1081

I recommend an patchbay. Yes you could do a lot of routing in and out with your interface but I find it much easier to just record either directly to my computer or directly to my Octatrack or tape or whatever and that is super easy with a cheap patch bay. It also makes it super easy to chain synth/fx’s together or use them as sends from your daw, mixer, or the Octratrack.

6 Likes
1083

Does anyone know of any multi-channel USB audio interfaces that support Open Sound Control for controlling of gain, level, etc?

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1084

I know MOTU AVB interfaces support it, which was one of the reasons I picked up my ultralite AVB. I haven’t yet messed with it though.

I’m curious what your use case is!

1085

I had considered a patchbay but want sure how that would work alongside an interface.

I can definitely see the utility but I haven’t actually used one so I get kind of confused by real practical applications. Do you mean routing the patchbay to the ins and outs of something like the 18i20 and the mixer so I can sort of split/mult certain signals into both the interface and my current Octa setup simultaneously? I think I just have to draw this out on paper or something. It’s hard to figure out especially when I’m not sure what exactly is possible or what a patch bay is capable of. I’ll look further into that, thanks for the advice

Yeah, that is the general idea. Using a Sampson S-Patch I have all the outs and all the in’s of my interface, Octratrack, Synths, and the small Boss mixer I use so any out can go to any in. It’s also easy to mult an audio signal and send it to two places depending on how everything is set up. It’s a great work flow and it’s convent to be able to quickly change the send fx’s on my mixer or chain fxs etc. It also makes sending cv between synths easy… It is really versatile and not as complicated as it sounds.

Most often I sequence from the Octratrack and record the audio in my daw. Do whatever I need to do fx/mixing/editing to the audio in the daw and the put the loop back on the Octatrack via card reader. Integrating a patchbay into my set-up made my set up feel much more useful. Tasks like sending audio out of my interface and into a synth’s filter or eurorack became way easier and I’ve found I actually use the equipment I have way more when writing because I don’t have the associated hassle of thinking about the routing all the time. It also kept me from needing more A/D conversion which is great because that kind of thing gets expensive fast.

4 Likes
1087

Hi,
There’s a certain joy in sharing discoveries, old hat to many I’m sure - but I figured I’d share my recent insights as a service to the one-week-younger me, not yet in the know.

I’ve been doing some studying. Reading up on dub mixing techniques, creative routing and effects sends etc. There are some nice tutorials/guides online as well as articles.

Prince Fatty Masterclass
Mad Professor on dub effects
Dubkasm Dub Tips.

My first reflex was (as always) I need a bigger mixer. More aux-buses and more faders.

But then, it’s depth year. And I need to do what’s dubbiest, to make the most of what I got. Which is a Mackie Onyx 1220. Eight channels with faders (4 stereo). Two aux-buses. Tape in/out. Alt 3/4 out.

onyx1220
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So, I started to figure out what my routing options are.

Aux 1 send to Spring reverb. Aux 2 send to Tape Delay. Alt 3/4 - possible to send sounds an alternative route - via Kaoss pad? All these I would rout back to the board through their own fader/channel for feedback loop possibilities.

This means I have 5 channels free for audio sources (drums, bass, rhythm, vox, horns – or the equivalent, I don’t plan to do dub reggae). I had long thought, that’s it. All I can do. But looking hard at my mixer I saw a few more options.

Using channel insert effects allows me to place effects on my return channels. So I could have a phaser/filter/eq pedal inserted on the reverb or delay return – to effect the reverb or delay.

But there’s more. Using the channel insert send (monoplug halfway in) on selected sound sources, I get a “direct” out that I can send into my Boss/Roland SP-samplers. Used as effect units these have an External Source-button which acts as a gate/mute.

Explained by Four Tet here Four Tet Set Break-down and Performance Secrets | Red Bull Music Academy - YouTube

The SP:s can be activated by punching in on certain stabs etc. The SP-effected sounds can then be returned to the mixer through the regular Aux returns (that til now have been unused). The SP:s can also be used to play samples/phrase/field recordings.

The EQ can be punched in/out for each channel. So I could have an alternative “extreme setting” that I can switch to. (the Mackie EQ might not be very dramatic in this regard).

Not forgetting PAN.

Now… I need to set up some loops to take this from theory to practice. Maybe not as flexible as a bigger mixer – but the way I see it - plenty of options when you are neither octopus nor Indian deity.

EDIT/ADD: More possibilities found. Shiftr below made me aware of the Control room mixbus. I also realized that there is a Talkback mic that can run straight into AUX sends or to the Control Room mix. Using the XLR-jack on the back for the Talkback Mic I could maybe connect my little Monotron synth and use it as a crude dub siren playing the ribbon straight into reverb and delay.

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1088

Ah, but you never know what you can be until you try!!!

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1089

I’ve have this same mixer. There are some more possibilities that you might have overlooked.
There are 2 AUX return tracks so that is 2 extra stereo channels. You can use them for anything you like. You don’t have to return the FX in these channels you could also use them as a very simpel channel for anything with only one fader/knob.
And there are separate outs for tape and control room. That also give some extra output send options.

