Korg Forums

tpantano · Platinum Member Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 1363

At the moment, I'm trying to ease my workflow with using hardware synthesizers. I'd like to be able to work with most of my external instruments at once. When using my external synthesizers, I can only sequence one stereo synth at a time, as I only have two audio inputs. This frustrates me, as I cannot hear multiple external instruments in real-time and instead have to turn to looping audio, or imagining the unplayed synth part and how it will fit in a mix. Because of this, I will often use VSTs and softsynths in place of my external gear, which often leaves me dis-satisfied due to a dislike for the sonic characteristics of said softsynths.

I'd like to be able to sequence and record at minimum three stereo instruments/synths live. So, I'm in the market for something that has at least 6 analog audio inputs (preferably 1/4') that I can assign to different channel strips/tracks in Logic. The cheapest I've found so far are the Tascam US-1800 and the Presonus FireStudio; both are pricy and not what I'd like to pay, so I am hoping there are cheaper options available.

Do you happen to know of any good (USB) interfaces available that are Mac compatible, with a minimum of 6 inputs? Thanks for your input!
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Korg R3 | Korg iMS-20 | Korg iElectribe | Roland Gaia SH-01 | Moog Slim Phatty | NI Maschine Mikro | NI Razor | Logic Pro 9
http://soundcloud.com/tristan-chroma-music/

CharlesFerraro · Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 9:00 am Post subject:

My first mixer/audio interface was an Alesis Multimix 8 USB 2.0

Search for Alesis Multimix 8 and you'll be greeted with a few model choices, pick the one that matches your budget.
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Computer: HackBook Pro 13" 2.66GHz Core2Duo, 8g RAM, 120gSSD+320gHD, SnowLeopard 10.6.8
Software: Cubase 6.5.4, Kore/Kontakt players, Alchemy player, KARMA M3 Software
Modules/Synths/Keys: EHX VoiceBox, Korg RADIAS, M3-M(all EXBs), Akai MPK61
Racks: Tascam TA-1VP, Behringer ADA8000, RME Fireface 800
Speakers: Blue Sky MediaDesk MKII 5.1, Mackie HR624 MK2(x5) with Tannoy TS10

billbaker · Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 2:31 pm Post subject:

T -

If you're shopping only in high end computer rack interfaces you're missing a bunch of decent gear at the low end of the spectrum. Particularly worthy because they can fill more than one role in your set-up -- live or studio.

Have you checked out the newer USB capable mixers?

Behringer has a whole line of 'em -- dx2000usb (nominally a DJ mixer, but has RTS stereo inputs + USB out -- $300 for the seven channel version @ zzounds)

Peavy PV8USB (mic, 1/4, rca inputs - usb out - $160 @ amazon).

Admittedly, neither of these is likely to have really high end DA converters, and maybe that's what's driving the prices of everything you're looking at now. But if you just want to get out of your keyboard and into your computer, I suspect these would do the trick just fine and not break the bank along the way.

BB
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billbaker

Triton Extreme 88, Triton Classic Pro, Trinity V3 Pro
+E-mu, Alesis, Korg, Kawai, Yamaha, Line-6, TC Elecronics, Behringer, Lexicon...

tpantano · Platinum Member Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 1363

Thank you both- I had been looking at Guitar Center's very limited selection while browsing due to a bad internet connection, and they only seemed to have pro-range cards with the inputs I need, or mixers with no USB output.

The Alesis mixers seem fantastic for what I need.
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Korg R3 | Korg iMS-20 | Korg iElectribe | Roland Gaia SH-01 | Moog Slim Phatty | NI Maschine Mikro | NI Razor | Logic Pro 9
http://soundcloud.com/tristan-chroma-music/

CharlesFerraro · Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:53 pm Post subject:

ya lemme know if you have any questions about them
_________________
Computer: HackBook Pro 13" 2.66GHz Core2Duo, 8g RAM, 120gSSD+320gHD, SnowLeopard 10.6.8
Software: Cubase 6.5.4, Kore/Kontakt players, Alchemy player, KARMA M3 Software
Modules/Synths/Keys: EHX VoiceBox, Korg RADIAS, M3-M(all EXBs), Akai MPK61
Racks: Tascam TA-1VP, Behringer ADA8000, RME Fireface 800
Speakers: Blue Sky MediaDesk MKII 5.1, Mackie HR624 MK2(x5) with Tannoy TS10

SanderXpander · Platinum Member Joined: 29 Jul 2011 Posts: 2286

I could be wrong, but I thought the USB mixers don't support multi channel over USB. Meaning they just send the mix sum to the USB. Meaning you can still only record in stereo, so you wouldn't actually need a USB mixer, just a mixer.

Again, I could be wrong about these specifix mixers, but make sure to check!

CharlesFerraro · Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2012 3:28 am Post subject:

Nah they record up to eight channels (four stereo pairs) individually. Theres actually another stereo pair that you can record through like the auxiliary return bus or something but I've never figured it out.

The output from the mixer is a single stereo pair though. So if you wanted to have a bunch of outputs to accommodate a 5.1 surround setup then you would be out of luck. But yeah you can record eight mono instruments or four stereo instruments to eight mono or four stereo tracks at the same time if you wanted.

And like I said theres an aux bus in case you did want to route one or two of the channels to some outboard gear and then plug back into the return to record that signal on its own track you can. Alesis made some pretty capable little machines.
_________________
Computer: HackBook Pro 13" 2.66GHz Core2Duo, 8g RAM, 120gSSD+320gHD, SnowLeopard 10.6.8
Software: Cubase 6.5.4, Kore/Kontakt players, Alchemy player, KARMA M3 Software
Modules/Synths/Keys: EHX VoiceBox, Korg RADIAS, M3-M(all EXBs), Akai MPK61
Racks: Tascam TA-1VP, Behringer ADA8000, RME Fireface 800
Speakers: Blue Sky MediaDesk MKII 5.1, Mackie HR624 MK2(x5) with Tannoy TS10