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#1
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
It must be the 20th interface I look at by now, all promising a
gazillion audio inputs. Then when I look at the photos, there are only 8 inputs and some ADAT Lightpipe ins and such esoterica. Great, like, I'll start using ADATs *now*... Does any Mac audio interface exists which has honestly, 16 or more analog inputs? Not 8 ins and some white elephant 120-channel digital audio in, just to claim 128 inputs as an advertising gimmick? |
#2
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
Keoki wrote:
It must be the 20th interface I look at by now, all promising a gazillion audio inputs. Then when I look at the photos, there are only 8 inputs and some ADAT Lightpipe ins and such esoterica. Great, like, I'll start using ADATs *now*... Does any Mac audio interface exists which has honestly, 16 or more analog inputs? Not 8 ins and some white elephant 120-channel digital audio in, just to claim 128 inputs as an advertising gimmick? I don't know about 'Mac' but MOTU do (did) a model 24i, with 24 ins and 2 outs. I use one daily, on a PC. You need an IDE slot for the host interface card.. geoff |
#3
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
"geoff":
Keoki wrote: It must be the 20th interface I look at by now, all promising a gazillion audio inputs. Then when I look at the photos, there are only 8 inputs and some ADAT Lightpipe ins and such esoterica. Great, like, I'll start using ADATs *now*... Itīs less about using ADAT recorders themselves, than the connection standard also called "ADAT" - if you find that to be "esoterica", you ought to read up on that subject. There are many interfaces using ADAT connections... Does any Mac audio interface exists which has honestly, 16 or more analog inputs? Not 8 ins and some white elephant 120-channel digital audio in, just to claim 128 inputs as an advertising gimmick? I don't know about 'Mac' but MOTU do (did) a model 24i, with 24 ins and 2 outs. I use one daily, on a PC. You need an IDE slot for the host interface card.. Really an IDE drive slot? Not rather a PCI or PCIexpress card slot? ;-) To the OP: yes, even Macs have PCI or PCIexpress card slots - these are not "esoteric" as well. |
#4
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
On 1/7/2011 10:16 PM, Keoki wrote:
It must be the 20th interface I look at by now, all promising a gazillion audio inputs. Then when I look at the photos, there are only 8 inputs and some ADAT Lightpipe ins and such esoterica. Great, like, I'll start using ADATs *now*... This is the way they can make one box fit more users. Most people these days only need more than a couple of inputs when they're tracking a band playing with drums. That's why most of the I/O boxes you see nowadays have only 8 analog inputs. The ADAT ports that you see on them are a way of expanding the number of inputs that you can shove through the Firewire pipe if you have an external A/D converter with ADAT optical outputs. Still, a lot of vendors are kind of skittish about trying to run more than 16 channels through Firewire. RME can do it because they have good driver developers, but not many others can provide good reliability or trouble-resistant setup. The way to get 16 or more analog inputs is to get a console with Firewire output. The Mackie 1640i will get you 16. The PreSonus StudioLive 24.4.2 will get you 24 (actually a few more if you count the stereo tape and auxiliary returns). The reason why it works out like that is because live sound people need a lot of analog inputs (which are expensive) and it's relatively cheap, if they have the working drivers, to throw those down the Firewire path. Probab.y the best approach for you would be to build your own out of available components. An M-Audio Lightbridge will give you 32 channels of ADAT optical input (at standard sample rate (half as many at 2x sample rate). Combine that with two or more 8-channel A/D converters of your choice with ADAT output and you'll have what you need. That will give you an opportunity to hae some "better" analog (mic) inputs, and/or some "better" converters. You can go with the cheap-as-dirt Behringer ADA-8000 (I think that's it) or Focusrite, or PreSonus, or RME or whatever converters you like. -- "Today's production equipment is IT based and cannot be operated without a passing knowledge of computing, although it seems that it can be operated without a passing knowledge of audio" - John Watkinson Drop by http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com now and then |
#5
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
On Jan 7, 8:16*pm, Keoki wrote:
It must be the 20th interface I look at by now, all promising a gazillion audio inputs. Then when I look at the photos, there are only 8 inputs and some ADAT Lightpipe ins and such esoterica. Great, like, I'll start using ADATs *now*... Does any Mac audio interface exists which has honestly, 16 or more analog inputs? Not 8 ins and some white elephant 120-channel digital audio in, just to claim 128 inputs as an advertising gimmick? You can daisy-chain two of them. Possibly three, I haven't ever tried it, but as I remember MOTU's sales literature says you can :-) And the Mackie 1640i is not a bad solution. The only reason I didn't get Mackie's card in my mixer is because I already had a MOTU 8- channel unit that also does MIDI, which I also need. |
#6
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
Keoki wrote:
