Thanks to recent purchases, I’ve finally run out of inputs on my audio interface, and the cable swapping is driving me crazy.
It’s an SSL 12, so has 4 mono mic/line/inst inputs, but also has an ADAT optical in for expansion.
I’m totally clueless about ADAT, so wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what I should be looking at to expand?
Are ADAT expansion intefaces just normal interfaces chained together? Or a totally separate thing? Are they all compatible with each other?
My main priority is finding something compact, I’ve only got a tiny space, so definitely don’t have room for any rack-size gear (otherwise I’d consider something like the Arturia Audiofuse).
I guess I’d ideally like to be able to support at least:
2 inst input (guitar/bass)
2 mic input (with phantom power)
4 stereo line inputs (synths/grooveboxes etc.)
If a better route to go down is a new interface or mixer, I’d also consider that, I just thought that ADAT might be a simpler/cheaper option for expanding on what I’ve already got.
But like I mentioned, device footprint is a big concern, and almost all the mixers/interfaces with tons of inputs also seem to be huge square/rack shaped things.
These are discontinued but probably the smallest unit that would add 8 (balanced!) XLR line ins via adat. But you’d need a word clock out on BNC to sync it. Don’t think the SSL 12 has word clock out. Or if the SSL 12 can be the digital clock slave, you can use this as the master clock.
That’s total channels. Any more and I could probably use a patchbay/switcher for synths, but the above seems like a reasonable number of simultanous devices to go with.
I’ll typically record things one at a time, but for jamming/writing I’ll typically want to have 1-2 synths, drum machine, mic, bass/guitar all active.
Ah, I worried this might be the case…most searches for ADAT took me to rack mount stuff.
If it ends up being the only option I might have to reconsider it, but that’d mean a big reconfiguration of my tiny space, and a lot of effort for adding a few more ins.
There is a thread that deals with this in regards to Push 3. I think you will find the discussions and recommendations there overlapping with your needs
Yeah, I couldn’t find much. Really I’d like something in the form factor of two typical desktop audio interfaces stacked vertically, I just don’t have the width/depth spare on my desk to fit in rack-size gear (all my synths/drum machines/grooveboxes have a small form factor for exactly this reason).
Short answer is you probably want an adat audio interface that works in standalone mode. MOTU Ultralite mk5 comes up a lot, but that’s essentially adding a second interface.
The one with the smallest footprint (but input only) seems to be from Datanoise Push 3 - Audio interfaces / Digital Mixers - #12 by davidj
Dealing with a second interface simultaniously may be the best option. There should be a lot to choose from with the only requirement of 8 mono line inputs in a small housing.
How about a TX-6?
Pricey, but you can’t get smaller.
Look into the Roland Studio Capture. A bit of an older device, but still being manufactured by Roland (I think?). It sounds like it might have what you’re looking for. The converters and noise floor aren’t as good as more recent interfaces, but it’s usable. Latency is okay if you have low latency mode enabled and run it at 96khz. However you can also operate it standalone and directly monitor inputs with near zero latency. But it’s pretty much the most compact interface you’ll find that has all the inputs you need.
Thanks both. The MOTU Ultralite mk5 looks like it would work - though as you say it’s pretty much just adding a 2nd interface (which isn’t an option I’d considered, but don’t see why that wouldn’t work).
The TX-6 looks nice but probably overkill (I’d also probably lost it down the back of the sofa or something…).
I’ll definitely spend a bit of time looking at those options (and the Datanoise too).
Will do - that’s exactly the sort of form factor I was hoping might be more common, more brick shaped than wide/flat/deep as a lot of the rack stuff is.
Yeah, I was basically in the same conundrum as you years ago, and after a ton of research, literally the only interface I could find that fit my needs was the Studio Capture. It’s pretty much a 10+ year old device, yet somehow no one else has made anything like that. I wish Roland would put out an updated version, because otherwise it’s a great product. Also weirdly one of the very few things they still make in Japan.
Having looked a bit more on the SSL 12, it looks like it only has ADAT input, so you would not be able to utilize the outputs of MOTU Ultralite MK2 if you want the SSL to be the soundcard connected to your computer. If you wanted to use the MOTU as soundcard, then you can not use the SSL.
So my recommendation would to only get a dedicated ADAT input expander, in which case the Datanoise seem to be the only option in the form factor you ask for.
The Roland Capture does not have ADAT, so that would be instead of the SSL, correct?
That sounds right, I’m only really after extra inputs, though seems a bit of a waste not to be able to use the extra output (though just connecting them as multiple interfaces rather than as ADAT I would could fix that, but might bring other complications).
Yeah, the Datanoise is looking like the best option so far, especially for the price.
I guess so about the Roland capture, to be honest I’ll probably look at options that expand on what I’ve got first before replacing my interface entirely, that’s a bit of a last ditch option.
(I’d also probably lost it down the back of the sofa or something…).