Audio interface Question

[Pauliet]

I have a small mixer and want to send audio from the mixer to my DAW software. Obviously i need an audio interface (ADC & DAC) to accomplish this.

All the devices I see advertised have microphone / instrument inputs with level controls along with line inputs and line outputs.

Does anyone make an audio interface that is strictly line in and out?

Thanks for your suggestions.

Regards,
Paul

[Chet Leeway]

Check out MOTU's new 16A: It's got 16 in, 16 out, all line. Can be expanded with optical I/O.

[Music Wolf]

A couple of questions.....

1) How many input and outputs do you require?

2) What is your budget?

[Arpangel]

Mic inputs come as standard on most budget/mid price interfaces, you may just have to go along with them.
Interface questions? there seem to be a lot lately, maybe we should start a seperate sub-forum!

[ef37a]

Mic inputs come as standard on most budget/mid price interfaces, you may just have to go along with them.
Interface questions? there seem to be a lot lately, maybe we should start a seperate sub-forum!

Yes, like the chap on another thread with his PCI card, this is where PC audio has gone. The vast majority of interfaces are USB and come with mic pres.

You all won't be surprised when I suggest Paul has a look at the MOTU M4?
That Paul has two rear line inputs for your mixer but also two more mic/line/instru inputs on the front. You don't say what your mixer is but I bet the M4 pres are quieter!

Also, at the risk of thrown rocks, for modest quality PC dubbing the Behringer UCA 202 is very useful. I am thinking recording podcasts? The quality beats cassette/vinyl hands down.

Another sub forum Arp'?! You will not be popular! There was a "choosing an audio interface" article not that long ago?

Dave.

[Drew Stephenson]

In think an interface sits pretty squarely in the 'recording gear' category.

[Arpangel]

I’ll second the M4, a solid choice.

[James Perrett]

All the devices I see advertised have microphone / instrument inputs with level controls along with line inputs and line outputs.

That's because they are relatively cheap to implement compared to the price that can be charged.

In my experience the Behringer UCA type interfaces are just too limited unless you just want something to digitise a few cassettes or to add a basic audio output to something that doesn't already have an audio output.

I'd suggest the Behringer UMC202 is probably the cheapest you should be looking at.

[The Elf]

Depending on your current needs and choice of interface you might be able to ditch the mixer entirely, which is worth considering to potentially simplify and shorten the recording chain.

[Martin Walker]

Depending on your current needs and choice of interface you might be able to ditch the mixer entirely, which is worth considering to potentially simplify and shorten the recording chain.

+1 on this approach - when I abandoned my mixer many years ago I was frankly amazed at how much cleaner my recordings were made directly into my audio interface at the time.

[ken long]

Check out MOTU's new 16A: It's got 16 in, 16 out, all line. Can be expanded with optical I/O.

Hey this is great! Price is decent too.

[ef37a]

Check out MOTU's new 16A: It's got 16 in, 16 out, all line. Can be expanded with optical I/O.

Hey this is great! Price is decent too.

Yes, not a bad price IF you already have some mic pres (or a mixer!).

I did think that M6 would have been better with ADAT?

Dave.

[ken long]

Yes, not a bad price IF you already have some mic pres (or a mixer!).

I did think that M6 would have been better with ADAT?

It's great if you have a line only setup and happy mixing ITB!

[Pauliet]

Thanks for all your inputs.

The mixer is from Tascam and has four outputs. I typically use two outputs for monitors and the other two to record stereo. I wanted to simply connect two line outputs to an ADC and connect to a computer. That's why I was looking for a simple device with only a couple of line inputs.

Guess it time to throw it out and start over!

[forumuser931182]

What about ESI U24 XL 24-bit USB Audio Interface for PC and Mac with S/PDIF I/O

[NéstorRC]

You actually don’t need a fancy “line‑only” box, most interfaces let you hit a switch or trim a preamp all the way down so it’s just passing line level. If you really want dedicated line ins and outs, look at units like the MOTU 828es or Focusrite Clarett which let you disable their mic pres and run straight line signals. On the budget side, you can grab a simple USB box with RCA I/O and skip the XLR pres altogether.