Honestly I don‘t know… It‘s my first one. I needed one that can record without laptop too.
downside of R16 is only 44.1k supported.
so, R24 seems better if 44.1k is insufficient.
In interface mode, it supports up to 24bit/96kHz.
If you want to use fx, or record to sd card, it only supports up to 44kHz.
Honestly, if 44kHz would be that problem, every single octatrack would be meh.
Quote out of the manual:
Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) audio interface
You can use the R16 as a Hi-speed USB (USB
2.0) audio interface that has abundant input
and output jacks. The R16 can handle 8 inputs
and 2 outputs at a maximum of 24-bit and 96
kHz, and its effects can even be used at 44.1
kHz sampling rate. The unit can also operate
using only USB bus power.
MOTU all the way.
UltraLite Mk3 Hybrid here (USB+Firewire).
Can work as standalone devices.
8 IN 10 OUT.
Compresor, EQ and Reverb.
CueMix allows for routings and hardware setups can be recalled.
Have been using it so far with Traktor and Maschine.
Now with Volcas and DT.
Super reliable under Mac.
Far cheaper than other brands and top quality.
Can vouch for it.
Still didn’t pull the trigger on anything. Once you start digging in and reading specs and start GASing real hard it doesn’t take you long to browse the 5k EUR and up - sections
But one thing that I found out is, that there are two different types of these products:
There are Mixers with audio interfaces as secondary function and there are audio interfaces with mixers as secondary function. Recalling what the requirements are (space limitations aside) I definitely need the first category.
Motu still in the race, RME delivers way over the top, k-mix still somehow quirky to me, zoom needs more investigation.
Will keep you in the loop as to where my wine-supported rooftop-located (yay, summer has come to town!) online-reviews will lead me
Cheers
Mixer (CueMix) in MOTU UltraLite Mk3 is extremely flexible. You can remotely control it through an iPad app.
The mixer that comes with UltraLite Mk4 is even better in terms of routings.
I had not used much of CueMix up until 6 months ago when I started working away from my laptop. It has proven to be extremely handy.
Hope this helps,
V
Guys, thanks for all the recommendations, just a quick wrap-up here…
I guess I’ll just abandon multitrack recording. That’s the conclusion I had after reviewing all the gear mentioned here and then also putting my view of “live” into perspective.
Thing is: I’m preparing for a little (private) live set right now and a mixer is just one more thing to take with you. Multitracking and separate editing won’t be happening anyway when playing live. I’ll get a 2 in interface to record the final output, should give a much clearer view on what to expect on a PA system.
Guess I’ll just get an OT in the near future to consolidate my DT, the Erica Synth Techno System and the Lyra-8 and learn it’s (the OT’s) other features along the way.
But thanks to all of you who contributed!
Cheers,
Manolo
Good luck, manolo.
As for me, I’ve got my sights on a Roland Go Mixer Pro, as part of my little campaign to put up videos on Youtube. It allows simultaneous video and multi-track audio recording. At its price point, there are unavoidable compromises, but I’m willing to live with those.
Go:Mixer is actually really handy. It is great for recording into a phone for YouTube / Instagram / Whatever. Great bang for the buck.
+1 for the techno system, sold some bones&blood for it, but kept the AH QuPac, dream team…
Hi - surprised this post didn’t get more love - so are you saying that with that behringer box you could plug a small midi controller with faders and then you have a multichannel audio interface with faders, that can also work without a computer. Are you still using this setup?
Hi - surprised me too tbh I still use this setup until today, but I added a Behringer X Touch Controller, which makes it even better (motorized faders, illuminated scribble strips, perfect integration with the xr18 and the possibility to switch between mixer control and daw control with the press of a button). It all works like a charm for me, but you should keep in mind that it all has that typical a little cheap Behringer feeling…
All the serious choices are RME. I think it’s a very good investment as they are just about the only audio interfaces that also age really well and get driver support far into the future. The built-in matrix mixer is best in class.
Yes, very interested in learning how you set this up. Just picked up the xR18 & would love to be able to control it with something small & not Internet connected have a Launch Control XL I would like to use for faders/mutes or open to getting the x-touch mini, but have no clue of how to connect to the mixer (USB, midi?) or what CC values to use.
I’m searching for an audio interface with 24 Inputs and 24 Outputs.
- Maximum H = 3.5 cm / 1.37 inches
- Maximum D = 18 cm / 7.08 inches
- Maximum W = 42 cm / 16.53 inches
If you’re looking for physical inputs (as in TS or TRS), then I’ll be the first one to tell you that there is nothing in that size. The smallest you can go is a MOTU 24AI paired with a 24AO pretty much.
If you are only looking for an audio interface and have ADAT, MADI or better yet networked audio ready somewhere else, then RME’s MADI- and Digifaces are quite nice.
Edit: Technically you can always connect Analog-Dante converter boxes directly to your computer’s ethernet port and use DVS to have a highly flexible (although high latency) interface. So something like a Tascam ML-32D would give you 32 inputs and outputs from D-sub connectors.
I was hoping some company would’ve build a small audio interface with mini jacks by now but strangely enough there isn’t or at least I haven’t found any.
ADAT is fine by me but all half racked audio interfaces I found only got 1 ADAT in & output leaving me short on I/O.
I don’t think there’s going to be an interface like that anytime soon, if ever. Minijacks are still minijacks, and a device with 24 simultaneous inputs and outputs is squarely in studio territory as far as interfaces are concerned.
RME’s Digiface USB would give you 4 ADAT inputs and outputs (32 channels at 24bit 48kHz) at a size of (WxHxD): 128 x 22 x 55 mm (5.04" x 0.87" x 2.2"). Should fit quite nicely, and it’s RME so you know it’s going to last essentially forever. Or if you have the capability for it in your setup, RME also makes a PCI-card with the same sort of functionality.
The Digiface USB is nice but not class compliant unfortunately. This means it will not work on iPad which would’ve been a great bonus.
Also there aren’t any many companies that built small I/O boxes with ADAT.
Datanoise has the output box out and soon an input box as well but his clock will overrule RME’s clock as his can’t be set to slave which is unfortunate as well. But I guess if it works it works.