Audio Interface Survey

Use this forum to discuss preamps, guitars, microphones, mixers, drums, turntables, keyboards and recording equipment in general.

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KStech
Posts: 64
Joined: Tue Jul 16, 2013 5:17 pm

Re: Audio Interface survey

Post by KStech »

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Last edited by KStech on Sun Sep 20, 2015 4:42 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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AHornsby
Posts: 1169
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2014 7:42 pm
Location: NE Oklahoma

Re: Audio Interface survey

Post by AHornsby »

I just made the plunge into the world of DAW's and have yet to lock down the major hardware for doing anything really wonderful. What I have been using (pre-DAW) is an LTI Blox laptop interface by Rapco Horizon. It has a 1/8" stereo plug on one end and an XLR male on the other. I have used it to not only interface into a laptop, but to link the laptop to a Soundcraft GB2 console and also as an interface through the output from an acoustic amp into the laptop.
22ndCenturyStudio
Posts: 32
Joined: Fri Dec 26, 2014 3:34 pm

Re: Audio Interface survey

Post by 22ndCenturyStudio »

I though it important to mention,that as I have come to discover...some computers/audio interface combos,do not play well with Mixcraft 7.
I believe,that due to my former computer being so under-powered,it created a plethora of issues between my M-Audio M-Track 2 Plus and Mixcraft 7 and the core issue(as it were),was that this combination of devices,generated false error messages.

My former computer,an Acer Aspire AXC-603G-UW13, was absolutely no match for Mixcraft 7,as I realized just how taxing,M7 can be on a PC(especially one that has only 4GB of RAM & only a 2Ghz processor.)
I am now using a Gateway PC with an i5,3Ghz & 8GB of RAM(16GB total),with the upgrade I installed and I could ask for a more stable workstation set up! :D

The reason I mention all this,is that there was some speculation about my audio interface & the possibility of a faulty driver in it,but this turned out to be not the case,at all.

Even on my old PC,my M-Audio interface worked fine within Ableton....so in case anyone has their eye on the very audio interface that I have,be rest assured,that the M-Audio M-Track 2 Plus,is a solid interface & a great value.

On my other PC,I have a Presonus AudioBox 44VSL,which is also a great purchase...but it is twice the price of my M-Audio interface(as it has twice the # of inputs).
gypsy101
Posts: 2322
Joined: Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:00 pm
Location: near Music City,USA

Re: Audio Interface survey

Post by gypsy101 »

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Mark Bliss
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Location: Out there

Re: Audio Interface survey

Post by Mark Bliss »

That looks interesting! I wish the 4 Ch. model had the virtual DSP mixer features. I like the channel strips with EQ and Compression.
Stay in tune, Mark

My SOUNDCLOUD Page
gypsy101
Posts: 2322
Joined: Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:00 pm
Location: near Music City,USA

Re: Audio Interface survey

Post by gypsy101 »

Mark Bliss wrote:That looks interesting! I wish the 4 Ch. model had the virtual DSP mixer features. I like the channel strips with EQ and Compression.
let's just hope it's a better build quality than the Tascam us-1800 which I'm reading is pretty much junk these days.
I would still like to see the meters on the unit itself like the US-2000 had,if for no other reason than to save screen real estate.
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freightgod
Posts: 720
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 5:18 am

Re: Audio Interface survey

Post by freightgod »

t.c. electronic desktop Konnekt 6 Firewire Audio Interface / Monitor Control

http://www.tcelectronic.com/desktop-konnekt-6/

Highly recommended, plays nice with everything, pretty flexible.

The only 'complaint' I have is that even when recording at peak levels and can't get a nice waveform in Mixcraft, I have to 'normalize' every track in order to get a decently viewable waveform for editing. I'm used to it, but it's a pain. Very little latency with the Asio driver.
gypsy101
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Joined: Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:00 pm
Location: near Music City,USA

Re: Audio Interface survey

Post by gypsy101 »

freightgod wrote:t.c. electronic desktop Konnekt 6 Firewire Audio Interface / Monitor Control

http://www.tcelectronic.com/desktop-konnekt-6/

Highly recommended, plays nice with everything, pretty flexible.

The only 'complaint' I have is that even when recording at peak levels and can't get a nice waveform in Mixcraft, I have to 'normalize' every track in order to get a decently viewable waveform for editing. I'm used to it, but it's a pain. Very little latency with the Asio driver.
why not just stretch the tracks vertically to see the waveform better? :wink:

how much gain are you using on the Konnekt?

is the PAD button always on no matter the instrument or mic?
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freightgod
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Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 5:18 am

Re: Audio Interface survey

Post by freightgod »

gypsy101 wrote:
freightgod wrote:t.c. electronic desktop Konnekt 6 Firewire Audio Interface / Monitor Control

http://www.tcelectronic.com/desktop-konnekt-6/

Highly recommended, plays nice with everything, pretty flexible.