Does any Mac audio interface exists which has honestly, 16 or more analog inputs? Not 8 ins and some white elephant 120-channel digital audio in, just to claim 128 inputs as an advertising gimmick? Well, Studer might still be able to sell you a D19 rack with a MADI card and then you get a MADI interface for the Mac. I think your best bet might be something that can be daisy-chained in blocks of eight, though. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#7
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
Phil W wrote:
"geoff": Keoki wrote: It must be the 20th interface I look at by now, all promising a gazillion audio inputs. Then when I look at the photos, there are only 8 inputs and some ADAT Lightpipe ins and such esoterica. Great, like, I'll start using ADATs *now*... Itīs less about using ADAT recorders themselves, than the connection standard also called "ADAT" - if you find that to be "esoterica", you ought to read up on that subject. There are many interfaces using ADAT connections... Actually, the connection standard is called "Alesis Lightpipe" but everybody calls it ADAT.... --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#8
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
On Fri, 7 Jan 2011 22:16:29 -0500, Keoki wrote
(in article ): It must be the 20th interface I look at by now, all promising a gazillion audio inputs. Then when I look at the photos, there are only 8 inputs and some ADAT Lightpipe ins and such esoterica. Great, like, I'll start using ADATs *now*... Does any Mac audio interface exists which has honestly, 16 or more analog inputs? Not 8 ins and some white elephant 120-channel digital audio in, just to claim 128 inputs as an advertising gimmick? Maybe not in one box but with BoomRecorder software you can chain (aggregate) I/O additional boxes. Here's a list of compatible hardware. http://www.vosgames.nl/products/Boom...compatibility/ Regards, Ty Ford --Audio Equipment Reviews Audio Production Services Acting and Voiceover Demos http://www.tyford.com Guitar player?:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWaPRHMGhGA |
#9
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
Thank you for the answers, I'm getting smarter by the day.
My original quest was for *something* streamlined that can replace my conked-out Behringer MX3242X keyboard mixer which routed my roomful o' layered keyboards into Ableton Live until a week ago. I wasn't sure if it should be a multi-channel interface, or another mixer, or a cheapo multitrack... (some older units now cost less than the digital mixers built in them)... I actually tried the Presonus mentioned earlier in a music store yesterday. It looks drop-dead gorgeous but it has the most horrible, plasticky, toyish-feeling faders I ever tried. A pinball machine has more tactile resistance than that. But hey, I'm sure the audio is great. (There was too much environmental noise for a true sonic check.) If I need to tie together several interfaces with 8 inputs, the processing burden will fall on the Mac. My favorite Mac workhorse is an old G5. (I have an i7 Mac too, but I got a decade's worth of software on the G5, so I still find myself working on it predominantly...path of least resistance.) Having multitrack audio pouring in from 2-3 separate units might be more than the G5 can handle, I'd rather the signal from all the keyboards mixed down to stereo before it hits the G5. Maybe I should get a used digi multitrack then, for this, they seem to be the cheapest solution... is there a consensus if Akai or Yamaha ones sound better for roaring (digital) piano tracks full of pedalling? |
#10
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
Keoki wrote:
It must be the 20th interface I look at by now, all promising a gazillion audio inputs. Then when I look at the photos, there are only 8 inputs and some ADAT Lightpipe ins and such esoterica. Great, like, I'll start using ADATs *now*... That's a Lightpipe connedtion, a digital link capable of 8 channels of 24/48 or 4 of 24/96 if SMUX capable. It's an Alesis spec that has become common on recent audio machinery. Does any Mac audio interface exists which has honestly, 16 or more analog inputs? Not 8 ins and some white elephant 120-channel digital audio in, just to claim 128 inputs as an advertising gimmick? Clearly you've not dug very deeply into the well of info about this. How many inputs do you need and what will you spend? There are many ways to handle plenty of inputs to a Mac or most any other computer. -- shut up and play your guitar * http://hankalrich.com/ http://armadillomusicproductions.com/who'slistening.html http://www.sonicbids.com/HankandShai...withDougHarman |
#11
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
Hello Hank,
On the keyboard mixer that died, I had 24 channels filled. However, the most I layer at a time for a take is 4 keyboards (=8 channels) |
#12
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
