[[email protected]]

Can anyone recommend a good multi-input (a minimum of 6 inputs,
preferably 8-16, 1/4" OK, XLRs even better) USB2 sound interface that
works with Windows XP and applications like Cubase SX2 or SX3? If it
has a mixer (ie can be used as a control surface) that would be even
better.

I previously was using a Tascam US-428 for a long time, but the thing
developed a noise problem that seems to be a hardware failure. It had
4 in and I would really like 6 or more. The control surface was pretty
nice.

I went to musican's friend and was surprised there is nothing similar
(USB, control surface, 4+ inputs) being sold. Tascam has a firewire
unit but it's twice the price I paid for the US-428 and but then I
would have to buy an express card (at least $50 for a decent one) if I
want to use it with my laptop.

Can anyone recommend a good manufacturer/model I may have overlooked?

Thanks

[Mike Rivers]

wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good multi-input (a minimum of 6 inputs,
preferably 8-16, 1/4" OK, XLRs even better) USB2 sound interface that
works with Windows XP and applications like Cubase SX2 or SX3?

If you aren't sik of TASCAM yet, their model 1641 fits your
requirements. It even comes with a copy of Cubase, so at least they
think the two will work together.

If it
has a mixer (ie can be used as a control surface) that would be even
better.

That costs more money. Lots more. And most of those that I can recall
use Firewire rather than USB.




--
If you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring and reach
me he
double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo -- I'm really Mike Rivers
)

[Ant Moore]

wrote:
Can anyone recommend a good multi-input (a minimum of 6 inputs,
preferably 8-16, 1/4" OK, XLRs even better) USB2 sound interface that
works with Windows XP and applications like Cubase SX2 or SX3? If it
has a mixer (ie can be used as a control surface) that would be even
better.

I previously was using a Tascam US-428 for a long time, but the thing
developed a noise problem that seems to be a hardware failure. It had
4 in and I would really like 6 or more. The control surface was pretty
nice.

I went to musican's friend and was surprised there is nothing similar
(USB, control surface, 4+ inputs) being sold. Tascam has a firewire
unit but it's twice the price I paid for the US-428 and but then I
would have to buy an express card (at least $50 for a decent one) if I
want to use it with my laptop.

Can anyone recommend a good manufacturer/model I may have overlooked?

Thanks

Alesis do a USB 2.0 mixing desk - the multimix 16. 8 XLR ins, 4 stereo
pairs. Phantom power, built-in effects for vanity reverb if you don't
monitor through the DAW. It reviewed reasonably well in Sound On Sound
in August 2008. Might be worth a squint?


Cheers!


Ant. (Tamworth, UK)

--
"Make me one with everything." The Dalai Lama at a hotdog stand.

[Bill Ruys]

wrote in message
...
Can anyone recommend a good multi-input (a minimum of 6 inputs,
preferably 8-16, 1/4" OK, XLRs even better) USB2 sound interface that
works with Windows XP and applications like Cubase SX2 or SX3? If it
has a mixer (ie can be used as a control surface) that would be even
better.

I previously was using a Tascam US-428 for a long time, but the thing
developed a noise problem that seems to be a hardware failure. It had
4 in and I would really like 6 or more. The control surface was pretty
nice.

I went to musican's friend and was surprised there is nothing similar
(USB, control surface, 4+ inputs) being sold. Tascam has a firewire
unit but it's twice the price I paid for the US-428 and but then I
would have to buy an express card (at least $50 for a decent one) if I
want to use it with my laptop.

Can anyone recommend a good manufacturer/model I may have overlooked?

Thanks

The Edirol UA-101 fits the bill (but without a control surface). 8 analog
ins/outs with two of them having mic preamps. It also has additional S/PDIF
I/O if you need it and midi I/O on standard 5-pin DINs. And, it's USB2
rather than FireWire, which is pretty rare these days for this kind of unit.

