#326

Most times I’d wanna record more than one direct stereo track but that could be doable… I guess I should mention that I’m only recording 4/5 tracks but the majority of them are stereo, which I guess is why I thought a buffered splitter could be more flexible for mixing on the fly.

@Joseph yeah, even though the electronics are simple it does add up after production… maybe DIY’ing something could be halfway between having my cake and eating it, too.

2 Likes
#328

FW & USB started off as closely related but inferior to PCI (in terms of speed, timing, stability). USB won over FW. Thunderbolt got PCI out of the box and travelling on a cable. USB 4 talks PCI, and I think Thunderbolt 3 talks USB. Guess the convergence and settling on a common connector (USB-C) takes all these years. I think in addition to licensing issues, manufacturers also take into account the ability to bridge existing hosts (computers) with this new tech. $$$
My journey has been M-Audio PCI, Echo Firewire, RME Firewire. I don’t trust USB for realtime stuff at all. Thunderbolt everywhere is good news for me.

2 Likes
#329

I’d like to echo this as well. I’ve been using an old 828mk2 FW as an ADAT ADC for my UAD Apollo for a couple of years now, and as I’m jumping into eurorack, I finally tried to see if I could plug it in directly.

I have to use a FW400 to 800 cable into a FireWire to Thunderbolt 2 adapter into a Thunderbolt 2 to 3 adapter in order to plug it into a USB-C port on my MBP, but aside from the comically long adapter chain, it works fine so far.

Maybe it’s a bit off topic for this thread, but does anyone have experience running an Apollo Twin side by side with an ES-8 as an aggregate device? Would this be performing for tracking and live processing?

One pain point with the Motu setup is modular/line level conversion, which the ES-8 would handle (among other things)

2 Likes
#331

Sorry no, but I’m running an RME Babyface Pro and an ES-8 side by side in an aggregate device with great success, if that’s any help.

#332

Recently got Motu 16a and couldn’t be happier. Plenty of inputs for gear ( using eurorack, h9, m32, erebus, opz ) and DC coupled outputs to combine with VCV / Reaktor is game changer. Clean sounding converters, low latency :+1:

1 Like
#333

Anyone have experience with the new MOTU M2 or M4 interfaces yet?

Given the fact that they play nicely with both Mac and iOS, at a very reasonable price point, they could be a great solution for a small portable rig…

3 Likes
#334

I just received my MOTU M4, and I’m looking forward to setting it up. I haven’t had a chance, but I should be getting to that soon (this week, I hope). As far as look/feel, it’s great. Very compact, solid case, smooth pots, looks great. I was excited when it was announced, because as my interface needs became more clear as the year went along, the M4 popped up as just the right device for what I need right now.

3 Likes
#335

Hi everyone -

First off, Happy Holidays!. Second, I am in dire need of a 4-5 channel mixer for a small rig. I am looking to compose tracks with my CL Cocolase and Plumbutter II, and use either my OP-1 or SP-404 to lay down actual tracks. I don’t want to go too cheap because I end up using gear for other purposes later, but don’t want to break the bank either - I’ve been looking at some rotary mixers, for example, and the prices are outrageous.

Does anybody have any recommendations? Also, does anybody have any thoughts on the Schertler Arthur Prime 5?

Thanks in advance.

  • Ignacio
#336

You may have seen it already but I always enjoy the recommendations in the thread Minimal mixers

1 Like
#337

The Schertler looks super nice for the size.

Lots of small mixers in this the Minimal Mixer thread too.

1 Like
#338

I haven’t used their mixers but as a bassist I’ve used much of their other gear and it always top notch.

#339

Thank you, @Gahlord @nojay @ahmohb - going through the mixer thread now.

#340

I used to have a focusrite 16i20 (with a patchbay for easier access) which pretty much covered my entire needs for Ins and outs. Totally recommended it. No problems neither in windows or osx.
I sold them and bought a RME babyface pro and ES3/ES6 combo for audio/cv routing. Im not sure if its much better, besides the ability to send and receive voltage via the expert sleepers modules. The only downside is that there´s this constant DC offset in the audio in, which can be dealt with a plug in but its annoying.

1 Like
#341

anyone got any recommendations/opinions on budget usb DACs? my slowly dying laptop’s headphone jack has now decided to break down. I have my interface for if I need to do serious work or anything demanding, so looking in the super budget range just to substitute having a headphone jack on the laptop. just need it to not be a- garbage b-usable with my DT770s.

#342

This would be a good option for a DAC to replace a headphone jack: https://www.schiit.com/products/fulla-1

3 Likes
#343

I use the Audioquest DragonFly Black($100) to replace the headphone jack on my Lenovo x230 and have used with my MBP, works great on Mac and Linux. It sounds really good and is super portable.

For a super cheap option the Behringer UCA 202(less than $30), has a headphone output, and is a full 2x2 interface with monitoring. It sounds decent, and is really portable but less so than the DragonFly.

Both recommendations assume you have the 80ohm DT-770.

1 Like
#344

yeah I went for the 80 ohms so I could use them with an ipod. I was looking at the Dragon Fly Black but I’m still looking for something even more budget since really its something I don’t want to have to buy to begin with. But I def want one that is in that USB key format, anything much bigger is too much to mess with for the laptop on the couch. I’ve been scrounging around for super budget options and found some decent looking Chinese options- Sharkoon DAC and DAC AUDIO SA9023A, which supposedly uses some of the same internals as one of the Dragonfly models for about 20 bucks. Only works with laptops, but thats good enough for me. Might take the chance on it at that price… will report back.

1 Like
#345

I was pleasantly surprised by this! The basic idea is that it becomes the hub for all your audio ins and with a single record button you can capture all your feeds in multitrack right on the desk. Really thought out is the idea that you record your channels dry but you‘ll always record the aux returns and the master out. It can plug into your daw via usb as well…
The on board fx are decent, the reverb sounds expensive even :smiley: very clean audiopath and no compromise in build quality.
We used this this in a jam session with various free floating instruments. One of these jams where you realise around 2am that the jam is really something special. My friend hit that record button hours ago and this also means you are completely free from the stigma that you need recording once you start to jam. 128giga SD cards go a long way…Uli even tells you how many hours you can still record-:laughing:

3 Likes
Minimal mixers
#346

A rather “full featured” take on “minimal”.
(Edit: Refers to the preceding post, but it made more sense when it was in the Minimal mixers thread.)

3 Likes
#347

+1 for this, spent the Christmas holiday jamming with two friends using one of these, and it’s great!
We have to use a USB disk, though, it refuses to write 16 channels at 96/24 to SD.