Route mic into digitakt via scarlett 18i8?

JohnDaker · 2023-09-20T18:34:52.052Z

hey everyone

i have a few elektron boxes, one of which is a digitakt, a scarlett 18i8 audio interface, an xlr mic, a pc and monitors/headphones

i would like to record sounds (anything, my voice, instruments etc.) through the mic into my digitakt

now i know i can’t just route the mic directly into the digitakt, but will have to get it through my interface first

i am able to get my mic into my interface (i use it for talking via discord etc.) but how do i get it OUT of my interface into my Digitakt?

ideally i would like to be able to jam with my entire setup and record some sounds/my voice into the digitakt on the fly every now and then and/or just use the digitakt effects to mangle my voice a bit

is this possible and how can i do it with my 18i8?

thanks a lot!

orionka · 2023-09-20T18:36:59.168Z

Check out focusrite control software for individual mixes for each output. You can route each input channel to each output channel, also in standalone mode.

Azzarole · 2023-09-20T20:44:55.709Z

You should also be able to do this within your DAW without Focusrite control. I only know how it works in Ableton, but there you can just connect one or two mono cables to outputs on the back and tell the audio track with the mic on input to be sent to this output rather than to the master. All you need to do is to activate all of your 18i8 outputs in Ableton audio settings. I guess this will work with every DAW. You can then plug these cables into DT and turn up external in volume for a pattern under master control page.

orionka · 2023-09-20T20:53:01.626Z

You need to set this up beforehand in focusrite control also. The way it works is that you assign digital inputs (DAW channels) and / or analog hardware inputs to your analog outputs each.
The output channels in abletons preferences are those before mentioned digital channels.

shigginpit · 2023-09-20T21:04:09.643Z

Is your XLR mic a condenser or a dynamic mic? if it’s dynamic (shure sm57/58 etc) you could bypass the focusrite and go straight into the DT using a DI box or a conversion cable, if the level is too low you could use a cheap mic pre (doesn’t need to be for a mic, just one of those powered mini mixers even) to bring the mic up to line level.

If it’s an xlr condenser I think the suggestions about the 18i8 are probably your best bet.

lowph · 2023-09-20T21:14:27.134Z

Or you can skip the microphone altogether and just yell very loudly at your Digitakt.

Azzarole · 2023-09-20T21:43:54.520Z

orionka:

You need to set this up beforehand in focusrite control also. The way it works is that you assign digital inputs (DAW channels) and / or analog hardware inputs to your analog outputs each.
The output channels in abletons preferences are those before mentioned digital channel

Pretty sure I‘ve never messed with this but probably forgot all about it.

orionka · 2023-09-21T05:23:50.875Z

This may be set up initially on the unit, but you can not directly select your analog outputs in ableton. You can say which DAW output channel you would send to. Those DAW channels need to be linked to the physical outputs via software. For instance, it‘s possible that your Ableton main channel 1/2 goes to physical output 5/6.

JohnDaker · 2023-09-21T06:15:11.671Z

thanks for the replies everyone!
so if i understand it correctly, the only way to do this is to use the focusrite control software and route it through my DAW first?

orionka · 2023-09-21T06:21:39.720Z

No. You can use your 18i20 as a standalone unit without laptop. You just need to configure it once with the software.

Azzarole · 2023-09-21T07:15:45.328Z

orionka:

This may be set up initially on the unit, but you can not directly select your analog outputs in ableton. You can say which DAW output channel you would send to. Those DAW channels need to be linked to the physical outputs via software. For instance, it‘s possible that your Ableton main channel 1/2 goes to physical output 5/6.

I see, thanks for clarifying that !

@JohnDaker: You might experience some latency with this method, not sure. Let us know if you’ve tried it how everything works. Also interested in your results, as I‘m also thinking about doing more crazy stuff with my vocals.

orionka · 2023-09-21T07:25:16.417Z

The thing is, that if you route your physical inputs to your physical outputs, there is no relevant latency introduced. I know, because I use the 18i20 in the same way,

image1280×960 155 KB

routing stuff in and out.