Volca Noob, Audio Interface Dilema

d4funky1 · Post by **d4funky1** » Fri Jul 29, 2016 10:30 pm

Good Evening,

I have today purchased Volca Keys, Sample and Bass and I am currently looking for a suitable audio interface and effects unit so that I can use them in conjunction with Logic Pro X or Ableton as well as on their own.

Budget is tight (around £150) and I came across the Saffire Pro 14 and wondered if anyone is using a similar set up at all or whether anyone can offer some advise?

Ideally I would like to be able to record my Volca's onto individual tracks and to take the edge of the sound when not using Logic by applying some effects (reverb, delay etc).

I will be adding the FM in the coming weeks so would like room for expansion for at least one more module.

If anyone could assist it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
D4

CluelessNoob · Post by **CluelessNoob** » Thu Aug 04, 2016 11:43 am

Hi, I'm even more of a newbie than yourself. I'm similarly looking for a unit to hook them up to. I've been looking at the behringer xenyx series which seems to have good write ups and nearly new 1202 units are on eBay now for less than £100. They also have built in effects.

I apologise for not answering your question fully. but I did read online that this series works quite well with the volcas

Cade · Post by **Cade** » Fri Aug 05, 2016 5:21 pm

I use the pro 14 for recording. It's relatively straightforward and has really good sounding preamps.
Install drivers, plug it in, get it working, etc.
In the preferences, tell your Digital Audio Workstation or DAW (ableton, reason, logic, etc) to use the pro 14 as the input and output for audio.
When you have the setup working, set up a track to record audio and plug in the mini jack output of the volca (or other synth) to the two front inputs of the pro 14 (you will need an adapter). Have the volume the highest and cleanest sounding you can without any distortion (as shown on the level meters on the front of the pro 14, and on the corresponding track on the DAW).
Hit record on your DAW.
Repeat for the other volcas.

CluelessNoob wrote:Hi, I'm even more of a newbie than yourself. I'm similarly looking for a unit to hook them up to. I've been looking at the behringer xenyx series which seems to have good write ups and nearly new 1202 units are on eBay now for less than £100. They also have built in effects.

I apologise for not answering your question fully. but I did read online that this series works quite well with the volcas

Please read some independent reviews about Behringer products. There is a good reason there are so many on eBay.
I have never owned any Behringer stuff, so I can't say for sure, but I have heard they're not quite professional quality and are prone to failure/issues.

morglum_s · Post by **morglum_s** » Tue Sep 20, 2016 6:39 pm

Cade wrote:to record audio and plug in the mini jack output of the volca (or other synth) to the two front inputs of the pro 14 (you will need an adapter).
.
.
.
Repeat for the other volcas.

Could you elaborate on this step a little more? I get very confused about XLR vs. TRS vs. Stereo mini-jack cables. The whole balanced vs. unbalanced cables always seems to flummox me when I construct my signal chain...

The pro 14 has 2 XLR/TRS combo inputs in the front, and 2 "Line-In" 1/4" jacks in the back. I assume the Line-In's are all TRS-Balanced. Does that mean I just run a stereo mini-jack cables from my Volca to a single line-in with a TRS 3 tip adapter (1/4" 3 tip male to 1/8" stereo female)? Or do I have to split the "stereo" coming out of the volca into 2 inputs of the pro 14?

What if I wanted to use the XLR connector instead of the TRS? Can I get a XLR to Stereo 1/8" adapter and be good to go?

Thanks.

-M

spirit68 · Post by **spirit68** » Fri Sep 23, 2016 11:50 pm

behringer xenyx mixer has a lot of noise and you will just receive one main out stereo channel over usb. "Difficult" workflow with a daw.

Cade · Post by **Cade** » Sat Sep 24, 2016 3:13 am

morglum_s wrote:
Cade wrote:to record audio and plug in the mini jack output of the volca (or other synth) to the two front inputs of the pro 14 (you will need an adapter).
.
.
.
Repeat for the other volcas.
Could you elaborate on this step a little more? I get very confused about XLR vs. TRS vs. Stereo mini-jack cables. The whole balanced vs. unbalanced cables always seems to flummox me when I construct my signal chain...

The pro 14 has 2 XLR/TRS combo inputs in the front, and 2 "Line-In" 1/4" jacks in the back. I assume the Line-In's are all TRS-Balanced. Does that mean I just run a stereo mini-jack cables from my Volca to a single line-in with a TRS 3 tip adapter (1/4" 3 tip male to 1/8" stereo female)? Or do I have to split the "stereo" coming out of the volca into 2 inputs of the pro 14?

What if I wanted to use the XLR connector instead of the TRS? Can I get a XLR to Stereo 1/8" adapter and be good to go?

Thanks.

-M

I think the XLR inputs are a different volume (and mono), as they are meant for microphones and may boost the signal from the volca too much. You could always try it.

I consider the TRS cables to be stereo and the TS ones to be mono, so I use inputs 1 and 2, as individual mono inputs (left on 1, right on 2. Using something like this cable:

or another one, similar... Actually, I use this one:

with an 1/8 inch to 1/8 inch connecter.
I Haven't even tried TRS in just a single one, not sure if it would pick up both channels.