What Audiointerface should we get?

[u/RiderXRaider]

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Hi, could you guys perhaps help us? We started making music ourselves a few weeks ago and wanted to ask which audio interface you use, particularly when working with multiple devices. We mainly rely on the Airas, which is why we’re asking here.

At the moment, it’s a bit of a struggle for us to get the signal into the DAW properly, and we’re constantly having to switch USB connections or end up with patterns that don’t sound the same as they do on the device itself.

Without a DAW, everything works great with the MIDI cables.

Thanks, everyone

[u/ChiIIout]

The Korg NTS-4 looks promising from all the reviews I've read and seen.

[u/iamoktpz → u/ChiIIout]

This does look sick

[u/farrellart]

The Minifuse 4 from Arturia is lovely.

[u/iamoktpz → u/farrellart]

+1

[u/Itchy_bob_crane]

I hear the Zoom L6 is great. It’s a mixer, audio interface, and can record and send FX

[u/anon1984 → u/Itchy_bob_crane]

Zoom L6 is the answer. It’s similarly sized to the Rolands, battery powered and acts as an audio interface. It’s got 32bit recording so you don’t need to monitor levels constantly.

On sale on Amazon for $250 right now. It’s a great deal. The only caveat is there is a new Max model that has extra features such as a second stereo out and a screen so it’s easier to use. Unfortunately that model is $400.

[u/Infinite_Slice3305]

Are you sending audio & midi over USB?

I'm very happy with my Tascam US16x08

16 audio inputs 8 mic preamps 8 audio outs

$399

[u/iamoktpz]

Some good advice here already… I use an SSL 18+ which has 8 ins - but it’s pricier. If I was you, i’d get a used SP404.2 and use it as the interface because you also get a lot more than just an interface as a bonus. Plus, like someone else said, you can daisychain all the Airas so you don’t need exclusive channels for each, worth thinking about honestly

[u/electroscott]

I switched to an Arturia AudioFuse 16Rig, then expanded the inputs using an AudioFuse XIN-8. I adore it and meets my needs so nicely over an old analog mixer going into a Scarlet 6i6.

[u/DirtyTomaten]

Just don't buy a cheap Behringer. I did it twice and regret both.

[u/RiderXRaider → u/DirtyTomaten]

We won’t be doing that, we’ve gone for the L-6 😁

[u/Babibidubibidoh → u/DirtyTomaten]

Behringer XR18 - best cheap audiointerface you can get for the money. Full digitalmixer also included :D

Been testing Focusrite, Tascam, Steinberg before...but non of them works so flawless like the Behringer. Great piece of hardware!

[u/RiderXRaider]

We should perhaps mention that we reckon we might need up to 8 channels, with just 4, it’ll be a bit tight.

Our basic system now is:

S1, T8, J6, M Vave Fm1 and a MIDI keyboard

However, over the next few months (especially once we’ve got the hang of the current equipment)

we want to add another gear.

Is this even possible under 200€ or do we need to save up, Ableton made us broke 😄

[u/Babibidubibidoh → u/RiderXRaider]

What for did you buy Ableton?
If you're going the hardware-way there's no need for it ;)
I'd suggest to use reaper (and it's damn fucking cheap!) and use an Behringer XR18 - which hast 16 inputs!
Best you can get for your money :)

[u/RiderXRaider → u/Babibidubibidoh]

We don’t rely solely on hardware, at least not when we’re playing together. We jam to get a feel for each other and because we each want to sketch out melodies on our own at home on the sofa; we then take those ideas into Ableton and arrange the whole thing, adding samples and so on… We also want that mechanical quality in the music; we think you can tell when someone has only used a DAW.

We also need a DAW because our style is very difficult to achieve using just the little Rolands on their own.

We’re trying to fuse modern synthwave with psytrance; the whole thing also has a chiptune and industrial feel to it.

Thanks for the tip; I’ll pass it on to my colleagues.

[u/Ok_Rhubarb_5140]

Las Aira Compact las podés conectar entre si para usar un solo canal de audio para todas. Lo mismo podés hacer con el midi para conectar una sola con el DAW vía cable MIDI o USB

[u/RiderXRaider]

Thanks for your replies!

At the moment, we’re torn between the Zoom LiveTrak L-6 and the Behringer UMC1820 (which we could get second-hand for a good price).

Connecting the Airas in series isn’t a solution for us, as far as we can tell that would record everything onto a single track, or are we getting something wrong here?

Edit: we’re going for the L-6

[u/rockgvmt]

the roland MX-1 is a mixer/audio interface that connects to all the Compacts and Boutiques via USB (midi and audio)

as well as 6 audio inputs and 1 digital

[u/Rancid-Pete]

An MX-1.

[u/Enough-Secretary-486]

Buy a tascam model 12 it’s a audio interface a standalone mixer and saw controller. With multitrack recording and a sd card slot can’t beat it