I'm upgrading my studio. Have a M-Audio Firewire 410 interface that's been giving me all sorts of trouble (software interface is buggy, drops out and comes back garbled, etc.).

Been looking hard at the PreSonus Firestudio (8 XLR Pres, 26x26 total with the optical I/O - never used the optical I/O on the 410, but need to experiment with that...need cables yet).

OK, on Firestudio I read some guy having problems with an inherent hiss...he ended up going with a MOTU xxxx? Anybody have experience with the Firestudio doing this? Anybody got recommendations for the best comparable interface? Willing to pay more for something that is not gonna piss me off and give me heartache. Thanks.

My Schmidt:
Mac Pro
Oktava MK-319
Sennheiser e835
M-Audio Firewire 410
Alesis M1 Active Mk2
EMU Xboard Midi Contoller