KVR Audio

Frank_Jaegr · Post by **Frank_Jaegr** » Sat May 19, 2018 1:18 am

Quick story short,

I’m looking for an audio interface to expand the life of my setup and I’m looking to spend as little as possible. I have a Focusrite Pro 40 that connects vía FireWire into my MBP 13”

B U T

I’m looking to move to a desktop PC where I’ll have USB3.. not looking to buy a PCI card or whatever at the moment considering I could always use the extra 2 or however many inputs more through daisy chaining via optical

This is my forever hub where I’ll be doing most of my work now.. Is there a way to get the interface to just.. like aux out into something like an MPC Live with inputs and outputs? Or would I be missing something key or understating the functions of what these items are intended to be used for?

Just looking for some opinions and recommendations, I just need the functionality of usb in the Studio now that FireWire isn’t really standard fare anymore.

Frank_Jaegr · Post by **Frank_Jaegr** » Sat May 19, 2018 11:46 am

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Sat May 19, 2018 12:30 pm

Frank_Jaegr wrote:and I’m looking to spend as little as possible.

Forget about USB3 then, because you'll find it mostly/only on high end audio interfaces.

I don't know what this "optical chaining" is? Do you mean ADAT (max. extra 8 inputs/outputs), like you have on your Focusrite? You can't daisy chain ADAT expanders though.

Frank_Jaegr · Post by **Frank_Jaegr** » Sat May 19, 2018 2:28 pm

Hmm.. Yeah. I was looking to go out of my focusrite via optical into another interface via optical in and then go out of the second interface into my computer (I might have the signal flow labeled wrong but you know what I mean)

If it’s ADAT, optical - whatever it is, as long as I can daisy chain in some way whether it’s just the normal outs that go into monitors but instead go through another interface.. just looking for the cheapest alternative and for recommendations sake.. what’s the best interface via USB2 and then what’s the cheapest for USB3, do you think I should just man up and buy a PCI card? Is it even worth it if I can spend 500 on a new interface?

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Sat May 19, 2018 2:50 pm

Frank_Jaegr wrote:Hmm.. Yeah. I was looking to go out of my focusrite via optical into another interface via optical in and then go out of the second interface into my computer (I might have the signal flow labeled wrong but you know what I mean)

If it’s ADAT, optical - whatever it is, as long as I can daisy chain in some way whether it’s just the normal outs that go into monitors but instead go through another interface.. just looking for the cheapest alternative and for recommendations sake.. what’s the best interface via USB2 and then what’s the cheapest for USB3, do you think I should just man up and buy a PCI card? Is it even worth it if I can spend 500 on a new interface?

My interface is an RME FF UC. I have an Edirol M-16DX (used as a digital submixer) connected through SPDIF RCA (same thing as optical TOSLINK). I can use connect the input or output digitally, but not both at once - or clock becomes unstable. I don't know, it might be a limitation of the Edirol...
If you're willing to go second hand - try to find a good RME PCIe (not PCI!) card for cheap.
But maybe this is my best recommendation:
https://www.thomann.de/gb/rme_digiface_usb.htm
Can send 8 channels inputs & outputs both ways (RME<->Focusrite), and if you want to record using the desktop PC, connect/buy an ADAT expander.

ShawnG · Post by **ShawnG** » Sat May 19, 2018 3:17 pm

A firewire pcie card is really cheap, and certainly much cheaper than a new interface, and also a whole lot less faffing around than trying to get your gear to do stuff it wasn't really designed to anyway. (Pro tip, only buy a firewire card with the texas instruments chipset, the others are hot garbage). I think you'll probably spend less than 50 bucks to add firewire to your pc, and you can just use your focusrite the way you are used to. Firewire is old news, but as long as it still works, why not?

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Sat May 19, 2018 4:12 pm

ShawnG wrote:A firewire pcie card is really cheap, and certainly much cheaper than a new interface, and also a whole lot less faffing around than trying to get your gear to do stuff it wasn't really designed to anyway. (Pro tip, only buy a firewire card with the texas instruments chipset, the others are hot garbage). I think you'll probably spend less than 50 bucks to add firewire to your pc, and you can just use your focusrite the way you are used to. Firewire is old news, but as long as it still works, why not?

The OP wants to transfer audio between the laptop+focusrite and the new desktop, not connect the Focusrite to the desktop PC via Firewire.

Frank_Jaegr · Post by **Frank_Jaegr** » Sat May 19, 2018 5:13 pm

Thank you guys so much for the suggestions, I’m sorry I’m not incredibly clear either so in reality, both suggestions have helped me get such a bigger picture of what I would like to do.

What is the difference between a PCI card and a PCIe then? PCIe is a card that allows connectivity & music data as opposed to just allowing an extra port be added? That RME looks awesome.. if I got a regular PCI port I wouldn’t be able to send data back and forth right? The same goes if i buy an interface if I’m understanding this right so far? Or will either work and that RME is loaded with life that is extended by its features?

