long time lurker and fairly recent joiner to the forum on getting an octatrack mkii (having owned a digitakt for around a year)
i recorded the digitakt simply using the digitakt software and using the tape rec mode - as opposed to recording via overbridge.
now i’ve moved to the octatrack, i’m thinking about the chain and making sure i’ve got a good enough interface / pres for capturing the main output well.
i’ve currently got a fairly basic interface, a Tascam us 2x2, not the HR version.
i’ve been toying with the idea of an analogue heat mkii or the fx - but to be quite honest i’m very happy to put all my time and focus into the octatrack, hence this thread.
so i’m looking for answers to questions:
are there any recommendations for audio interfaces that have particularly good/clean pres - anything that makes the Octatrack recordings notably better than a basic interface like mine, or perhaps mine is completely adequate?
what have been your personal experiences with different interfaces and recording the main outputs of the octatrack?
is the analog heat worth it over a similarly priced interface? (i really like saturation and would at some point like to hear this unit)
i think realistically, around £500 tops - but i’m reticent to say a budget at this point as i’m not quite sure on what i’m after.
Try running audio from the OT into your digitone inputs, play around with the levels, pan, and the reverb or effects until you like what you hear, then just try using your digitone as the interface and if you’re happy with what you hear just call it a day and don’t spend any more money.
Otherwise, I think it just becomes a general discussion about which audio interface people like the best, or a discussion about OT sound quality (or lack thereof), both of which I think that there are already quite a few in existence.
Tbh I’d go with the AH or AH+FX as both would be a great addition and you can play with filter etc or send midi to the FX via OT whilst you play and record.
RE interfaces - only time I’ve heard a difference is when I upgraded to a RME. And they’re pricey!
i think my questions are specific enough for it not to be a thread about favourite interfaces. mainly curious about the pres, also would like to know if upgrading interface made a notable difference.
yeah i think for the money and my set up, having analogue saturation, filter, eq etc definitely wouldn’t go amis here if going with a heat mkii or fx
RME have been on my radar for a long time, i know they’re great, but for the money a heat mkii would go further as i’m going to be using a combo of the octatrack and ableton. I wouldn’t be using the inputs for anything more than recording the octatrack and sending audio into it.
I meant digitakt, the usecase is the same. I would encourage you to at least try it before you spend any money, unless you’re in the market for an audio interface for general purposes.
edit: I’m not going to make another post but to quote the post following mine:
This is accurate and I’d probably add color in post if you want to. Just focusing on a clean recording is enough and for my ears, elektron devices have really clean audio over USB.
Why pres? The “cleanest” would just be line inputs. Preamps would be for coloration or boosting. If you record 24 / 32 bit there should be no need to boost in the analog domain.
pros
bus powered over usb (mines been permanently on for 2 years and not a single issue)
has expandability over adat/works great even as a monitor DAC
killer driver support- RME is top of its class for USB on windows and mac
very good headphone amp
cons
need to use dongle breakout for some i/o (midi etc)
only 4 physical inputs (2 XLR, 2 TRS)
RME totalmix has a small learning curve but the matrix mixer is very powerful and flexible
i use this for my windows setup, hooked up to a 2.1 genelec setup
i have a little decksaver on it, since i’m a bit messy around my PC (that i use for gaming etc as well)
my monitors are connected over XLR
i’ve run my octatrack and moog one through this thing and it’s extremely clean, to the point of being clinical IMO which is great for my purposes
lots of gain available on the 2 preamp inputs if you need it, i use a shure sm58 as my mic for gaming etc and i’ve been told its very nice sounding here of course i’m actually using the pre-amp gain and low cut controls (oh yea theres a DSP based EQ available on each channel, the higher end RME interfaces also give you a compressor)
I think it also comes down to form factor- if you can stomach the $ try and get an RME adi-2 pro and the arc remote if you need a monitor controller as well
best of luck, i’ve used UAD, metric halo, focusrite interfaces in my time. and lots of higher end standalone converters (burl dangerous etc) and i think RME is one of the top choices for electronic production because of how clean and uncoloured it sounds to my ears. In many cases with analog synths you have opportunities to colour your sound in more direct ways vs live recordings
edit: in terms of it sounding better than a tascam or heat / other interface enabled elektron box
hard to say without knowing what your monitoring/room setup is like. It might not be enough to justify the upgrade. Buy something from a retailer with a good return policy, and test for yourself will be the only way to know for sure
i moved from the digitakt -> octatrack, so no longer own it otherwise yes i’d do that.