I've found the Edirol drivers to be pretty darn solid too, which is what
makes or breaks an audio interface IMHO.

Bill.


** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

[[email protected]]

Thanks everyone for your replies - these all look like good units, in
a variety of prices / configurations.

I think this Alesis may be what I'm looking for - it lets you record
16 channels simultaneously to your computer...

How does the mixer part work though - does it function as a control
surface for Cubase?

Thanks again


On Aug 26, 3:43*pm, Ant Moore wrote:
wrote:
Can anyone recommend a good multi-input (a minimum of 6 inputs,
preferably 8-16, 1/4" OK, XLRs even better) USB2 sound interface that
works with Windows XP and applications like Cubase SX2 or SX3? If it
has a mixer (ie can be used as a control surface) that would be even
better.

I previously was using a Tascam US-428 for a long time, but the thing
developed a noise problem that seems to be a hardware failure. It had
4 in and I would really like 6 or more. The control surface was pretty
nice.

I went to musican's friend and was surprised there is nothing similar
(USB, control surface, 4+ inputs) being sold. Tascam has a firewire
unit but it's twice the price I paid for the US-428 and but then I
would have to buy an express card (at least $50 for a decent one) if I
want to use it with my laptop.

Can anyone recommend a good manufacturer/model I may have overlooked?

Thanks

Alesis do a USB 2.0 mixing desk - the multimix 16. 8 XLR ins, 4 stereo
pairs. Phantom power, built-in effects for vanity reverb if you don't
monitor through the DAW. It reviewed reasonably well in Sound On Sound
in August 2008. Might be worth a squint?

Cheers!

Ant. (Tamworth, UK)

--
"Make me one with everything." The Dalai Lama at a hotdog stand.

[Mike Rivers]

wrote:

I think this Alesis may be what I'm looking for - it lets you record
16 channels simultaneously to your computer...

How does the mixer part work though - does it function as a control
surface for Cubase?

Nope. That's what costs lots of money. I haven't studied the Alesis USB2
mixer out thoroughly, but I suspect that it works pretty much like the
Mackie Onyx with the Firewire option - that there's only two playback
channels that come back to the mixer, so you can't even send multiple
tracks back to the mixer to mix with the real knobs.

Yamaha has a couple of new Firewire mixers that are very closely
integrated with Cubase and allow you to actually mix tracks on the mixer
as well as use the knobs as a control surface for Cubase. The N8 and
N12, $1000 and $1500 respectively.




--
If you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring and reach
me he
double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo -- I'm really Mike Rivers
)

[[email protected]]

The ability to record 16 channels at once is more important to me, I
can probably live without the control surface for now and spend $200
on one like Behringer BCF2000 or Evolution UC33e down the road. There
is also this Korg nanoKONTROL but I don't see a price.

Nope. That's what costs lots of money. I haven't studied the Alesis USB2
mixer out thoroughly, but I suspect that it works pretty much like the
Mackie Onyx with the Firewire option - that there's only two playback
channels that come back to the mixer, so you can't even send multiple
tracks back to the mixer to mix with the real knobs.


On Aug 27, 7:15*pm, Mike Rivers wrote:
wrote:
I think this Alesis may be what I'm looking for - it lets you record
16 channels simultaneously to your computer...

How does the mixer part work though - does it function as a control
surface for Cubase?

Nope. That's what costs lots of money. I haven't studied the Alesis USB2
mixer out thoroughly, but I suspect that it works pretty much like the
Mackie Onyx with the Firewire option - that there's only two playback
channels that come back to the mixer, so you can't even send multiple
tracks back to the mixer to mix with the real knobs.

Yamaha has a couple of new Firewire mixers that are very closely
integrated with Cubase and allow you to actually mix tracks on the mixer
as well as use the knobs as a control surface for Cubase. The N8 and
N12, $1000 and $1500 respectively.

