere in the system such as OS update or DAW update. I'm not saying the next update will break it. It probably won't. And until it stops working it will get the job done just fine. It's just planning for the (maybe) inevitable. It could work just fine for 20 more years for all we know.

Some of the newer interfaces in the same category (consumer focused / 4-6 inputs or outputs) may have slightly better innards and will definitely have up to date drivers. A comparable new interface can be had in the $200-300 range. It's doubtful there would be a distinctly audible difference IMO.

 

The Profire has a lot of I/O. That's super handy at times. You could even do a 5.1 mix. Great if you do any video mixing. I like the pull pots on it for a pad.
It's not outdated really.
Line 6 developed their UX series interfaces at least 15 years ago and they still sell them Brand New. They really have done a great job on the Helix Native and they need a good modern Guitar/Bass targeted interface to go alone with it. At least something that looks less plastic even if it doesn't effect the sound.

 

Why not put the money you were thinking of spending on an upgrade, into one or two really good preamps / channels that have S/PDIF output, and connect that to your Profire 610?

 

I have a firewire 410 m-audio device and it was removed from service a long time ago. The mic preamps / line inputs are meh at best, they clip easily and the pad sounds like a wet blanket. Compared to the newest offerings, it's definitely sub-par. It worked out great with electronic drums sending it midi, my laptop running Battery, and the m-audio outs feeding the PA. When I tried using is as a proper recording device, it fell flat.

 

If you have a lot of multi-track recordings already in the can and you change your DAW/interface you might have to mess around to open them and do any edits on a new system. I'm, running an old ProTools Digirack 96i setup on a Win 7 PC and have been tempted to make the jump but I have dozens and dozens of songs with plugins and it would be a major hassle to re-load. Of course most are never re-edited but just in case! I'll run that thing until it won't run anymore! Like me! Ha!

As long as you don't need anymore inputs and it boots and works and it can do at least 96kHz/24 bits your biggest improvements will be pre-amps, FX, plug-ins, mics, etc. You mix down to CD and MP3's so the original is (usually) always lesser quality then the original. YMMV

 

That won't be a problem.
Audacity, Sound Forge, Presonus Audio Batch Converter, Rx7, ....
All have ways to batch convert directories of files.

 

No, that's an entirely different kettle of fish.

They're talking about recalling that session, and it being in the same state.

 

TL;DR

 

Been using this M-Audio FW1814 since 2006:



Will keep it for old computer (PT/Reason), but new build should be together in a few weeks, so I'm going with something else soonish. Realized I don't need all those inputs cuz drums are expensive to mic.

Nice M-Audio relic tho! Remember Pro Tools M-Powered? Ya. That was lame. Happy recording!

 

I'm still using this, along with Cubase 7:

 

Yes importing and opening an intact audio recording sessions are 2 different beasts. If it’s a few trax and a few plugins it’s not a big deal but 20 trax with multiple plugins on each track gets messy real quick! I have some sessions with 24 trax and 2 or 3 plugins per track. It can be done but a huge amount of time and setup!

 

I've been using these with Cakewalk 2k:



(Kidding!)