Hi Everyone, Happy New Year.
I’ve been working without the aid of a computer (and loving it) since getting back into making music nearly a year ago. So far so good. All just for fun and I am achieving that goal so far.
I’m not DAWless in a badge of honour kind of way, just in a “haven’t really felt the need for it yet” way.
A wise Elektronaut said to me a couple of weeks ago why I don’t have things running through a computer to help with edits, polishing things off, correcting mistakes that inevitably come when just recording the tape out on the mixer and it has got me thinking about getting acquainted with Logic again.
I love the immediacy of using the hardware, I find it inspiring and I’ve been more productive this way compared to years ago just sat in front of a computer.
I don’t want to go back to making music solely on the computer but I do see the merits in trying to integrate the computer back in- especially with what Overbridge can bring.
I have DT, DN, Blofeld and Typhon and a Mackie Mix8 and an old but capable Mac mini. It’s likely I’ll acquire some other bits in 2021 but I’m keeping my GAS at bay for now.
I’d like to be able to not have the computer involved if I don’t want to and just fire it up for recording etc when I feel like it.
Looking for advice on an interface, new mixer if I have to, and signal routing to achieve what I’m looking to do.
Apologies for the essay. Hoping you wise folk can help me out.
I suppose it depends on budget. There are several mixers that act as an interface and include on board recording, mainly to a USB device.
I use a StudioLive 32 and I find it’s great. In stand-alone mode it’s a 32ch mixer with flexible routing and the facility for multitrack recording to a USB stick. Hit the DAW button and it acts as an interface and control surface for the StudioOne DAW software.
I should have added that!. I’m hoping to get myself set up for under £750 / £1000 GBP max if I can. Few hundred quid on an interface and a few hundred on a mixer if needed.
I’m also in a small room so space is at a premium, especially when trying to work from home during lockdown.
That Studio Live 32 looks amazing but way out of my league I think.
For now I can’t see spending money on both in your situation. Also, the more “boxes” you run your signal through the more chance to build up noise. That being said, prosumer stuff is pretty damn low noise these days unless you want or need a spotless recording probably don’t need to worry much
It looks like you need at least 8 channels (I’m not familiar with the Typhon) to record your four pieces of gear all at once. So that would get pretty pricey straight off. If all you want is to record one stereo track a new USB mixer might be the better option price wise.
I don’t know anything about USB mixers. For budget friendly interfaces Focusrite seems popular. Otherwise I’d recommend MOTU. I had a used 828 MKII for years that worked great…and through 3 operating systems, one of which wasn’t supported. Maybe a used 828 MKIII might be in order.
I still have my 828 MKII as it makes for a nice line mixer if I need one!
I’ve got the Allen and Heath Qu-pac mixer and it’s got 19 channels of inputs and it functions as an interface, too. it’s a bit spendy but the routing options, inputs, and outputs are really cool
Yeah it’s a biggish unit at 800mm x 600mm. They do smaller StudioLive mixers and I’ve seen them for decent money second hand. Only the series 3 have the flying faders tho. I got mine when they were running out the older blue model. Spec wise It’s identical to the black model btw.
The ARc models are cheaper but you sacrifice the multitrack on board recording and control surface elements. Just stereo recording to an SD card.
EDIT: Apparently I was terribly wrong about everything written in this post, please ignore.
Yea, you could use overbridge however I’m not sure how difficult it would be to setup the DT, DN and an interface. I know people sometimes have trouble having just one Overbridge device + an interface setup. The setup you suggest would not just be “plug and play” AFAIK. In Windows you have to setup “aggregate audio devices.” Overbridge works brilliantly for me by itself. I never got it work with my interface at the same time.
I think your first step might be researching that bit before you buy anything : ) Wish I could say more but I just don’t have any experience or knowledge setting up a bunch of OB devices and an interface.
Thanks. I really appreciate the intel, will definitely keep researching before I part with any money.
The lure of Overbridge and getting each track out individually seems too good to be true… hoping someone on here might have it working on a Mac. I watched the Dave Mech vid where he had 7 devices running through overbridge with no trouble. I tried with a free version of Ableton Lite today but ran out of tracks as it only lets you have 8.
Oh cool! Well maybe it is way more possible on Mac or just generally speaking. I don’t know what the best search terms would be, but there are certainly those discussions somewhere here on Elektronauts. I’ll be keeping an eye here to see if I can learn more about it myself!
This is not correct FYI. Overbridge sends its audio to a plug-in on a channel in your DAW. You don’t have to set it up like an audio interface. In fact, your OS won’t even see it as an audio interface in Overbridge mode. You can easily have an audio interface separate from your Overbridge devices even on Windows.
Also, I don’t believe Windows can do aggregate audio interfaces (its an OS X thing though). You can only use 1 interface at a time with a particular application in windows AFAIK. Unless something has changed recently with Windows that I’m unaware of.
oh well good to know, I happy to be 100% wrong about something! I haven’t had an Elektron box with Overbridge in sometime…none of it worked for me when I had an A4 some years ago, I guess it all works now which is great.
I apologize @LDP for my incorrect/outdated info. Never miss an opportunity to keep your mouth shut (I say to myself).
You can in a way I believe. A recent firmware update added class compliant capabilities (turning it into a basic audio interface). I think there are some limitations that make it not a “complete” audio interface though (not remembering what the limitation was right now because I don’t use that functionality).
Maybe someone else will chime in on the limitations?
I was definitely able to use the inputs on the DN to record into DAW. Less success with DT but I was in a rush. Will try again later. It did show up, just no sound coming in.
Also using a free version on Ableton that I’m not familiar with so there’s a high chance of user error.
I use bitwig, and have no issues running DN to seperate channels for processing and also routing external gear though the inputs of the DN to another overbridge channel.
I do have issues using the DN as main Audio interface at same time tho, as it causes latency with other bitwig tracks. I use a separate interface for this, which works well for me.
One limitation I have found with overbridge is that you don’t seemed to be able to stop the DN inputs from going to DN main outs on OB, as you can with DN tracks 1-4… For me this means I never treat this signal in bitwig as I like to mix and match between sending DN tracks through OB individually and using others with inbuilt Elektron effects (therefore mixing their signal with the input signal). Does anyone know of an way around this?
The other thing with mentioning is that I haven’t worked out if you can seperate L and R out from the overbridge DN external input. This would allow 2 instances of the inputs to be shown, and therefore allow to mono signals to be treated independently.
Will allow me to leave everything plugged in for DAWless stuff and then switch on computer when I want and bring the DT and DN in via Overbridge.
I’m aware of the short comings of the 12 mtk but I feel comfortable with them for the moment. Nothing else for that budget was able to give so much. Happy I haven’t had to break the bank to achieve what I wanted.
