KVR Audio

dsan@mail.com · Post by **dsan@mail.com** » Sat Dec 26, 2015 7:37 pm

@tcc - I use this (or you could use something similar) to solve that problem with my 2 Edirol FA-101's:
http://www.samsontech.com/samson/produc ... /ccontrol/

For those on Mac only you should look at the Thunderbolt version of the Zoom:
https://www.zoom-na.com/products/studio ... -converter

or
https://www.zoom-na.com/products/studio ... -converter

@fedexman - yes, the USB 3 is what got my attention the most. Zoom are one of very few supporting USB 3 which means to me a forward thinking technology company. At this time it's difficult to understand why all the other big names are not supporting the latest technologies.

Matter of fact, how many audio interface companies even have supporting W10 or El Capitan! drivers?

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Sat Dec 26, 2015 8:01 pm

dsan@mail.com wrote:@tcc - I use this (or you could use something similar) to solve that problem with my 2 Edirol FA-101's:
http://www.samsontech.com/samson/produc ... /ccontrol/

Cheers. My AK1 has 4 outs, so I have enough (for now). The Samson looks handy tho' ... nice price at Thomann too. You can get both the Zoom and the Samson for around £200 if you shop around a bit.

t3toooo · Post by **t3toooo** » Sun Dec 27, 2015 2:38 am

Meffy wrote: @t3toooo: I hadn't considered Yamaha. The AG06 might be better suited to my present and likely future needs than the AG03, and it's quite inexpensive too(oo). The variety of inputs and controls would be good for doing video tuts or podcasts. Impedance might be a drawback, as my '96 MiM Tele's output level isn't terribly hot. Still, I use a short, well-shielded guitar cable so that can likely be dealt with. Its physical layout is a lot like the Mackie 402-VLZ3 it would be sharing desktop space with, so they'd look harmonious together (being silly here but hey). Another solid contender, thanks.

The AG06 has the drawback of just one XLR Phantom power but then for me i don't use two mics for my daily work anyway.

Regarding the Hi-Z (which can be enabled by a push button on the Yamaha) .I'm using a small external pedal that has a volume control and i prefer it this way,it's small and portable.Most Hi-Z inputs on mid range mixers that i have tested are somehow noisy and not well implemented.

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Tue Dec 29, 2015 6:10 pm

Many thanks to everyone who replied. I really appreciate the hands-on expertise. Much better than going by spec sheets.

I've looked over the choices and am leaning toward either the NI Komplete Audio 6 or Yamaha AG06. Have to wait for money before I can order, though I could get the NI through Best Buy on my credit card… if they'll do a price match with GC or Adorama.

bmrzycki · Post by **bmrzycki** » Tue Dec 29, 2015 6:31 pm

Hey Meffy. I went through pretty much the same thing as you about two years ago. I decided on the NI Kimplete 6. I initially liked it but as time went on I began to like it less. The issues I have with the interface are the following.
1. Power on clicks/pops - Whenever I powered on the PC it was connected to I would get loud pops through my monitors. It didn't matter what the volume knob was set to either. This also happened if I ever disconnected/reconnected the USB connector I had to always remember to power on my monitors after the interface had been connected to usb for a while.

2. Scratching noise when adjusting volume - If I raised or lowered the big knob monitor volume I'd always hear unwanted noise in the monitors. It'd stop when I was done adjusting the volume but it was really distracting every time I'd change the volume level.

3. I had trouble adjusting pre line input levels. I just seemed fiddly: either too much or not enough and rarely where I wanted it. I used line-level devices, no guitars or phantom power mics.

Otherwise I really liked the unit. The drivers were great and the latency was too. I still have it as my backup interface / ipad interface.

I've switched to the Roland UA-55 (Quad capture). I'm really pleased with it too. It solved all three of the issues I have above, also works with win 8/win 10 and has good low-latency drivers too. The only thing I wish the Roland unit did was have separate volume controls for headphones and monitors.

If I was shopping again I'd also give the Steinburg UR242 a try. I've seen good things mentioned about them here and elsewhere and being Steinburg they don't treat windows users as an afterthought.

Good luck!

3ee · Post by **3ee** » Tue Dec 29, 2015 6:36 pm

Another thing to do if bored... Is to search "right mark audio" specs for the chosen audio interfaces

Another important thing are quality of drivers vs latency

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Tue Dec 29, 2015 6:36 pm

Thanks, I'll look again at the Roland and Steiny.

t3toooo · Post by **t3toooo** » Tue Dec 29, 2015 7:02 pm

Maybe it's worth to mention that Yamaha is delivering the drivers for the Steinburgers.

popflier · Post by **popflier** » Wed Dec 30, 2015 8:32 am

Stay FAR, FAR, FAR away from the NI Komplete Audio 6!

Provided that NI hasn't deleted the thread on their user forums you will find a ton of people, including myself, who have had nothing but issues with this device. I was fortunate enough to get it at Guitar Center and was able to convince a guy to return it for me after a month of torture trying to get it to work. (I've been using interfaces for nearly 16 years so this wasn't my first rodeo.) I too had issues with M-Audio. I also was looking for almost the same exact parameters as you in a device. In the end I picked up, and am super happy with, the Focusrite Scarlett 8i8. I would highly recommend it and I think that you would be happy with it.

