2022 interface and DAW

[analag]

Quantum let's you bypass the built in preamps. On the ADC side I find it to be excellent. On the DAC side I get a little more out of the Clarett. Plus Thunderbolt is way more fun than USB, none of that Jerry Rig gimmick type monitoring scheme. Input latency is 5 ms and output is 6 ms and I can go lower if needed.

 

[cyrano]

Me too I don't need any preamps. Just inputs! I'd like to be able to record 16 inputs at the same time!

How about the RME Digiface USB?

http://www.economik.com/rme/digiface-usb/
Gives you RME drivers, Digicheck and TotalMix. Up to 32 IO + headphones out. You just need a number of ADAT boxes. Presonus, Behringer ADA8200 or Ferrofish Pulse 16?

The ADAT ports can also be configged as optical spdif, if needed.

 

[Sonic]

I use Harrison Mixbus 32 Cv 7 with RME Ff800 interface on one machine and RME Multiface on another machine. Yes- not the top-end converters, but performance and stability, like an armored train. I have been working with RME since 2005. To connect via ADAT, Alesis XT and Alesis HD24 are available. Since 2001, I have worked in Cubase, Nuendo, Samplitude, Logic, PT Mix, SADiE 4. The last two complexes were with comrades. I stopped at Mixbus 32 C, starting with v3, but for the first time I tried the 1st version.

 

[Ricardus]

Me too I don't need any preamps. Just inputs! I'd like to be able to record 16 inputs at the same time!

Exactly. I wish Focusrite make another box with 16 input of A/D with line inputs, instead of an 8 channel box with preamps. I have world class preamps at my disposal. Just give me 16 channels of solid conversion. Even if it's Scarlett conversion. Sounds fine to me.

 

[totoxraymond]

You should watch Ferrofish converters.

I have one of their legacy 16x16 adat interface and it's works perfectly with my RME ff800.

The newer pulse16 is available with adat, madi and dante.

 

[analag]

I adat connect the Presonus and Clarett for 16 ins or 20 outs, but I'll just externally summ 8 stereo pairs and call it a day. I also have the spdif doing external EFX routing of my old hardware Lexicon boxes. And the monitor must be many inches for my mature eyes.

 

[3nity]

My experience with interfaces, just in case the info helps
EMU1212m - works great now, but had so many exasperating problems getting it working that I was ready to throw it and the PC out the window. After learning what works, I was even able to get this intfc working under WIN10(I have it on an XP PC at this point in time), ~8ms laten @44.1k (tracking only)
Scarlett 2i4, 3rd gen - worked well under WIN10, 8.4ms laten @44.1k (tracking only)
Scarlett 18i8, 3rd gen - works well under WIN10, except that I lose MIDI connection every once in a while, 7.8-8.4msec laten@48k tracking and mixing.......depending on number/type of plugins being used
Keep in mind that this is a sample size of 1 for each intfc

I had an Emu back in 2005 I never made it to work right!

 

[scott2000]

I had an Emu back in 2005 I never made it to work right!

Their Patchmix was pretty insane but cool

 

[zirafa]

Believe it or not I'm still using protools 8 with an 002 rack
But I'm finding myself limited with no more updates blah blah blah.

What are the DAW option with little learning curve?
What you guys suggest a nice update from the 002 rack? I was considering MOTU but they have lots of troubles with hardware.

Suggestions please.

What hardware troubles? I've been using a MOTU M4 and have found it to be extremely solid. Highly recommended for a small setup. No drivers required on mac too, which I appreciate. If you work with synths at all, MIDI and DC-coupled outs are a nice touch.

Whatever you get, make sure you review not just the hardware specs but the overall user experience of driver installation and software setup.

I like Harrison Mixbus / Ardour for the quick console mixing workflow and open source foundation. But there are lots of good DAW options these days, check out Reaper, Logic, and Ableton.

 

[scott2000]

Cubase 12 stepping it up....Dropping Rewire ....

One of the updates..

 

[Newmarket]

Any opinions on which converter manufacturers rate highly (or lowly) in terms of drivers / installation / updates etc...

 

[scott2000]

Any opinions on which converter manufacturers rate highly (or lowly) in terms of drivers / installation / updates etc...

RME would most likely be towards the top?

 

[Grooveteer]

I've seen that the latest audiofire driver works for win10 for some as well, though I don't think it is officially supported
Haven't tried it but good to know

Jup. Works just fine over here. (running 2 x Audiofire12 on Win10)

edit to stay on topic: DAW is Cakewalk

 

[totoxraymond]

Yep, RME drivers are very good and they keep support for older interfaces. I still use my fireface800 flawlessly on windows 10 and a good friend of mine uses his even older Hammerfall Multiface.

Service is quite good too. Mine had its fw ports replaced a few years ago. SCV audio was the distributor here at that time.

I can only recommend them.

 

[Newmarket]

Thanks for the input (no pun intended).
Any particular to avoid ?

 

[john12ax7]

Lynx is another good one, them and RME are both solid.

On the other end have read not so good things for Antelope support, so probably avoid them.

 

[scott2000]

have read not so good things for Antelope support, so probably avoid them.

Wasn't there a tie somewhere to the old Aardvark stuff?

 

[john12ax7]

Wasn't there a tie somewhere to the old Aardvark stuff?

Think it's the same people.

 

[Rybow]

I don’t mind the Scarlett’s. I have a 2nd gen 2i4 at home, and work with a 3rd gen 18i20 in studio. Haven’t had any issues with them. I don’t use the mic preamps as i have a selection of goodies.
I am a bit annoyed by the Focusrite control for the 3rd gen stuff. My 2nd gen has everything on the front panel. I guess they need to save money on switches and buttons.
I look forward to getting something new and fancy, but I need to upgrade my computer first.

 

[benqbasic]

You didn't mention how much you wanted to spend. Surely that is a determining factor.

Most people here are pushing their own setup, but how many alternative setups have people used?

All mainstream DAWs will get the job done and as a hobby studio it doesn't matter too much what you use. Studio one seems to be the flavour of the month/year. Most have demos. I'd record a song in each one and see if you like the workflow. PT is great for commerical but only you can justify the cost for a home studio. People are doing great work in Reaper too. I primarily use Cubase and PT/Logic when i was on mac.

The moves you make inside the DAW make far more difference than the summing engine.