"Mike Rivers" wrote in message ... On 1/7/2011 10:16 PM, Keoki wrote: It must be the 20th interface I look at by now, all promising a gazillion audio inputs. Then when I look at the photos, there are only 8 inputs and some ADAT Lightpipe ins and such esoterica. Great, like, I'll start using ADATs *now*... This is the way they can make one box fit more users. Most people these days only need more than a couple of inputs when they're tracking a band playing with drums. That's why most of the I/O boxes you see nowadays have only 8 analog inputs. The ADAT ports that you see on them are a way of expanding the number of inputs that you can shove through the Firewire pipe if you have an external A/D converter with ADAT optical outputs. Still, a lot of vendors are kind of skittish about trying to run more than 16 channels through Firewire. RME can do it because they have good driver developers, but not many others can provide good reliability or trouble-resistant setup. The way to get 16 or more analog inputs is to get a console with Firewire output. The Mackie 1640i will get you 16. The PreSonus StudioLive 24.4.2 will get you 24 (actually a few more if you count the stereo tape and auxiliary returns). The reason why it works out like that is because live sound people need a lot of analog inputs (which are expensive) and it's relatively cheap, if they have the working drivers, to throw those down the Firewire path. Probab.y the best approach for you would be to build your own out of available components. An M-Audio Lightbridge will give you 32 channels of ADAT optical input (at standard sample rate (half as many at 2x sample rate). Combine that with two or more 8-channel A/D converters of your choice with ADAT output and you'll have what you need. That will give you an opportunity to hae some "better" analog (mic) inputs, and/or some "better" converters. You can go with the cheap-as-dirt Behringer ADA-8000 (I think that's it) or Focusrite, or PreSonus, or RME or whatever converters you like. Right the ADA-8000 is a cheap way to use the ADAT input for another 8 analog channels. I have no idea about Mac's, but another alternative that (usually) works on the PC is to simply gang two or three 8 channel interfaces. You simply choose those that are designed to do that, not all are. M-Audio does for one. I know there are others. Trevor. |
#13
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
"Ty Ford" wrote in message al.NET... On Fri, 7 Jan 2011 22:16:29 -0500, Keoki wrote (in article ): It must be the 20th interface I look at by now, all promising a gazillion audio inputs. Then when I look at the photos, there are only 8 inputs and some ADAT Lightpipe ins and such esoterica. Great, like, I'll start using ADATs *now*... Does any Mac audio interface exists which has honestly, 16 or more analog inputs? Not 8 ins and some white elephant 120-channel digital audio in, just to claim 128 inputs as an advertising gimmick? Maybe not in one box but with BoomRecorder software you can chain (aggregate) I/O additional boxes. Here's a list of compatible hardware. http://www.vosgames.nl/products/Boom...compatibility/ Of course remembering that you will need to be able to run all interfaces from the one master clock. Many manufacturers allow you to do that with multiple interfaces, and no need for any additional software. Or am I missing the reason you suggest Boom Recorder? I admit I didn't bother to look. Trevor. |
#14
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
Keoki wrote:
Hello Hank, On the keyboard mixer that died, I had 24 channels filled. However, the most I layer at a time for a take is 4 keyboards (=8 channels) Hmm... considered a patcbay? --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#15
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
On Jan 8, 4:12*pm, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
Keoki wrote: Hello Hank, On the keyboard mixer that died, I had 24 channels filled. However, the most I layer at a time for a take is 4 keyboards (=8 channels) Hmm... considered a patcbay? --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." sounds like what he needs is a tascam m164uf It will do 16 at once but you have to use some strange inputs on a few, like RCA on one of the stereo ins. It has 6 actual mic pres and the rest are line in of sorts. I saw it on sale a few weeks back for $200 I think. |
#16
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
Phil W wrote:
"geoff": Keoki wrote: It must be the 20th interface I look at by now, all promising a gazillion audio inputs. Then when I look at the photos, there are only 8 inputs and some ADAT Lightpipe ins and such esoterica. Great, like, I'll start using ADATs *now*... Itīs less about using ADAT recorders themselves, than the connection standard also called "ADAT" - if you find that to be "esoterica", you ought to read up on that subject. There are many interfaces using ADAT connections... Does any Mac audio interface exists which has honestly, 16 or more analog inputs? Not 8 ins and some white elephant 120-channel digital audio in, just to claim 128 inputs as an advertising gimmick? I don't know about 'Mac' but MOTU do (did) a model 24i, with 24 ins and 2 outs. I use one daily, on a PC. You need an IDE slot for the host interface card.. Really an IDE drive slot? Not rather a PCI or PCIexpress card slot? ;-) IDE - PCI same thing ;-) (ooops) geoff |
#17
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
On Jan 8, 7:42*pm, Keoki wrote:
Given that the most characteristic track in the album I work on is of a roaring, pedalled piano (picture Rhapsody in Blue on steroids), shouldn't I aim for the Akai, then, to capture the piano soundcloud the best? Then, with a DPS24, I wouldn't need a patchbay... I put this option up hoping, someone will care to play the devil's advocate... it looks so simple (and contains so many assumptions) I'm probably overlooking something. What's your opinion of the Keyboard article? |
#18
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
Kecki,
