Interface Setup Help Please

[Witterings]

I had a Focusrite Saffire 40 which having finished playing in bands I just left plugged in and used with my PC connected via firewire.
I also plugged a streamer into optical in and used the Saffire Control to send both to monitor out that went straight to my amp which meant I didn't have to switch inputs.

I've just bought an ESI U24 - XL which I'm guessing can do the same, I thought as it had a USB connection to the PC and optical in it'd just work and both would get passed straight to the output but it's not so ... the PC does but the optical won't.
It comes with licences to Wavelab LE 11.2 and Bit Wig Studio but setting it up and understanding the software has gone so far above my head it's not true.

Does anyone know of any free software that is REALLY simple to use for this one task as I don't need it for anything else nowadays and don't want to spend hours trying to learn how to do it.

If anyone can help I'd really appreciate it!

[Drew Stephenson]

First thing to check might be that you're sending the right format of data to the optical connection. If I remember rightly the Sapphire can be configured to handle either ADAT or SPDIF signals, whereas your new machine can only handle SPDIF. So what format is your streamer sending in? (I would expect it to be SPDIF but it's worth getting this out of the way first.)

[jimjazzdad]

The other thing to try is to connect a SPDIF source to the interface via coax/RCA. Or, try a different optical cable. I have definitely had Toslink optical cables go bad, even when they appear to be transmitting (can see red light at the end).

[Wonks]

Have you downloaded the manual and the software drivers and control package for it? There’s software control buttons to select either the analogue or digital (S/PDIF) inputs, the sample rate (should be 48kHz for S/PDIF) and consumer (16 bit) or professional (24 bit).

Wavelab can be used to record, however it really is more of an audio editor/mastering program than a DAW. But if you are only recording a stereo file, it should be fine. You just need to make sure that you’ve got the ASIO driver loaded and selected in Wavelab as the audio input (and presumably output if you have the ESI connected to your monitors).

[Witterings]

To cover most of the replies, I've checked and believe the WiiM Mini streamer is sending spdif ... I also checked it's set at 16 / 48 as that came up as a possible issue if it was set at say 24 / 192.
I have downloaded and installed the software / driver and you can see the Asio which references the U24.
I also messaged the manufacturer and have posted their reply which I believe is saying it can be done in a similar way to how the Saffire was setup, I just need the right software and to know how to work it??

Please note, the direct input (hardware) monitoring function of the ESI U24 XL is only available between the analog line input to the line output, digital SPDI/F input direct monitoring is not possible over the U24XL hardware or adjustable over the U24 XL control panel.

Therefore you cannot hear the signal of the digital input to the analog outputs or the headphones. The digital input signal can be record but not be monitored with hardware monitoring!

But you can use the software monitoring of your audio application to monitor the digital SPDI/F input to the line or headphone output of U24 XL.

[Drew Stephenson]

OK, it sounds like they're saying it can't be done using their device software (or hardware) so unlike the Sapphire you can't use the manufacturer's control panel for this job. You'll need to use a DAW or audio editor (I assume BitWig or WaveLab will do this but I've not used them) to configure your routing instead.
Which doesn't sound ideal. Is it too late to return the unit because that might be the better option?

[James Perrett]

It can be done in the free version of Bitwig but it takes a few steps (too many to type out on the phone) to set up input monitoring.

[Wonks]

It can be done in the free version of Bitwig but it takes a few steps (too many to type out on the phone) to set up input monitoring.

And of course you probably need to set it up every time you turn the computer on unless you can save the input monitoring set-up as a template that automatically loads when you start Bitwig and Bitwig is automatically set to load when you turn the computer on.

You may find it easier upgrading to the WiiM Pro, which has RCA outs, or get an amp with an optical input.

[Witterings]

OK, it sounds like they're saying it can't be done using their device software (or hardware) so unlike the Sapphire you can't use the manufacturer's control panel for this job. You'll need to use a DAW or audio editor (I assume BitWig or WaveLab will do this but I've not used them) to configure your routing instead.
Which doesn't sound ideal. Is it too late to return the unit because that might be the better option?

No it's not too late to return it and if @Wonks said it has to be reset up every time then I wouldn't want it anyway, the Saffire used to remember everything so I didn't have to do anything, just switch the computer on and use it.

Does anybody know of any other devices or interfaces that will do it?

[Wonks]

Any reason you don't want a device that simply plugs into an amplifier or speakers?

What does the rest of your setup comprise of? Presumably as you've now got a very basic interface with just two line inputs, you aren't doing any recording/DAW work now?

[James Perrett]

Does anybody know of any other devices or interfaces that will do it?

See if you can find a used Zoom U-44 which can work as a D/A convertor - either in conjunction with a computer or with no computer attached.

[Witterings]

Any reason you don't want a device that simply plugs into an amplifier or speakers?

What does the rest of your setup comprise of? Presumably as you've now got a very basic interface with just two line inputs, you aren't doing any recording/DAW work now?

You're spot on .... I'm not doing any recording now but as the Focusrite was here / setup it and I already owned it, made sense to use it just connected to my work PC and perfectly suited my requirements .... maybe spoilt me to a degree because of it's ease of use and convenience.
I can plug things directly into the amp, the inconvenience (albeit small) is having to switch inputs and I often use voice commands from the other side of the room to activate the WiiM which if that amps on the wrong input nothing will come through.
I did try a Behringer u-control uca222 out from my PC and put the optical into a WiiM Pro Plus and activated the auto input sensor but there was a delay in switching inputs so I wasn't getting e-mail / message notifications as the sound had stopped by the time it switched over ... th eother minor inconvenience I couldn't control volume / mute sound from the sound settings on the PC, it's only when that option gets removed you realise how much you used it.

Seeme like I'm going to have to settle with 2nd best.

[Witterings]

Just thought I'd say thank you to all for your help and suggestions, I have found a resolution and thought I'd post it here in case anyone else finds it useful

https://vb-audio.com/Voicemeeter/