This is probably a pretty stupid question but i've searched the net and haven't found a definitive answer:
Is it possible with an USB interface to simultaneously record multiple instruments and at the same time monitor the sound that's coming from my PC/DAW?
So far i only used PCIe cards like the M-Audio Delta 1010 where this is no problem. Now the Delta only has 8 inputs and i will need a few more in the future. I know i could just buy another one used and sync them together but i have no free PCIe slots on my mainboard so i'd need to purchase a new one. Before i do that i wanted to see whats possible with USB devices like the Alesis Multimix 16 USB 2.0 or the Phonic Helix 24.
USB interface recording
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UltimateOutsider UltimateOutsider https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=216800 - KVRian
- 824 posts since 5 Oct, 2009 from Portland, OR
OP, your post isn't exactly clear on what you're hoping to achieve.
If you want to know whether a USB interface is capable of both recording into a DAW and also monitoring DAW output at the same time, then yes, all interfaces do that. MOST interfaces offer some manner of "direct monitor" or "zero-latency monitor" feature where you can hear the input signal without latency while singing/playing during your recording session. This mixes the live output of your DAW with the live input into your interface without the latency you'd experience if you were monitoring EVERYTHING through your DAW. Some interfaces have hardware controls for direct monitor, while others expose that ability in special mixing software (like MOTU CueMix and RME TotalMix).
If you want to know whether you can record instruments and also hear PC audio (that is, audio from apps other than your DAW), the answer is yes, all interfaces can do that- but that's more a function of Windows. (You just make the interface your "default audio device" and every program that doesn't have built-in audio device selection will output to the interface.)
If you want to know whether you can record instruments and record PC audio at the same time, that usually requires an interface with a built-in loopback feature. (MOTU and RME usually have this, but some entry-level interfaces do it too.)
If you want to know whether a USB interface is capable of both recording into a DAW and also monitoring DAW output at the same time, then yes, all interfaces do that. MOST interfaces offer some manner of "direct monitor" or "zero-latency monitor" feature where you can hear the input signal without latency while singing/playing during your recording session. This mixes the live output of your DAW with the live input into your interface without the latency you'd experience if you were monitoring EVERYTHING through your DAW. Some interfaces have hardware controls for direct monitor, while others expose that ability in special mixing software (like MOTU CueMix and RME TotalMix).
If you want to know whether you can record instruments and also hear PC audio (that is, audio from apps other than your DAW), the answer is yes, all interfaces can do that- but that's more a function of Windows. (You just make the interface your "default audio device" and every program that doesn't have built-in audio device selection will output to the interface.)
If you want to know whether you can record instruments and record PC audio at the same time, that usually requires an interface with a built-in loopback feature. (MOTU and RME usually have this, but some entry-level interfaces do it too.)
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 384 posts since 7 Nov, 2013
Thanks for the replies guys. Sorry for not being clearer, but yes - what i want to do is record multiple channels of live audio via the interface in my DAW while at the same time hearing the backing track coming from the DAW including of course the tracks i'm recording. There will be a bit of latency, of course but that is unavoidable anyway.
I could get my hands on an Alesis Multimix 16 USB 2.0 pretty cheap, which can record 16 channels simultaneously (+ the stereo out) via the USB - i'm just confused because i always thought USB would not be able to stream data bidirectional (this feature is exclusive to USB 3.0 as far as i read). So how would the audio from the DAW come back to the interface? It says on the website it has a "stereo return", does that have anything to do with it?
Sorry for the stupid questions, USB recording is new to me...
I could get my hands on an Alesis Multimix 16 USB 2.0 pretty cheap, which can record 16 channels simultaneously (+ the stereo out) via the USB - i'm just confused because i always thought USB would not be able to stream data bidirectional (this feature is exclusive to USB 3.0 as far as i read). So how would the audio from the DAW come back to the interface? It says on the website it has a "stereo return", does that have anything to do with it?
Sorry for the stupid questions, USB recording is new to me...
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UltimateOutsider UltimateOutsider https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=216800
- KVRian
- 824 posts since 5 Oct, 2009 from Portland, OR
I don't think I've ever seen an interface that couldn't do ADC and DAC at the same time. Maybe things were different once? (I only started using interfaces in 2010- before that it was all hardware instruments straight to tape.)Redukt wrote:I could get my hands on an Alesis Multimix 16 USB 2.0 pretty cheap, which can record 16 channels simultaneously (+ the stereo out) via the USB - i'm just confused because i always thought USB would not be able to stream data bidirectional (this feature is exclusive to USB 3.0 as far as i read). So how would the audio from the DAW come back to the interface? It says on the website it has a "stereo return", does that have anything to do with it?
USB 2.0 is capable of supporting a dozens of channels of bidirectional I/O. USB 1 is significantly more limited, and hardly anyone makes a USB 3.0 interface (there's not much point since USB 2 is good enough for 90% of users, plus there are other problems with USB 3).
That particular Alesis device supports many channels into your computer via USB and 2 channels out (just stereo output from your DAW).
Also, if you have an interface with direct monitoring support (and you use the feature), there is no noticeable latency when you are playing/singing live while recording. I never monitor tracks I'm recording through my DAW; I use direct monitoring for all inputs and that signal's mixed in my monitors/headphones with the DAW output which contains everything else.
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- KVRian
- 1055 posts since 19 Feb, 2003
A few years ago, USB was less capable.
Usb1 could only do 2in and 2out, early usb2 only a handful.
It's improved since then.
With a class-compliant usb2 you can do at least a couple dozen channels in & out.
Some manufacturers have tweaked drivers that can do something like 4 dozen.
Usb1 could only do 2in and 2out, early usb2 only a handful.
It's improved since then.
With a class-compliant usb2 you can do at least a couple dozen channels in & out.
Some manufacturers have tweaked drivers that can do something like 4 dozen.