Audio Interface and Reaper

[David1954]

Anyone using Reaper, what do you suggest as the best audio interface.

[James Perrett]

Reaper works with just about any audio interface. It would help to narrow things down if you could tell us a little more about what you want to do with it. How many things will you want to record at the same time and how many outputs will you need?

[David1954]

I'm thinking 4 inputs will be enough. I work with another song writer and we are using two acoustic guitars and 1-2 vocals.

[Drew Stephenson]

You haven't mentioned a budget, but interfaces with 4 mic inputs pretty much start here: https://www.gear4music.com/Recording-an ... rface/1WMY and then go up as high as you want to go.

[David1954]

The Behringer is the one I was actually looking at. The reviews looked good and it does fit my budget. Thank you for your reply.

[Sam Spoons]

If you need 4 inputs now consider buying an interface with 6 (or maybe 8) if the budget allows. Four mic and a couple of line inputs allows a keyboard or drum machine which may be useful in the future.

[David1954]

Thank you Sam. That's good advice.

[ConcertinaChap]

Have a shufty round this lot. You should find something that will meet your needs.

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/ha ... -interface

I agree with Sam, you won't have problems if you have too many inputs but you might if you have too few in the future. An easy way (though it does add to the cost) of ensuring future expandability is to get an interface with an ADAT input. This will allow you at a later date to add up to 8 input channels from an external preamp or similar.

CC

[David1954]

Thank you Concertina Chap. I appreciate your time.

[Arpangel]

Not a lot to say here, I'm using Reaper with a Motu 828 MK11, works fine.
As has been mentioned, get more inputs than you need, and check the channel count carefully, the way they market these things is even more misleading than a mixers channel count!
I have to say, as far as quallity goes, I'd always go for Focusrite, excellent units at a very reasonable price, there may be better, but they cost a lot more. I'm only using this Motu because I needed more inputs and someone gave it to me, but I'm going to get another Focusrite at some point.

[Sam Spoons]

Nowt wrong with MOTU either TBF.

[Arpangel]

Nowt wrong with MOTU either TBF.

You're right, but I thought I did notice a difference going from my Focusrite to the Motu, I'm 100% used to it now, don't think about it, works fine.

[David1954]

Thank you Arpangel.

[studer58]

An additional question regarding Reaper and audio interfaces... do you generally recommend using the interface's software for monitoring through...or using Reaper's own interface ?
I find if both are open I can strike problems with muting, latency etc...so I assume using one or the other, but not both, is recommended ? My particular experience is with the Echo Audiofire 8 interface

[Arpangel]

An additional question regarding Reaper and audio interfaces... do you generally recommend using the interface's software for monitoring through...or using Reaper's own interface ?
I find if both are open I can strike problems with muting, latency etc...so I assume using one or the other, but not both, is recommended ? My particular experience is with the Echo Audiofire 8 interface

You'll find that you'll have to use any interfaces software at some point, audio has to pass though it. I never even look at my Motu mixer anymore after I set it up, but it's there in the background all the time to control the main outputs etc which I monitor from.
I never have Reaper and the Motu mixer open at the same time unless I want to reconfigure something, it doesn't make any difference to performance though, but I close it unless I need it.