KVR Audio

benanderson · Post by **benanderson** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:31 pm

I have been looking at the ALVA Nanoface and thinking of getting this for my first audio interface. i only need it to rout my iMac to my monitors for the use with ableton and logic. I don't need to input guitars etc maybe a microphone every now and again.

As I have both a PC and an iMac on my desk at the minute I have a Xenyx 502 http://muziker.sk/ftp/shop/product_imag ... 2_7589.jpg

With this I cant control my audio from PC and Mac to my monitors at the same time.

I was wondering if I had the Alva Nanoface could I rout the audio from my Mac to the Nanoface then to the Xenyx so i can still control the audio or will it colour the audio in a bad way.

If it colours the audio in a bad way could i use my pc as an input to the nanoface and route it to the monitors that way

Or is there another way to do this.

I am new to all this so thank you for any replies and information that you give

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:03 pm

Why can't you just connect them to the stereo channels on the mixer?

benanderson · Post by **benanderson** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:24 pm

Thats the way i have got it connected now but if I had an audio interface from mac to monitors instead of from the Mini headphone jack to the speakers wouldnt the audio be better?

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:35 pm

An audio interface will sound better for sure. Why did you choose the Alva Nanoface in particular?

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:19 am

benanderson wrote:As I have both a PC and an iMac on my desk at the minute I have a Xenyx 502

With this I cant control my audio from PC and Mac to my monitors at the same time.

??? How have you connected it currently?
If you put the PC output on inputs 2/3 and the Mac outputs on 4/5, then connect the main output of the Xenyx 502 to the monitors, then you have both computers mixed and no switching is needed for the monitors. If you're thinking the 1/4" input jacks don't fit, there are cheap adapters that won't touch the sound at all. Weather you use the outputs of the built-in soundcard or from an audio interface doesn't matter technically.

benanderson wrote:I was wondering if I had the Alva Nanoface could I rout the audio from my Mac to the Nanoface then to the Xenyx so i can still control the audio or will it colour the audio in a bad way.

I think that's exactly what I just proposed. Any colouration should come from that dinky Behringer mixer. I don't know weather it's any good or not. If you test your setup with and without the mixer in the signal path, and you cannot tell the difference, then it should be good enough, right?

benanderson wrote:If it colours the audio in a bad way could i use my pc as an input to the nanoface and route it to the monitors that way

Can be done. But then 1) the PC needs to be switched on in order to use the Mac, and 2) it depends on the quality of the AD/DA converters of your PC, and 3) you'll add extra latency.

benanderson wrote:Or is there another way to do this.

A passive switch maybe: http://www.smproaudio.com/index.php/en/ ... /nanopatch

benanderson · Post by **benanderson** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:49 am

thecontrolcentre wrote:An audio interface will sound better for sure. Why did you choose the Alva Nanoface in particular?

It was suggested by a friend but i am more than open to ideas something around the same price range maybe upto 250 at the most.

benanderson · Post by **benanderson** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 12:00 pm

How have you connected it currently?

Currently I have no audio interface. I have a wire coming from my soundcard on my PC which is RCA to big jack, it goes from my pc to the Xenyx 502 input 1. Then the small jack to big jack wire going from my iMac to input two of the Xenyx 502. Then wires going to my left and right monitors from the Xenyx 502.

I hope this makes sense.

A passive switch maybe: http://www.smproaudio.com/index.php/en/ ... /nanopatch

Will this have 2 inputs? One for PC and one for Mac then one output to both monitors.

I hope this set up can be done but if not as I do all my production on my Mac i guess i could get a pair of cheap PC speakers for me PC and then use my monitors and audio interfaCE for my Mac.

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 3:58 pm

benanderson wrote:Currently I have no audio interface.

Then any one you add will be a step forward

I have tried to find some true "tech specs" (freq response, dynamic range) of the Alva NanoFace, but could not find any. There's only a brochure but that does not reveal critical technical info. Usually that's not a good sign...

The design looks just like the RME BabyFace, but internally it's a totally different product. So there's no telling weather this is a cheap SoundBlaster chip in a shiny box or a true high-quality product for a bargain.
Some more info: http://www.gearslutz.com/board/product- ... oface.html

benanderson wrote:I hope this makes sense.

Yes, that made sense. Exactly how it should be.... Except that you said you "cant control my audio from PC and Mac to my monitors at the same time." Please explain what the trouble is...

benanderson wrote:
BertKoor wrote:A passive switch maybe
Will this have 2 inputs? One for PC and one for Mac then one output to both monitors.

That's the idea indeed. Just a switch so you feed either Mac or PC output to the monitors.

Maybe the following is not yet clear to you yet. "Audio interface" is just posh speak for "sound card". Functionally it does exactly the same: physical inputs and outputs connected to AD and DA converters with a software driver so all applications have access to it. You'd expect higher quality from an audio interface than of a soundcard.
It's connected in the same way to either monitors, a mixer or headphones (if it features headphone amp) but it's just that the small 3.5mm stereo jacks typically found on internal sound card of a computer are replaced by some more "serious" connectors: usually 6.3mm jacks, RCA or XLR connectors.
Oh, and the real bonus is you should get a proper ASIO driver for low latency.

