Video has an Ambient Recording ACN-CL (which outputs carry timecode and genlock) and can provide me with output from the Ambient on a BNC cable.

I have a MOTU DTP, which has a BNC video input that can genlock to video and to VITC.

Am I correct in understanding that I can then take the DTP SMPTE output (which is on TRS) and record that on an audio track, with video being able to use that audio track in post to sync recorded audio to the recorded video?

My interface is an RME UFX which has no timecode capabilities. hence the desire to record time code to an audio track (like in the old tape days).

Thanks.

I’m an old timer and I’d like to get back to mixing out of the box on my console. I’m looking for an interface that has a lot of outputs. Preferably a lot of line level i/o and preamps aren’t necessary (the idea being to connect it to my console and record that way... with my protools rig standing in place of a tape machine). Ideally I’d like at least 16 outputs. So I’ve been looking at the Cymatic utrack24 and the Allen and Heath ice 16. The Cymatic looks perfect, but the sound on sound article on it says the DACs leave some headroom to be desired. Can anyone comment on this? Or recommend something I haven’t thought of?

I have a trusty old Apogee Mini-Me pre-amp/compressor with drivers that don't work with anything beyond Windows XP.

For a time, I got away with using it via SPDIF  through my trusty old Egosys U2A - it's a cheap little USB Audio Interface which amazingly has both optical and SPDIF ins and outs and cost me less than $100 about a hundred years ago. (I know! Right?)

Basically, the U2A was doing nothing to add to the sound beyond passing through one digital source to another digital source. 

But now even the U2A is beyond its USB driver's working sell-by date. So I have to get something new because I'm using Windows 10 for my video software.

I don't want to give up the Apogee. So is there a similar bare bones USB Audio Interface with SPDIF I can get to replace the U2A?

Or can you convince me to scrap the Apogee and go with something more modern with USB drivers that actually work? If I'm gonna scrap it, it's gotta be for something a lot better.

I need it mostly for vocal.

Any ideas?

Hello My Lovelies,

So I run a small scale studio and we're looking to upgrade out computer, the issue that we're stuck on, is that we'd like to get an old Mac Pro 5.1 and mod it to all hell (cheapest way to a high performance mac) but we currently run on a Focusrite thunderbolt interface, mac pro 5.1 doesn't run thunderbolt without a lot of hassle. I've been reading into PCIe Interface cards but it's still a newish area for me. Does anyone have any sound advice and experience with an interface that'll do 16/32 channels in and work nicely with the old cheesegraters? Thanks in advance for any help x

Yesterday after an update from Windows 10 pro, my Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 stopped working decently. It is an old firewire based interface which worked perfectly for me. Now it changes sample-rate every second or does not lock at all, sometimes it does at 32 bit/96 Khz and then unlocks again. .

Some googling learned me, it is not supported anymore as are some other older interfaces. So if you have an older Focusrite interface going crazy, first check if it is still supported before you get yourself into a lot of faultfinding and checking things!

I was lucky in a way, support stopped at Win 10 -1903 and it kept working way into 1909 updates, but now it's gone.

I have now ordered a new Focusrite: a Scarlett 18i20 3rd gen USB-C interface, so I can use it for several years to come. But still it is kind of a waste that my old interface is fine but stops working for this software reasons.

Just to let you know.

Hey everyone. Ive been comparing similar priced and spec'd interfaces from antelope and UA. The antelope synergy core and UA apollo x8.

There seems to be a fair amount of complaints on the antelope interfaces reguarding reliability (drivers software glitches), resale value, long term support, and life span. Antelope seems to come out with new versions much more often than other companies especially at that end of the market.

Antelope does have more connectivity options on the same interface madi, tb3, and usb3. which makes it less picky about the computer its connected to as opposed to the apollo. This isn't a deal breaker but does involve some consideration and planning, since a madi card from RMEis 1700$, and tb3 is just starting to be compatible with the new gen AMD chips.

Anyway any thoughts on sound quality, reliability, workflow, anything, related to these two manufacturers is welcomed. I would use this at a home studio for 2 years or so then possibly sell it for a flagship model in my new studio. Basic tracking, re amping, soft synths, and surround sound mixing, and playing video games/ watching movies for entertainment, would be primary uses. Essentially it would be the hub of an always on, multimedia work and entertainment system.

Having had technical issues with an 06' era Pro Tools m powered 7 system on a laptop at home, and issues with old mac pros and Mackie d8b's at the studios, it would be nice to have something that works without a lot of issues. Doesnt have to be bullet proof ala' RME, but i wouldnt be happy if there were more than very occasional hiccups.