There was a petition going around a couple of years ago to get NI to actually update the drivers for the Komplete because there were numerous issues and the device was completely unusable. They also hadn't updated their drivers in a couple of years...yes...years! Constant noise, crackling, latency issues, etc... NI's answer for solving the noise issue was to tell users to use a powered USB hub with their device, which actually didn't work at all. Then they tried to tell people to make sure that all of their computer hardware and the Komplete Audio 6 connected to the same power supply. That's not a feasible option if you are running more hardware than can power a 15 amp circuit. The device needs it's own power source plain and simple. I think that would actually get rid of a lot of the latency and noise issues.

I just found the thread on the NI site. Here's a link to it. If you read through the posts, and there are A LOT, you will see that no one from NI ever tries to help and everything that I have told you above is documented there.

https://www.native-instruments.com/foru ... em.158807/

Hope this helps. I'd hate to see anyone go through what I went through with this piece of equipment.

HM · Post by HM » Wed Dec 30, 2015 9:54 am

Its all about who got the brain to write solid and low-latency drivers, and maintain them !!

General consensus of drivers and best support is RME ,.. I just got babyface ,.. but out of you price-range

Before that I got the presonus Audiobox VSL 22 ,.. normally considered to be second-best ,.. I can confirm !

Wonder why this one haven't been mentioned, its even within your price range

http://www.samash.com/recording/recordi ... -pab22vslx

Life is to short for all the interfaces that maybe works, sometimes, I did learn that struggeling 15 years, now
I stick to RME and Presonus ,.. preferably RME off course ,..

(I use windows only)

Vintage73 · Post by **Vintage73** » Wed Dec 30, 2015 1:10 pm

I'm exceptionally happy with my Steinberg UR22, and I believe it ticks off all your boxes.

I'd probably go with a UR242 if I were to do it again (that wasn't out when I purchased), which will also give you a mobile interface.

The UR22mkII is cheaper than the UR242, and also functions as a mobile interface.

Just a thought.

risome · Post by **risome** » Wed Dec 30, 2015 1:30 pm

Firewire isn't dead yet .Focusrite is good ..they keep there drivers unto date.Your audio interface is the crux of your system ,spend as much as you can on one.The Clarett series is great thunderbolt as well and Windows drivers due shortly.

glokraw · Post by **glokraw** » Fri Jan 01, 2016 9:51 pm

Meffy wrote:
solger wrote:It can be used as an audio interface in general with other hardware or software (no ties to other NI stuff) ...
That's what I figured but it's good to hear from people who've used the gear for real. Thaks.

The KA6 allows budget to test a Fender Mustang 1 usb modeling amp/interface,
so take some headphones to the store. Mustangs have fooled tube-amp users
in double-blind tests, and the Fuse software interface for a dozen amp models
(mainly Fender, and a couple Marshall's) has cabs, bias, sag, a nice range of effects,
and an online stash of user sounds.
Used ones go for $60-$90. A single dial selects from 24 presets, so it's an easy test.
And creating new presets is easy (The more expensive models have 100 presets
and more amp based editing, and fx send/returns) Good luck on the shopping spree!
Cheers

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Fri Jan 01, 2016 10:11 pm

Oh golly, more input. Thanks, everyone. So much to digest — I almost went for the NI 'cos I could use a BB credit card, but if it's that problematic I might have to cross it off my list. Drivers have been my bugaboo all along.

Firewire, unfortunately, is dead to me 'cos I can't get a FW card to work in my music PC. If I could I might be able to get a year or two more out of my old M-Audio interface. Then again, I couldn't get Mac drivers that worked in El Cap (MBP with a FW port built in) so maybe not.

At this point I'm thinking the Yamaha AG06 and Focusrite 6i6 are top choices. If I could pick up the Yamaha in a GC or Sam Ash store I might even have one on my desk now.

It's just as well I'm tapped out. I'll have to wait a month or more before I've enough money to afford anything. I'll consider all the excellent advice y'all have provided, think things over, and maybe by February or so I'll be able to switch from ASIO4all and the PC's built-in sound to a proper DAC/ADC and so on. The built-in stuff's fine for composing and arranging but I'll want better before I try serious mixing.

kev2525 · Post by **kev2525** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 1:25 pm

Meffy,

I own a NI KA 6 and I cannot recommend it for all the reasons above. When it works it's ok, but it always craps out at some point during a session and I need to shutdown my programs, unplug the device and then start everything up again. It's particularly bad if I'm just using it for browsing the net, watching youtube or listening to spotify on my computer. Then it pretty much 100% craps out at some point. I've installed new drivers, done all the recommended things from all the threads I've read, but it still doesn't work. It's a pity because its a well spec'ed box and when it all works then it's great, but alas it's not worth it. Another thing it lacks which I miss is a software mixer separate to my main DAW. It would be nice to get a handle of levels coming into the pre-amps before they hit my DAW, but it doesn't have that functionality. The control panel is pretty basic in that respect. The old EMU 1820 I used before was much better in that respect.

Good luck....and if you decide to get the NI don't say you won't warned

Looking for audio interface recommendations