--
If you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring and reach
me he
double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo -- I'm really Mike Rivers
)

[Philipp Wachtel[_5_]]

mad.scientist.jr:

Thanks everyone for your replies - these all look like good units, in
a variety of prices / configurations.

I think this Alesis may be what I'm looking for - it lets you record
16 channels simultaneously to your computer...

How does the mixer part work though - does it function as a control
surface for Cubase?

Thanks again

Ant Moo

Alesis do a USB 2.0 mixing desk - the multimix 16. 8 XLR ins, 4 stereo
pairs. Phantom power, built-in effects for vanity reverb if you don't
monitor through the DAW. It reviewed reasonably well in Sound On Sound
in August 2008. Might be worth a squint?

I would check out, if the USB version sends out individual channels or just
the "main out L-R" (=2 tracks). Their smaller mixers are built this way!
The "Multimix16 Firewire" does send out 16 individual channels (+ 17-18 =
L-R) and works stable
with the notebook, that some friends of mine use in their rehearsal space
to record.
It´s basically a standard small-sized analog mixer with fixed direct outs to
Firewire and a built-in fx unit.

Some experiences, I´ve had with the Multimix 16 FW:
- the signal level for the outputs is post-fader (i. e., EQ settings affect
the sound going to the DAW);
- the output signal is "dry", so e.g. you can send a reverb to a singer´s
headphone mix, but not record the reverb;
- the output level (to the DAW) is always set by the channel fader, no
matter, if the channel is set to "Mute / Alt 3-4" or "L-R";
- DAW output return is 2-track only and (as far as I´ve understood) only
possible by pressing a button (like 2-track to mix for analog ins). The
level is controlled by the L-R fader, meaning there is NO dedicated level
control knob/fader for the 2-track DAW returns;

AFAIK there´s also no MIDI controller or even connectors for external MIDI
devices on the Alesis Multimix series. And since it´s actually a normal
analog mixer, it can NOT be used as a MIDI controller surface for a DAW.
If you want an external controller, you might additionally get something
like this:
http://behringer.de/BCF2000-WH
http://behringer.de/BCF2000
http://behringer.de/BCR2000

but an additional controller means you need extra space for it...

Just to make it clear: I don´t own that mixer myself. A friend´s band has
one, that I´ve used a few times to help them with recording at their
rehearsal space.

All in all, it´s an "okay" mixer, but there are some downsides to it -
you´ll need to consider, if you can live with these or not. For that price,
I think, one can´t really expect more - especially, compared to the prices
of bigger and more versatile FW audio interfaces.

Anyway, I´d suggest you download the PDF manuals for every mixer/audio
interface you consider to buy and look for relevant passages and functions.


Phil

[Laurence Payne[_2_]]

On Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:19:45 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

The ability to record 16 channels at once is more important to me, I
can probably live without the control surface for now and spend $200
on one like Behringer BCF2000 or Evolution UC33e down the road. There
is also this Korg nanoKONTROL but I don't see a price.

I can't quite see the point in putting that much mixer at the INPUT
end of your DAW. There are much more compact ways of getting 16
channels into the computer. Keep the desk space for your control
surface.

[Mad Scientist Jr[_2_]]

Thanks for you rreplies...

That's true (about desk space) but a nice thing about the Alesis model
is the inputs are positioned all in a row up top where they are easy
to reach, and also the 1st 8 let you plug in 1/4" as well as XLR.

I see it includes digital effects - does that mean you can assign
effects separately to each input? (ps I am aware it is considered
better practice to track each instrument dry and add effects during
mixdown, however recording the tracks with the effects is a heck of a
lot simpler.)

Thanks again

On Aug 28, 4:47*am, Laurence Payne wrote:
On Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:19:45 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

The ability to record 16 channels at once is more important to me, I
can probably live without the control surface for now and spend $200
on one like Behringer BCF2000 or Evolution UC33e down the road. There
is also this Korg nanoKONTROL but I don't see a price.

