Recording through multiple interfaces/"sound cards"?

[alexis]

Hi - I'm looking to upgrade my "interface" from my loyal and trusty Delta 66 sound card (housed in an Omni I/O break-out box), for the purpose of better converters, lower latency, etc. (for now looking at possibly the RME Fireface UCX, "dreaming is free" ) . One nice thing about the Omni I/O breakout box is that I can mix several hardware inputs together and route them to a single hardware output if needed. Importantly (I think?), I noticed this can be done even without Cubase booted up.

I was hoping I could save some money on the new interface by combining the Delta 66 I/Os with the new interface's. I might, for example, have "mission-critical" tracks like vocals and acoustic guitars go through the new interface for higher quality sound, and if I run out of hardware inputs there have other things like distorted guitars go through the Delta 66. I'd be happy with that trade off of $$ and sound quality.

Does anyone see a connection problem with the following?

1) Cubase pointed to the new interface for signals coming in.
2) Use the new, "better" interface for all that I can, and certainly for the more mission-critical tracks like vocals, acoustic guitars, etc.
3) If I need more hardware inputs than the new interface offers, plug into the Omni I/O, sub-mix some tracks down, and send them out a single hardware output from the Omni I/O to a single hardware input on the new interface. Cubase would not care that it came from another "sound card" ... it would see it as just another input from the new interface (??).

Thanks for any advice on this!

[Gabriel.0485]

Hi,
You could use multiple different interfaces by creating en 'aggregate device ' on the mac.... but I see You're under windows , it might be possible with it too. Otherwise you could use ADAT i/o connections

Ciao

[alexis]

Hi,
You could use multiple different interfaces by creating en 'aggregate device ' on the mac.... but I see You're under windows , it might be possible with it too. Otherwise you could use ADAT i/o connections

Ciao

Thanks, Gabriel. My current interface doesn't have ADAT, but it does have a S/PDIF i/o. I just checked and I see my current interface has a "S/PDIF IN" option for the "Master Clock" (currently it is set to "Internal Crystal"). I imagine the new interface would be able to tell the old one to use the new one's internal clock if I change the old interface's "Master Clock" to "S/PDIF IN"? ...

Thanks -

[The Elf]

I might, for example, have "mission-critical" tracks like vocals and acoustic guitars go through the new interface for higher quality sound, and if I run out of hardware inputs there have other things like distorted guitars go through the Delta 66.

If you're on PC (and I believe you are) this isn't going to work. You can only address one ASIO driver from Cubase.

Get an interface with an ADAT connector, or two and you can add 8 analogue I/O for every ADAT connector.

My own system is a Fireface 800 + 2 x Behringer ADA-8000, which gives me 26 analogue inputs. But I never record from the Behringers...

[alexis]

...Get an interface with an ADAT connector, or two and you can add 8 analogue I/O for every ADAT connector ...

The Elf - thank you as always!

I looked on the web for a cable that has "eight analogue" inputs at one end (like female TRS connectors), and an ADAT connector at the other, but was not able to find one.

Is that because I'm not understanding the connection correctly, or just didn't look hard enough? Either way,

Thanks -

[The Elf]

You're not understanding - you can't simply plug a line/mic output into an ADAT connection!

ADAT is a multi-channel optical connection. To get electrical analogue inputs to an ADAT optical input you need an interface, hence the Behringer ADA8000s in my studio.

As you'll see from the link the ADA8000 takes 8 mic/line inputs and converts them to a single (8-channel) optical ADAT format output. It also simultaneously takes a single optical ADAT input and converts this to 8 analogue outputs. I have a pair of ADA8000s, because the Fireface 800 has two pairs of ADAT I/O.

[alexis]

You're not understanding - you can't simply plug a line/mic output into an ADAT connection!

ADAT is a multi-channel optical connection. To get electrical analogue inputs to an ADAT optical input you need an interface, hence the Behringer ADA8000s in my studio.

As you'll see from the link the ADA8000 takes 8 mic/line inputs and converts them to a single (8-channel) optical ADAT format output. It also simultaneously takes a single optical ADAT input and converts this to 8 analogue outputs. I have a pair of ADA8000s, because the Fireface 800 has two pairs of ADAT I/O.

Where is that darn "LIGHTBULB ON!!" smiley when you need it!

Thanks The Elf, I understand completely now (famous last words!).

So, in reality, if I get an interface with an ADAT I/O, I in essence (with a suitable converter like the B ADA 8000) get an extra EIGHT analogue inputs (and outputs, if needed) - nice!!

So, really, even if it were possible to connect up my old interface with my new one for the sake of an extra 4 analogue Is/Os, there would be no need to - I can get an extra EIGHT with ADAT!

I went on line to look at that Behringer ADA 8000 http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/ADA8000.aspx ... looks nice, at the right price too!

Are the A/D converters there of a quality similar to the RME Fireface 800s? If not quite up to that quality, do you prioritize what kind of input goes to which device (for example, maybe vocals straight into the Fireface 800; distorted guitars, where highest quality A/D converters aren't as important, into the Behringer)?

Thanks again!!

[Wease]

alexis has also posted on the pc forum

so - he has a tc-helicon voice processor...with analogue and s/pdif outs (and ins)

which he wants to use

the rme would offer better converters than the present system - and i'd try connecting the tc with spdif - just to hear if there are any differences

Most people who use the ada8000 seem quite happy with the conversion - not a deal breaker and probably not the weakest link in a chain anyway

It really depends on what alexis requires in terms of ins and outs (how many)....and remember the rme adat will always be there - one could hold off buying the extra inputs until needed - and alexis - you might instead want to save up your pennies and buy a more esoteric mic pre anyways - which could also use the adat connection

i think the rme would be a good purchase, and upgrade - then you can decide if you need the extra inputs - your tc helicon can connect (via spdif if you wanted to "save" extra analogue inputs on the rme) quite comfortably.

decide what you want to do first - cause you could save a few dollers - although the behringer is a cheap and worthwhile piece of kit....

[The Elf]

Are the A/D converters there of a quality similar to the RME Fireface 800s?

I very much doubt it, but I've not made a study of it.

And...

do you prioritize what kind of input goes to which device?

Yes. I use a patchbay to bypass the Behringers when I record pretty much anything. The only time I record through the Behringers is when I am all out of other options - and that is usually just drums. For anything critical I plug into either my SSL Superanalogue Channels (digitally into the Fireface's SPDIF input), or Liquid Channels (SPDIF also) to bypass the RME's A-D converter too. The Behringers would typically find use for toms, bottom snare mic, sub-kick, etc - the least important (and maybe throw-away) signals.

The Behringers sound just fine, but I'm not going to trust them to anything critical. The worst aspect of them is the gain knob that goes from quiet, to not as quiet, to a little less quiet to - OVERLOAD!!!! The final click of the input gain knob is a ludicrous jump in level.

[James Perrett]

The Behringers sound just fine, but I'm not going to trust them to anything critical.

Well, I must admit to using mine for lead vocals in a temporary setup. In this case, the mic choice was far more important than the preamp choice - the Behringer certainly allowed the strengths of the mics that I was using with it to come through.

And if you want something better, there are similar devices at higher prices from various other manufacturers like Focusrite or Audient.

James.