The DuaFire is ESI's new firewire interface, and the first to take full advantage of their new EDWM Advanced Audio Driver. EWDM is a cross-protocol driver package that integrates all commonly used driver standards [MME, ASIO 2.0, GSIF 2.0, DirectSound, CoreAudio] into one single driver package. The EWDM driver also includes ESI's DirectWIRE technology -- a virtual digital patchbay -- and performs at extremely low latency rates [1.5ms or less according to ESI].

As for the DuaFire's I/O array, the unit features a single high-quality mic pre with 48v phantom power [XLR input], line level ins [two-simultaneous], instrument [Hi-Z] ins, and even a phono level preamp for running audio from turntables! Ain't no party like an ESI party!

I know, I know, you're thinking: "functionality is nice, but what I REALLY care about is LOOKS." Well, Paris Hilton, peep this claim, directly from an honest-to-God German:

"DuaFire is the first compact external audio interface we are shipping worldwide that features our new aluminum & white product design. So, it does not only sound good, it also looks really nice."

So said Claus Riethmuller, Managing Director of ESI Audiotechnik GmbH, moments after absolutely DESTROYING me in a combination pilsner-chugging / arm-wrestling best-of-five. Next time, Claus . . . next time.