I can't quite see the point in putting that much mixer at theINPUT
end of your DAW. *There are much more compact ways of getting 16
channels into the computer. *Keep the desk space for your control
surface.

[Mad Scientist Jr[_2_]]

I haven't made a final decision for a multichannel interface, but I
thought I had a few good USB2 choices for 8 or 16 simultaneous ins to
the computer (Win XP Pro w/Cubase SX3):

* Alesis Multimix 16
* TASCAM US-1641
* Edirol UA-101

However a recent discussion about USB2 vs Firewire (see below) has me
wondering if the firewire route is better.

Can anyone confirm this?

Has anyone had any throughput issues with any of the above USB2
interfaces when recording 8-16 tracks simultaneously?

Can anyone recommend a good firewire equivalent of the above, in a
comparable price range?

Thanks...


Newsgroups: rec.video.production, rec.video.desktop
From: "Richard Crowley"
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 10:47:37 -0700
Local: Fri, Sep 5 2008 1:47 pm
Subject: transferring VHS to digital video on computer?

"Mad Scientist Jr" wrote ...

USB2 is 480 mbps, whereas Firewire is only 400 mbps.
How is Firewire faster? Please explain...

Firewire is...
1) Full-duplex. It has an independent and concurrent data path
in EACH direction. This means that continuous stream of video
data can be flowing from the video gadget into the computer
without having to be interrupted to send commands, handshaking
protocol, etc back the other direction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplex_communication

OTOH, USB has only one data path and it must be interrupted
and turned around to send data, commands, etc. the other way.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication

2) IEEE1394 (aka "Firewire") was designed from the ground up
to be *isosynchronous*. This means it is capable of an uninterrupted,
sustained stream of data for an indefinite period of time.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/isosynchronous
http://www.allwords.com/word-isosynchronous.html

OTOH, USB is designed for burst-mode signaling which is
quite appropriate for most kinds of data transfer. Except for
high-speed, real-time data such as DV video.

The actual throughput (in 2006) attained with real devices is
about two thirds of the maximum theoretical bulk data transfer
rate of 53.248 MB/s. Typical hi-speed USB devices operate
at lower speeds, often about 3 MB/s overall, sometimes up
to 10-20 MB/s
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Univers...#USB_signaling











Mike Rivers:
If you aren't sik of TASCAM yet, their model 1641 fits your
requirements. It even comes with a copy of Cubase, so at least they
think the two will work together.
If it
has a mixer (ie can be used as a control surface) that would be even
better.
That costs more money. Lots more. And most of those that I can recall
use Firewire rather than USB.






On Aug 26, 3:43*pm, Ant Moore wrote:
wrote:
Can anyone recommend a good multi-input (a minimum of 6 inputs,
preferably 8-16, 1/4" OK, XLRs even better) USB2 sound interface that
works with Windows XP and applications like Cubase SX2 or SX3? If it
has a mixer (ie can be used as a control surface) that would be even
better.

I previously was using a Tascam US-428 for a long time, but the thing
developed a noise problem that seems to be a hardware failure. It had
4 in and I would really like 6 or more. The control surface was pretty
nice.

I went to musican's friend and was surprised there is nothing similar
(USB, control surface, 4+ inputs) being sold. Tascam has a firewire
unit but it's twice the price I paid for the US-428 and but then I
would have to buy an express card (at least $50 for a decent one) if I
want to use it with my laptop.

Can anyone recommend a good manufacturer/model I may have overlooked?

Thanks

Alesisdo a USB 2.0 mixing desk - the multimix 16. 8 XLR ins, 4 stereo
pairs. Phantom power, built-in effects for vanity reverb if you don't
monitor through the DAW. It reviewed reasonably well in Sound On Sound
in August 2008. Might be worth a squint?

Cheers!

Ant. (Tamworth, UK)

--
"Make me one with everything." The Dalai Lama at a hotdog stand.