The only 'complaint' I have is that even when recording at peak levels and can't get a nice waveform in Mixcraft, I have to 'normalize' every track in order to get a decently viewable waveform for editing. I'm used to it, but it's a pain. Very little latency with the Asio driver.
why not just stretch the tracks vertically to see the waveform better? :wink:

how much gain are you using on the Konnekt?

is the PAD button always on no matter the instrument or mic?
What is this PAD button of which you speak? How much gain? Ummm, as much as I can without clipping, minus a tad for headroom. You know, don't let the red meanies get you.

And yeah, I still stretch vertically a lot even after normalizing. But now that that feature is available, I often don't have to, so that's a real time saver.
gypsy101
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Joined: Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:00 pm
Location: near Music City,USA

Re: Audio Interface survey

Post by gypsy101 »

freightgod wrote:
gypsy101 wrote:
freightgod wrote:t.c. electronic desktop Konnekt 6 Firewire Audio Interface / Monitor Control

http://www.tcelectronic.com/desktop-konnekt-6/

Highly recommended, plays nice with everything, pretty flexible.

The only 'complaint' I have is that even when recording at peak levels and can't get a nice waveform in Mixcraft, I have to 'normalize' every track in order to get a decently viewable waveform for editing. I'm used to it, but it's a pain. Very little latency with the Asio driver.
why not just stretch the tracks vertically to see the waveform better? :wink:

how much gain are you using on the Konnekt?

is the PAD button always on no matter the instrument or mic?
What is this PAD button of which you speak? How much gain? Ummm, as much as I can without clipping, minus a tad for headroom. You know, don't let the red meanies get you.

And yeah, I still stretch vertically a lot even after normalizing. But now that that feature is available, I often don't have to, so that's a real time saver.
pad button (alson known as an attenuator switch on a D.I.) knocks too hot signals down -10 or -20db depending on the unit.

I don't see that on yours but I do see input/pre/post metering options so maybe you have one set too low.

the waveform should look like the top or middle ones in this pic.
(I was experimenting to show levels @ unity,-'10db, & -20db attenuation on a D.I.'s PAD switch.)
Image
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freightgod
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Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 5:18 am

Re: Audio Interface survey

Post by freightgod »

Worth checking, but input/pre/post is just for metering, doesn't affect output. And I've got a 12db boost enabled in the software controller :)

Like I say, it's just one of those things...it's a great interface.
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jlouvar
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Re: Audio Interface Survey

Post by jlouvar »

I recently upgraded from a 1st gen Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 to a 2nd gen 2i4, and I love it. The 2nd gen interfaces are much better than the 1 gen, and the headphone output volume is much louder too. The Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 is a nice little audio interface, and IMO much better than the 2i2 design because of the added input/playback knob.
- Joe -

MX9PS, 64-bit, build 460. Windows 10, Intel i5, 64-bit, 1.8GHz, 8GB.
Reverbnation: https://www.reverbnation.com/joelouvar
DavidMcKnight
Posts: 31
Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2018 1:54 pm

Re: Audio Interface Survey

Post by DavidMcKnight »

I recently upgraded from an M-Audio M-Track (basic 2-channel) to a Behringer 1820 8 channel input. So far I'm very pleasantly surprised. I'm using it with MX on an i-5 and have low latency and minimal resources used. I have not done any extensive testing of using all 8 inputs yet but have a schedule to do so in March.
MX 9 Pro, 64-bit. DIY PC w/ i5, Gigabyte Mobo, 16GB, Windows 10. DIY desk from HomeStudioGuy. Behringer 1820. M-Audio LX-4 monitors. Dyna-Bass 5-string. Strat w EMGs. Seagull acoustic. R0de NT1-A, Behringer C2. M-Audio controller. 27 miles of cable.
Drdish007
Posts: 199
Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2019 8:07 pm
Location: Tecumseh, ON, Canada

Re: Audio Interface Survey

Post by Drdish007 »

Hi,
When I got my new computer, built for music production, I got Mixcraft and a Focusrite 18i20. It works great with Mixcraft. I gives me the inputs in wanted, and is expandable if I need more inputs. It allows me to use hardware processing as well.

- Myran
Mixcraft9RS(469)64Bit, Win. 10 64Bit, Intel i5 @ 3.20GHz, ssd 250GB(os),1TB hdd(library audio),1TB hdd (recorded audio),Nvidia GeForce1050i video,16GB RAM,Focusrite 18I20 2nd gen usb,Motu 5 ch.midi interface, D5,U220,Keystation88,B4000+,Leslie,Rhodes73mk1
Partsman
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2019 7:49 pm

Re: Audio Interface Survey

Post by Partsman »

Focusrite Scarlett 2i4
I am a home recording hobbyist (wannabe)
For flexibility I run all mics, guitar, bass, keyboard, edrum module into a Behringer Xenyx 1202FX
Main outs go to the Scarlett then into Mixcraft Pro Studio 9
By using the mixer up front I can switch inputs quickly without having to rewire my rig
Last edited by Partsman on Sat Dec 21, 2019 8:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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