Just a thought: if you buy a USB audio interface and you do not produce on PC and Mac at the same time then you could just unplug it from one and plug it into the other as you like/need it. Connect it directly to the monitors, skip the mixer. That's always best for the sound quality.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 5:02 pm

benanderson wrote:
How have you connected it currently?
Currently I have no audio interface. I have a wire coming from my soundcard on my PC which is RCA to big jack, it goes from my pc to the Xenyx 502 input 1. Then the small jack to big jack wire going from my iMac to input two of the Xenyx 502. Then wires going to my left and right monitors from the Xenyx 502.

I hope this makes sense.

Are you saying you have the PC connected to a mono channel on the mixer and the MAC connected to a stereo channel using a single 1/4 inch jack? If so you need to invest in some stereo leads, and connect both computers to stereo channels.

So far as audio interfaces go ... it depends what you need. Mackie Blackbird looks good value for money if 2 in 2 out is enough for you. Native Instruments audio interfaces are worth checking out too. I use an AK1 and it's very good.

benanderson · Post by **benanderson** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:14 am

I have tried to find some true "tech specs" (freq response, dynamic range) of the Alva NanoFace, but could not find any.

If you have any other recomendations i am more than happy to have a look. Its just the NanoFace was suggested by a friend

Except that you said you "cant control my audio from PC and Mac to my monitors at the same time

Sorry I meant I have it set up in that way so I can hear both the audio from PC and Mac at the same time as I switch from them regularly.

A passive switch maybe
That's the idea indeed. Just a switch so you feed either Mac or PC output to the monitors.

This maybe the key to what i am looking for as I can connect my Mac to the audio interface then to this and also from my PC straight to this then switch when I need. As long as theres no loss in sound when using my Mac.

if you buy a USB audio interface and you do not produce on PC and Mac at the same time then you could just unplug it from one and plug it into the other as you like/need it.

This could be one answer to my question but its just a pain connecting the Audio interface to the mac then disconnecting and connecting to PC as I switch on a regular basis

If so you need to invest in some stereo leads, and connect both computers to stereo channels.

My mac has 3.5mm stereo jack lead that splits to a left and a right 6.3mm jack which goes into the left and right input of channel 1 on the mixer. Then on the PC I have 3.5mm stereo jack lead that splits to a left and a right 6.3mm jack which goes into the left and right input of channel 2 on the mixer.Then a 6.3mm lead going from left output channel to the left monitor and a 6.3mm lead going from right output channel to the right speaker.

I use an AK1 and it's very good

I have the audio 8 thats used in Traktor software, would this be any good?
I just need it to give me better audio from my Mac when producing. Also so I can use a mic with it and use my headphones from it.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 3:08 pm

benanderson wrote:
If so you need to invest in some stereo leads, and connect both computers to stereo channels.
My mac has 3.5mm stereo jack lead that splits to a left and a right 6.3mm jack which goes into the left and right input of channel 1 on the mixer. Then on the PC I have 3.5mm stereo jack lead that splits to a left and a right 6.3mm jack which goes into the left and right input of channel 2 on the mixer.Then a 6.3mm lead going from left output channel to the left monitor and a 6.3mm lead going from right output channel to the right speaker.

That's not what you posted earlier.

benanderson wrote:I have been looking at the ALVA Nanoface and thinking of getting this for my first audio interface.

benanderson wrote:
I use an AK1 and it's very good
I have the audio 8 thats used in Traktor software, would this be any good?
I just need it to give me better audio from my Mac when producing. Also so I can use a mic with it and use my headphones from it.

You're kidding, right?

benanderson · Post by **benanderson** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 5:20 pm

That's not what you posted earlier.

benanderson wrote:I have been looking at the ALVA Nanoface and thinking of getting this for my first audio interface.

I have a Xenyx 502. This is just to connect my pc and mac to my monitors. I thought this wasn't an audio interface and just a mixer? AM I wrong

benanderson wrote:
I use an AK1 and it's very good
I have the audio 8 thats used in Traktor software, would this be any good?
I just need it to give me better audio from my Mac when producing. Also so I can use a mic with it and use my headphones from it.

You're kidding, right?

im sure someone told me i could use this? Guess not

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 5:38 pm

The Audio 8 is a quality USB audio interface, with headphone and microphone connections, exactly as you wanted. It even has MIDI, so you can attach a keyboard. What did you think it was?

benanderson · Post by **benanderson** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 8:51 am

thecontrolcentre wrote:The Audio 8 is a quality USB audio interface, with headphone and microphone connections, exactly as you wanted. It even has MIDI, so you can attach a keyboard. What did you think it was?

Well when u said your kidding right? It sounded like there is no way you can use this other than for traktor

quayquay17 · Post by **quayquay17** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:24 am

It's an ASIO soundcard/interface. With excellent sound to boot!
I use the audio 2 DJ with ableton and my laptop regularly.

Just plug it in, select the driver in your DAW, and connect the outputs to your mixer.

Audio Interface question