I might opt for the card itself for now, really i just wanted to build a tower and Slave my Mac as a monitor using the power of a PC and utilize both (say my Mac using kontakt and battery and acting as a HDD and my PC as the SSD) but now that I have them as seperate entities it would be nice to allow connectivity at all times.. Any interfaces that allow the same kind of features of the RME (or at least allows me to do what I want to do) but has inputs for instruments/XLR? That’d be sweet even if it was two or one extra input haha

Again, thank you guys so much! Much love
to the knowledgeable!

Frank_Jaegr · Post by **Frank_Jaegr** » Sat May 19, 2018 5:23 pm

Looked for a couple of cards.. there’s a lot, is there a way to narrow down my search? Maybe you know where to get them for cheap?

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Sat May 19, 2018 5:28 pm

Frank_Jaegr wrote:What is the difference between a PCI card and a PCIe then?

PCI is old, and it's very unlikely that any new PC/motherboard you buy new still has a PCI slot. PCIe is its successor.

Frank_Jaegr wrote:Any interfaces that allow the same kind of features of the RME (or at least allows me to do what I want to do) but has inputs for instruments/XLR?

It's my experience that performance/stability (drivers) of many relatively cheap audio interfaces under Windows can be a bit hit or miss. RME is very solid in that regard - but they're not cheap. It's your choice and your risk to take.

You could go for the Digiface and connect a Behringer ADA8200 for 8 analog inputs & 8 outputs...

Frank_Jaegr · Post by **Frank_Jaegr** » Sat May 19, 2018 6:15 pm

https://www.amazon.com/Syba-Profile-PCI ... B002S53IG8

Wow! 25 bucks?! Jesus.. haha RME will probably have to wait.. can actually save up for the big RME toys too

and expand that way

It has the Texas Instruments chip in it too! Is this one okay?

Unaspected · Post by **Unaspected** » Sat May 19, 2018 6:36 pm

I'm looking to replace my Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP for similar reasons after building a Ryzen rig. The first firewire adapter I purchased with Focusrite's recommendation didn't work and I'm hesitant to waste further money on old tech - though I did find another adapter card that might be okay.

I also require optical in for a bank of preamps and I need an additional output to drive a third speaker for tracking guitar.

So there are two interfaces that I am deciding between:

RME Babyface Pro: http://www.rme-audio.de/en/products/babyface_pro.php

MOTU UltraLite mk4: http://motu.com/products/proaudio/ultralite-mk4

A Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 might be a good budget solution or a Clarett 4Pre USB would work for me - except that doesn't have optical out.

Frank_Jaegr · Post by **Frank_Jaegr** » Sat May 19, 2018 6:59 pm

I’ve heard MOTU when it came out was some good stuff, but over time I’ve heard the worst of the worst about MOTU.. No support for their products, no DRIVERS for their products (which makes them literal paper weights), and supposedly their customer service is junk.. Some people still use them, but honestly, simply because it’s W I N D O W S - they’re an absolute no because Windows the OS is miles behind Mac in terms of functionality of peripherals and stability so I can see why our mutual knowledge base (TCM and Shawn what have been so pleasantly helpful!) would recommend RME.. and honestly, I’ve heard nothing but good stuff about this company. If I had unlimited money my interfaces would be Universal Audio or RME stuff.. Focusrite because they’re the head honchos for functionality vs price point atm

Unaspected · Post by **Unaspected** » Sat May 19, 2018 7:11 pm

Frank_Jaegr wrote:I’ve heard MOTU when it came out was some good stuff, but over time I’ve heard the worst of the worst about MOTU.. No support for their products, no DRIVERS for their products (which makes them literal paper weights), and supposedly their customer service is junk.. Some people still use them, but honestly, simply because it’s W I N D O W S - they’re an absolute no because Windows the OS is miles behind Mac in terms of functionality of peripherals and stability so I can see why our mutual knowledge base (TCM and Shawn what have been so pleasantly helpful!) would recommend RME.. and honestly, I’ve heard nothing but good stuff about this company. If I had unlimited money my interfaces would be Universal Audio or RME stuff.. Focusrite because they’re the head honchos for functionality vs price point atm

Focusrite is indeed very good value for money. I was unaware of this side of MOTU. I've been in at least two studios with engineers raving about MOTU gear - though not audio interfaces. I guess that makes my choice a little easier but I think you've helped me more than I managed to help you.

Frank_Jaegr · Post by **Frank_Jaegr** » Sat May 19, 2018 9:52 pm

I tend to be so wary of losing money that I sold my Focusrite Liquid 56 for 400 for the Pro 40 which I found for 100.. They will eventually become paper weights, they’re not like mixers which have a longer shelf life but you can’t call up the exact session so it’s a pretty useful trade off when you consider 8 channels for a drum set and 8 for other things is enough (even 8 is great for 4 track Recording ala Beatles style)

I can’t go on and say I have personal experience with MOTU, but having an investment be a possible paper weight.. I can’t do anything about drivers and the likes, but it seems like these dudes don’t even try lol I think maybe they’ve just been around for longer than I realize and Focusrite is the new standards in town? Focusrite sure deserves it..

Looking for an audio interface with USB2/3 with optical chaining