Using lightpipe inputs is a very standard way of expanding the total number of inputs. These are real inputs, not "marketing" inputs. I have an inexpensive Alesis !/O 26 (8 analog channels) with two Behringer ADA8000 units as expanders, and have successfully recorded 24 tracks live. The sound quality is surprisingly decent for such an inexpensive rig. The Alesis is a firewire unit, and as such should work fine with a Mac. Even so, I'm not recommending the I/O 26 per se. While I have had great success with it, there have been other users who have complained of driver issues. Rather, I am recommending that you consider one of those expandable 8-input firewire devices, of which there are many on the market. Good luck, Dean On Jan 7, 9:16*pm, Keoki wrote: It must be the 20th interface I look at by now, all promising a gazillion audio inputs. Then when I look at the photos, there are only 8 inputs and some ADAT Lightpipe ins and such esoterica. Great, like, I'll start using ADATs *now*... Does any Mac audio interface exists which has honestly, 16 or more analog inputs? Not 8 ins and some white elephant 120-channel digital audio in, just to claim 128 inputs as an advertising gimmick? |
#19
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
Hello Dean,
I like the idea of using an 8-channel converter with ADAT Lightpipe out to add up input tracks. Whether I'd buy a Behringer ADA8000 is a different matter. The keyboard mixer that died on me was a Behringer too. I live in a US state capital, yet there's no Behringer repair facility here! I had to ship the mixer over the ocean to get it fixed. Roughly 2 weeks after the repair facility received it, there is still not a peep how soon, for how much, (if ever), it's going to be fixed and returned. So, considering little things like these, let's just say Behringer is not my top manufacturer choice, at the moment. :-) |
#20
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
Keoki wrote:
I like the idea of using an 8-channel converter with ADAT Lightpipe out to add up input tracks. Whether I'd buy a Behringer ADA8000 is a different matter. The keyboard mixer that died on me was a Behringer too. Then try the RME ADI-8 Pro. Note that there are a whole bunch of different products all called the ADI-8, it's a whole series of things. You want the one with the converters. It sounds good, it seems very solid, and it's well-supported. Lightpipe and T-DIF ins and outs, no MADI. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#21
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
I found an interface with 16 inputs: the Tascam US-2000. It has volume
LEDs on the front... yess! And it's cheaper than Digi/Avid, too. But, ultimately, I opted for the Tascam M-164, Danny T's suggestion. At $159 a mixer, foam wallcovering probably costs more per pound. :-) |
#22
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
On 1/10/2011 6:57 PM, Keoki wrote:
I found an interface with 16 inputs: the Tascam US-2000. There are inputs, and there are inputs. You have to count them carefully to see if it meets your needs. In this case inputs 1-6 are mic only on XLRs, (not line level), inputs 7 and 8 are combo XLRs for mics or instrument pickups, 9-14 are 3 stereo pairs (or 3 mono inputs, and 15 and 16 are S/PDIF stereo. So if you need 16 mic inputs, or 16 line inputs, this one isn't going to cut it. -- "Today's production equipment is IT based and cannot be operated without a passing knowledge of computing, although it seems that it can be operated without a passing knowledge of audio" - John Watkinson Drop by http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com now and then |
#23
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
In article ,
Mike Rivers wrote: On 1/10/2011 6:57 PM, Keoki wrote: I found an interface with 16 inputs: the Tascam US-2000. There are inputs, and there are inputs. You have to count them carefully to see if it meets your needs. In this case inputs 1-6 are mic only on XLRs, (not line level), inputs 7 and 8 are combo XLRs for mics or instrument pickups, 9-14 are 3 stereo pairs (or 3 mono inputs, and 15 and 16 are S/PDIF stereo. So if you need 16 mic inputs, or 16 line inputs, this one isn't going to cut it. -- "Today's production equipment is IT based and cannot be operated without a passing knowledge of computing, although it seems that it can be operated without a passing knowledge of audio" - John Watkinson Drop by http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com now and then I'm pretty sure this is way out of your price range, but it'll do 16 analog in on a Mac: http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/symphony-io.php David Correia www.Celebrationsound.com |
#24
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
The Symphony looks lovely, though $3600 for an interfafce is quite a
bit. I might get an Apogee Duet though, between the mixer's stereo outs and the Mac. |
#25
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
By the way, interesting how the Apogee Ensemble, the Phonic Summit,
the Prismsound Orpheus, the Roland FA-66 and the Presonus FP-10 all use the same processor from Archwave (www.achwave.net), the company which introduced a new PC-free USB stick recording solution on NAMM 2011 today. ("Coming soon... the $3600 Symphony on a USB stick!"... just joking.) |
#26
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Does a Mac audio interface exists with 16 or more analog inputs?
Oops... www.archwave.net. My typo.
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