Rode AI-Micro and/or other tiny audio interfaces

I cant point you to any specific device but i know there exists some products that will stream the audio to bluetooth, could be a route to go down :man_shrugging:

Please let us know if it works with line levels and how easy it is to use as stereo interface in apps

It arrived today and only had time for a super quick test so far.

I plugged it into my iphone, it prompted that it needed the Rode app, I downloaded and then it immediately updated device firmware.

In the Rode app I set it to see a stereo source from input 1, turned the input gain all the way down, and ran a cable from the headphone out from my nearest synth. Yep it works.

AUM picked it straight up as an audio interface and it worked fine.

I’ll try it with line outputs later on, but happy so far. And it is tiny.

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I use the line2usb with AUM all the time. It’s a benefit and a hastle cause it’s only one 1/2 of the ‘one audio interface at a time’ rule, so you can use another output. The ESI stuff is great for small as well.

Oh that’s good to know. Does it work with a lightning to usb adapter or do you use it with a usb-c iPad?

The only thing that kind of put me off trying it was doubt about compatibility, but more that it’s just an input- you’re basically limited to then monitoring via iPad speakers (or directly via headphones from the synth).

Oh, and that with iPhone I would have to use the cameras connection kit, which in itself is actually slightly larger than the Rode micro.

It’s class compliant. UsbC adapter, hub, lighting cck……it all works.
It’s bus powered off my usb c ipads. Usually an MD sits on the other end of it bringing it into AUM.

Basically the line2usb and a Roland UM-One (now replaced w/ Justin megaCMD) made up for the lack of usb audio/midi on it.

Nice.

For those interested, this is the size of the Rode AI-Micro compared to the cck and a usb A plug:

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It’s actually reasonably ok as a headphone DAC as well. I’m no audiophile but it does to me sound nicer than just the Apple lightning to 3.5mm adapter.

Had another quick play with it again this afternoon, it does direct monitoring so was a cinch to play some keys along to some spotify.

Great. How about line level input?

Just tried it with the waldorf stvc line outs - dunno if these run hot or are about average.

Yep, works fine. Gain setting in the Rode app set to zero. Most patches I could have the synth volume maxed, some I had to back it off 10% because it was close to clipping or did clip. So not tons of headroom but definitely enough.

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Is this showing up on your iOS devices as 2 mono or 1 stereo, or is it always dual mono?

It can be either dual mono or stereo, and another called merge, which tbh I’m not sure what it is.

But each of the inputs are trs/trrs, specifically for mics, so for a stereo input you just use input 1.

In Aum you get hardware input options of l+r, l, and r.

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I haven’t really touched any music gear for a couple of months. My studio/office is a bit of a disaster currently and I’m deliberately not sorting it out until I finish building a desk which hold a heap of the gear that is currently strewn across the room.

Anyway, seemed a good time to run the nearest synths (Circuit and STVC) off some batteries through the Rode Micro into AUM on my phone.

This has no musical merit and was not intended to, just a quick test, 6 separately recorded stereo tracks through the Micro. Honestly works fine. Definitely lacks head room and it’s easy to have a filter quickly put it in the red, but tbh I probably should have been monitoring with more volume and sending less volume to the input.

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Today I tried this out with Digitone and usb c iPad, recording into AUM. Again, have to be fairly careful with gain, and I probably had the DN’s master volume mostly between 50-75% depending on the patch. I wasn’t recording a pattern, just playing individual sounds to separate tracks in AUM. But yes, works well, even if what I came out with today was bloody awful and was promptly deleted.

I wasn’t exactly taking advantage of the compactness of the Micro this time, as my iPad was plugged into my monitor, and the Micro was plugged into a usb hub that was plugged into the monitor’s usb hub.

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I ran into my first issue with this yesterday trying to record from the 1010 Blackbox into my iPhone and iPad via the AI-Micro.

I got a heap of usb noise on the input, which persisted regardless of the BB being powered from the wall or battery. I had the Toraiz AS1 in the same powerboard and it definitely contributed to the noise (even when switched off at the unit but power going into its external psu). Removing only helped a bit and that was an audio cable proximity to power cable thing.

I did a test with Novation Circuit into the Micro and it was dead quiet, and likewise headphones direct to BB were dead quiet (I need to double check if the BB hp out remains quiet while output 1 goes to the micro). I’ll also need to double check the BB via another interface/recorder.

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Reviving this thread to ask if there’s anything out there that’s like the AI-Micro, but with more input channels. I recently sold my TX-6, it’s far more mixer than I need, and I realized that I could obviate the need for a mixer at all with more interface inputs and AUM. (This is for a portable recording rig that includes an iPad and some small instruments with 1/8" stereo outputs.)

If nothing fits the bill, I’ll probably pick up a used Bluebox or even one of those very cheap Moukey mixers. I only really “need” two channels in, to process a hardware synth with Fluss, but then I’d need a mixer for the other stuff. I briefly wondered if Bluebox could do both, what with the new USB functionality, but it seems not?

Another good option for this use case is the TC Helicon Blender.

Slightly weird design but it gives you a 12in 2out audio interface, or a standalone 6 stereo in 4 stereo/headphone out mixer. Takes batteries or wall power (not sure about bus power).

As a mixer, as long as you don’t mind the controls you use headphone 1 as the main output, and the others as post-fader sends.

It’s also all on mini-jacks, and the design is for several people to sit around it jamming, but it’s a bit cable spaghetti on your own.

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I did take a look at this and there are two seemingly contradictory features: “Outputs a high-resolution stereo signal to your mobile device or laptop via USB” seems to suggest it’s a 2-in interface. But then “Allows you to pipe each individual input straight into your DAW for mixing and post production” sounds like a 12-in interface. Is it in fact the latter?

Micro USB, good grief

EDIT: nvm you’re right, it is 12 in! Might try it if a used one pops up

Does the AI-Micro allow you to record iPhone videos with stereo line-in audio? I have a Zoom U22 which does, but I’m looking for a smaller option. (iphone camera app is a little quirky so you need to start video mode, THEN plug the usb device in or it doesn’t work)

I can’t remember. I think I got it working but it may have been a bit fiddly in when things were plugged in etc.

Sorry I can’t test again as we’re in the middle of moving and it’s packed in a box somewhere.