I still hope to one day find the optional firewire card for it for cheap.

That Four tet video made my day!

7 Likes
1090

Awesome! That’s what I hoped, that someone would show me things I had overlooked. I was aware of the aux returns. But I hadn’t thought about the control room bus. I suppose it could be a way to put the solo buttons to use?

Assigning sources to the control room mix is still somewhat of an enigma for me.

Happy you enjoyed the Four Tet video. There’s a great podcast episode on “Hanging out with audiophiles” in which the host Jamie Lidell talks gear philosophy with Kieran/Four Tet. Quite refreshing from a depth year perspective.

6 Likes
1091

I have a MOTU mk1 Traveler that I’ve used with my MacBook Pro for years but now I’m running Linux and I’d love an interface that works seamlessly with Linux, seems like that’s a tall order. Are there any open-source hardware audio interface projects out there? My dream interface would be an 8 mic pre inputs plus 8 TRS outputs with digitally controllable gains and outputs. Plus something with AES67 support or similar. I may be waiting a long time.

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1092

A friend mentioned he is using the Behringer U-PHORIA UMC1820 with Linux.
I use one in an installation. I can’t compare the quality of it directly but it’s certainly not bad.
It’s a hard to beat option in number of inputs outputs and mic pre’s for the money.

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1093

Yeah, I might just go that way. Considering I’m mostly using the interface to mangle acoustic instruments sound beyond recognition the Behringer preamps are probably just fine :rofl:

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1094

Yes! Exactly This!
I’ve been doing very much this with an A&H 14:4:2. Way fun with the extra auxes, channels and pre/post options. Feedback is a must. I’ve been using these pedals as effects, reverb on 1, delay/mod on 2 and distortion/phasor on 3.

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I did some crazy shit last night with heathy servings of distortion. I have some smaller mixers that I’ve been using and also a really big Electro-Voice with monitor, aux and and a fantastic sounding spring reverb.

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1095

FWIW, I got a brand new RME UCX ii (first RME purchase) that failed on first power on with a bootloader error message.


Failure in bootloader
RAM error detected
FFFFFFFF

My M1 MacBook still detects it and brings up TotalMix just fine. But none of the buttons on the unit respond, and no sound either.

Mine might be one among a few outliers. It is a known issue with some units and the only fix seems to be to send it back to RME for repairs.

Anyone else have a similar problem?

1096

(This is kind of off topic though. Nothing to do with Apple/Mac hardware)

Relevant thread on RME’s forum:

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1097

yup i’m in a similar camp with the UCX2 unfortunately, pretty frustrating. Mine just plugs in and shows a white screen with no reckognition from the computer. Got no feedback from RME, and the return process is taking ages through the retailer I bought it from, apparently they’re waiting to hear from the RME distributor for next steps. Feels like money down the drain. The interface felt a little bit fiddly and rushed the 1 week that it worked. Got the sense of having too many features crammed into a tiny package. Not having an off button, and also the deafening crackle that comes out when plugging in and out was dodge.

1098

Sorry to hear, this sounds like a nightmare. Disappointing for sure. Btw, the big round knob acts as a power off button when held for 2 seconds. But I’m not sure if it still works that way when the device itself is acting up.

1099

nice1 for the tip, but weirdly my unit didn’t switch on or off when holding the button down for 2 secs… even while the unit was functional. Lets hope we get our units repaired relatively soon :slight_smile:

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1100

I have a fireface ufx. Love it - sorry you’re having problems. But I’m curious what your integration plan is once you get it working.

I’d love to have an adat interface from my modular. But I am really interested in the multiple live mixer capability of the ES-9 and also using it with a midi controller. If only the ES-9 didn’t only support toslink in it’s optical connectors.

1101

Hey! Glad to hear another solid review for RME, its the main reason I wanted to get involved - reliability! Think I and quite a few others are just unlucky with this product but I’m hoping it comes back from repair completely bulletproof and gives me the confidence to use it in important projects.

To be honest my plans are relatively basic.

I loved the idea of durec, so I can jam out without having the computer switched on and record the whole session to USB.

I wanted an interface that could comfortably replace my Keith mcmillen kmix in terms of number of inputs outputs, while also having the ADAT capabilities to start growing out into other areas as my studio plans start expanding.

I will definitely be incorporating Abletons CV tools to pump cv in and out of the computer with the UCX, I havent really been working in the box this last few years, but Im really excited to jump back in while trying to write with the modular in a more linear fashion while recording seamlessly into ableton.

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1102

How are you planning to go from modular to the RME? Just get 1/4" adapters and plug in directly to RME’s ins and outs?

I’m using all of my RME ins for other synths and drum gear. Thats why I’m interested in something in my modular that would be like an expander.

I was mostly interested in the Optx, but the mixer possibilities of ES-9 seem too good to ignore. But then it would be a second interface and bypass the RME so Durec and total mix wouldn’t work with it.