Ultimate fidelity is welcome but not super critical since I'm not in a proper studio for listening, and these are mainly my own tracks ill be recording. For archiving and ultimate quality i will be choosing a low channel count mastering interface when i need it.

Hello, I’m an aspiring audio engineer and I am looking to build a home studio for Rap/HipHop. I have a few questions I couldn’t really find anywhere online, the first one being that does the audio interface matter if I’m purchasing the preamp. I am aware that there are preamps built into the audio interface, but i want to achieve a cleaner and better sound by buying the pieces separately. So I’m curious if I purchase a preamp separately, does it even matter what preamp I purchase? What is the benefit of having a better interface with a separate preamp other than translating vocals into line format before it hits my DAW. I want to spend more money on a better preamp if that is the case. Thank You so much!

Not sure if this is old news or not, but it was new to me today and I figured I’d share. Very cool concept.

https://www.steinbe…

All right, I just spent half a day researching this, including on this website, and I'm still not sure, so I registered just in order to ask.

I'm going full-hardware with 3 synths (two monos, one stereo) and a multi-output drum machine, all driven by MIDI sequencers and keyboard. Also hardware effects. I want to do just as I was doing in the 90s, get the whole mix running live, including EQ and FX, before to start recording audio. I want to record live "jams" (final stereo mixdown) as well as separate channels one or two at a time. Now I've come to the conclusion that despite all the technological advances in 20 years, a 12-channel analog mixer with something like a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 between the mixer main outputs and the DAW is the best solution. Only problem is the noise, which I think can be dealt with via noise gate plugins afterwards. The less time spent in front of a screen, the better.

I'm asking opinions here because I had pretty much settled on a Soundcraft Signature 12 MTK, until I finally (and luckily) found out that the USB output was pre fx sends/returns.

I also learned from a 2014 post that Mackie had been lowering the signal by 18dB for the USB output in order to prevent digital clipping from peaks that analog headroom could take. The Scarlett has a gain knob and LED clipping warning.

I assume other similar "analog-with-USB-output" mixers might also have such limitations, and in any case I feel that a separate audio interface allows for better future upgrades. What do you think? Alternatives?

When I think of what I had to use in the 80's, like the Tascam Portastudio, then see this... (y) How cool.
Today's musicians have no excuse, so much more in-terms of producing "good enough" quality when it comes to being able to get affordable recording systems.

Look at this brilliant product from UA.

Featuring two Unison mic preamps, Realtime UAD Plug-In Processing, and class-leading Universal Audio conversion, this portable, compact, and lightweight 2x4 bus-powered Thunderbolt 3 audio interface provides a generous collection of UAD plugins to record album-quality vocals, guitars, and more at near-zero latency.

Derived from Universal Audio’s award-winning Apollo interfaces, Arrow features an onboard UAD-2 SOLO Core processor, letting musicians monitor and record through the full library of UAD Powered Plugins — at near-zero latency, no matter their audio software buffer setting.

Arrow also features acclaimed Unison mic preamp technology, giving musicians the tone, touch and feel of the world’s most sought-after tube and transformer-based mic preamps and guitar amplifiers.

The included UAD studio mixing tools — featuring classic compressors, EQs, and reverbs — enable musicians, electronic producers, and songwriters to produce polished tracks quickly and easily, right out of the box. Highlights include the UA 610-B Tube Preamp and Marshall® Plexi Classic plugins — and Arrow can be expanded with exclusive titles from Neve, SSL, Fender, and Ampeg.

The UAD library offers more than 100 titles, including everything from classic Moog filters to Ampex tape to Lexicon reverbs — with more being added every few months. These are the same UAD plugins used on hit records by Kendrick Lamar, Coldplay, Dr. Dre, Brad Paisley, and many more.

Arrow is now shipping, with an estimated street price of $499.

Arrow Desktop Audio Interface — Key Features:

• Desktop 2x4 Thunderbolt 3-powered audio interface with class-leading 24-bit/192 kHz audio conversion
• Unison mic preamp technology provides the tone, touch and feel of the world’s most sought-after tube and transformer-based mic preamps and guitar amplifiers from Neve,® API,® Manley,® Marshall,® Fender,® and more*
• Realtime UAD Processing allows near-zero latency tracking with classic UAD plugin effects, regardless of software buffer setting
• Includes studio compressors, EQs, reverbs, and guitar amp emulations, and more as part of the “Realtime Analog Classics” bundle — featuring 14 quality UAD Plugins
• Bus-powered connection to modern Mac and Windows systems for easy portability and reduced cable clutter