#8

my bad!

20 characters worth of being wrong!

#9

I bought 1/4" mono to 1/8" mono cables and run them from any audio output on my modular directly to my motu interface. My motu has trims on the inputs to reduce the levels if necessary. But that’s pretty basic and works perfectly.

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#10

Ladik output - 4 line level outs in 4 hp! Just get some 1/8 to 1/4 cables. There is little control, but a cheap and easy way to bring the levels down. It sounds fine to my ears.

http://ladik.ladik.eu/?page_id=1152

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#11

Straight from modular to interface (RME Fireface 800) here. I trim the levels in the interface software mixer if necessary.

#12

I also typically connect Veils or Clouds directly to my MOTU interface, or with an effects pedal in between. Both sound good to my ears, but I’m wondering if I’m missing out by not using a proper DI?

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#13

Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 has built in pad functionality. Since you have the first gen you use Scarlett Mixcontrol. The “PFL” buttons in the UI are what you are looking for.

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#14

Thanks @jasonw22, that’s great to know! never used Mixcontrol so looks like it’s time to check it out.

@shellfritsch are you using mixcontrol?

18i8 aside - just to clarify, could Shades be used to bring levels from say the STO or the telharmonic down to a level that would be okay to run through an external pedal or through an amp via a 1/8" to 1/4"?

and to @pirxthepilot’s point, would there be any disadvantage to doing this as opposed to using a DI box or something like the Please Exist @madeofoak mentioned (or the uJack or any of the other solutions like it).

I’ll check out the Ladik output thanks @kirklandish!

#15

I have an expert sleepers ES-8 for this purpose. 4 channels, directly into the DAW. It’s pretty sweet. I know you want to ditch it, but…I guess I’m saying, I don’t know how! It’s kind of always there, humming along in the rig, doing exactly what you need it to. And in that sense, I don’t conceive of it as a opening too many doors within modular at all.

Before this, I’ve had success with 1/8" to 1/4" directly into a mixer, out of a VCA. So long as you get your levels right on a mixer, you can sum and go into your interface. Also serves just as well.

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#16

Yeah, I see where you’re coming from. Especially given the doors it can open with Reaktor and silent way, I would say it’s definitely something on my list for the future. I have a powered make noise skiff I need to fill once I work out this case but I’ve basically run out of things in my house I can sell :sweat_smile: so now time to make due with what I’ve got!

Could the ES-8 ADAT output run through the 18i8 ADAT input to send CV input to the DAW? (ideally the 18i8 would have an ADAT output I could run through the ES-8)

Though I guess the lack of the ADAT out to the ES-8 would prevent sending CV from the computer to the modular gear.

#17

The ADAT in the audio interface needs to be able to handle inputs and outputs to work with Expert Sleepers gear. The Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 only has ADAT inputs. I ended up buying a USBStreamer to use with my ES-3 and ES-5 and then combined the Scarlett and USBStreamer as an Aggregate Device in OS X for use with DAWs.

https://www.minidsp.com/products/usb-audio-interface/usbstreamer-box

But maybe the ES-8 has different requirements with regard to ADAT? Anybody know?

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#18

Yep, I use an Intellijell Triatt - almost the same thing - for the same purpose: sum channels down to the third out, and send that to my audio interface. You could use channels individually or together.

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#19

ES-8 can be used primarily over USB. The configuration I’m in is as follows:

Audio + CV i/o <—> Ableton over USB, set up with an Aggregate Device.
World Clock out from Apollo 8 to ADAT in on the ES-8, which means that the Aggregate Device isn’t doing crazy work with clocking, inducing other latencies.

I came from ES-3 with USBStreamer, just like you, to this ES-8 setup, and like it way more. The space saved with 4 ins on one device is great, and the world clocking saving the CPU extra work is fantastic.

As far as I understand, however, you can use the ES-8 exactly as you would an ES-3 if you so choose. So to answer your question more simply: AFAIK, no, it does not have different requirements.

#20

I use a uJack into my Scarlett but with only two outs, I then bought a few adaptor cables and use the pad on the Scarlett to get things to the right levels… never had any problems and cost the price of a few phono - TRS converter jacks.

for pedal integration I use an ALM SBG, which is cheap and can be used to get audio into the modular or attenuate audio out if you are not using it as a Send>Return loop.

it also converts CV to expression output if your pedals swing that way…

#21

I use a uJack when mixing in the modular, and an ES-3/6 combo when I want to route individual channels from/to the DAW (via an RME babyface).

#22

I also go from the modular directly into my Motu Ultralite mk3. No problem.

For attenuation I often just use a passive attenuator. Works great for feeding my strymon el capistan pedal.

#23

just wanna say I’m glad this thread exists
I’m just starting to get into multitracking and have 4-6 channels on a few devices/mixers that i’ll be connecting

running the synth outputs straight into the soundcard seems like the way to go for me

#25

SBG is legendary. Consider it a must-have in any rig looking to integrate pedals or external fx!

#26

I’m using a Bastl Hendrikson for this. 1/4in I/O really helps for pedal integration. Also you can CV control the wet/dry which is rad.

http://www.bastl-instruments.com/modular/hendrikson/

#27

I plug audio outputs from my modular straight into the inputs on a MOTU Ultralite Mk1. As long as you trim the input levels down a bit on your soundcard to avoid clipping, you don’t need a specific module to reduce the levels before they leave the modular.

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#28

I got a Please Exist from Meng Qi and the sounds are incredible going through those transformers straight into my mixer/interface, wow!

No attenuation necessary here

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