i’m not looking to spend money for the sake of it - i’m just wondering if there’s a notable difference with a better interface than what I own / if the heat is worth it if i’m going to upgrade.
i just mean the inputs - i am having to raise the input level there to get a decent level in ableton from the octatrack - so just wondering if i can optimise here at all - or if that’s even necassary.
if you were local i’d totally lend you mine for an afternoon
also worth checking out the stuff from sound devices. their mix pre 3 has some of the best pre’s ive ever used. built in limiter as well 32bit etc etc
can find them cheap used, works over usb and can be camera battery powered. can also be a field recorder. might be able to find those cheap
If your limited to 500 then heat +fx is already out of your league
The octatrack is just a box with audio out , not much different to anything else … so basically every other ‘recommended me an audio interface’ thread is going to suit … could be a mixer with usb to pc , usb interface … old analogue mixers into whatever you already have. … 2nd hand / how many inputs / usb / FireWire (although they’re old now )
I know I’m Not helping much … there’s a lot of options … and at some point you’ll probably get frustrated with so much choice / opinions.
I’d keep it simple and stick to ‘a big name ‘
i’m not limited, that was just a ballpark, but to be honest, i’m likely not so bothered about the fx to spend the extra money on it - but i’ve not tried it so i couldn’t know.
yeah that doesn’t really answer any of my questions but appreciate everyone chiming in.
The Tascam US 2x2 (so not the HR) is fairly dated, any recent released audio interface has better specs in AD/DA, a lower noise floor, flatter response and more dynamic range. You’ll notice the difference with your current Tascam.
I’d suggest something like the MOTU M2, which has high quality convertors and a very linear, clean sound, but any interface in this (just above budget) price range (€200-€250) will make excellent recordings.
Check out reviews by Julian Krause for specifics of any released interface of the last few years:
I use the Syntakt nowadays as an audio recording and playback interface and it sounds great to me. I tried a very expensive RME DAC, but could not tell the difference:
I have used extensively, with ot and others: Apollo x4: Best sound, good onboard effects. Painful drivers. RME UCX II: most practical (usb, internal recording, good mixer app). The sound is mostly good (but not as good as the Apollo to my ears, different inputs sound different) Motu ultralite mk 5: sounds as good as the RME, less features, more affordable
This. Sure there’s plenty of good suggestions for gear that could well be ‘better’ than your current interface. I have a tascam us20x20 . Is it the best interface ? Probably not. Does it do the job? Yes. Has anyone ever told me ‘hey your recordings don’t sound that good because your interface isn’t as good as X’ No, they haven’t.
Sure you could get another interface. (As could I) Or you could use what you have. Your music is not dependant on your interface.
good choice, i can agree: if you have the money, go for rme, if you are on a budget, MOTU and Tascam are good picks. Audient has even better quality on their In- and Outputs than those two, but you need to grab a mouse for the software-mixer to reach important functions.
on reading the analog heat mkII manual a couple of times and the going rate for them second hand, it’s seeming like a good option.
one nice benefit over something like a motu m2 is i can leave it connected to monitors and power by DC, meaning octatrack is always connected to it. whether my MacBook is on or not. a simple quality of life thing.
all of it’s features for about £250 more seems very reasonable.
anyway, I’ll have a think on it, either a newer/better soundcard or a heat mkII will be a positive move.
