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Post by Omicron9 on Mar 26, 2020 9:35:46 GMT -6
Greetings, fellow shut-ins... I've been looking at 2-ch or 4-ch interfaces for a mobile writing rig. Just the interface (bus-powered preferably) and a laptop. Toss it in a bag and go. But I want something of high enough quality (24/192) that tracks created this way could be imported in the studio to the main rig and used in projects if need be. So far this is at the top of my list: Focusrite Scarlett 4i4Anything else about which I should know or consider? TIA, -09
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Post by bricejchandler on Mar 26, 2020 9:44:46 GMT -6
The new Symphony would be at the top of my list probably but much more expensive than the Scarlett, which I wouldn't consider high end even though they've come a long way since the MK1s. I personally use an Element 88, so I think the Element 24 would be great, it sounds a lot better than the Scarlett range. The Audient IDs are pretty good too.
If you absolutely need it to be bus powered then Rme Babyface pro is probably your best bet, it sounds really good even though I never loved the RMe Software.
The new universal audio arrow gets good reviews but I've never heard it personally.
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Post by drumsound on Mar 26, 2020 9:49:16 GMT -6
Check out the Stienberg Ur-RT stuff. I've used the older things a couple times and they sound very nice. The RT models offer Rupert Neve transformers. I'm not sure if they are bus powered. I'd be leary of that, but I get a little paranoid. If its wall powered, I feel more confident that it won't cause be problems.
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Post by Blackdawg on Mar 26, 2020 9:49:34 GMT -6
Not sure what you're looking for in terms of "high end" as I wouldn't put the Focusrite in the "high end" bracket.
Others possibily to look at:
Antelope Pure2 Prism Lyra 2 Lynx Hilo
But I don't think any of those are bus powered.
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Post by Omicron9 on Mar 26, 2020 10:17:34 GMT -6
Thanks, everyone. Apogee is out, as I'm on PC. Bus-powered isn't a hard requirement, but a nice to have. I'll check out all the recommendations, and thanks again.
Has anyone checked out the SSL 2+?
-09
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Post by nudwig on Mar 26, 2020 11:17:57 GMT -6
I second the Prism Lyra, not bus powered but great converters and the preamps and DI are both very solid.
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Post by aremos on Mar 26, 2020 13:28:02 GMT -6
The Lynx Hilo & the Prism Lyra are "above" the Focusrite. What would be the difference between these 2?
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Post by chessparov on Mar 26, 2020 16:12:38 GMT -6
IMHO SSL or Steinberg URT, ought to be fine. I wonder about the Clarett series though? FWIW I doubt I'd ever spend beyond $400, for something like a Clarett 2Pre USB, for my humble needs. Chris
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2020 17:15:35 GMT -6
Bus powered and two channel on Windows? RME Babyface Pro FS is the only way and only reliable current option. You might be able to get a deal on the older Babyface Pro.
My MOTU Ultralite AVB with ESS Sabre DA is better in every single way for a desktop two pre interface except for latency at 44.1 and 48 kHz but isn’t bus powered.
For Mac only, only the older FireWire Metric Halo 2882 is bus powerable but it sounds good and is reliable unlike the Apogee Duets.
The bus powered motu m2 and M4 are not running the drivers off an internal fpga like the AVB ones and RME. Those and the SSL are using Xmos usb chips. When the low voltage mobile cpu in your laptop sputters and the screen freezes, the audio on anything that uses an Xmos microcontroller for USB interfacing will not continue playing off anything and recording like it will on a solid FPGA unit (RME, MOTU AVB, Lynx, etc). I’ve experienced this with both cheap (Focusrite) and very expensive (Dangerous, Prism) gear. The RME is the only bus powered windows interface I have used that will work all the time.
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Post by svart on Mar 26, 2020 18:31:24 GMT -6
Greetings, fellow shut-ins... I've been looking at 2-ch or 4-ch interfaces for a mobile writing rig. Just the interface (bus-powered preferably) and a laptop. Toss it in a bag and go. But I want something of high enough quality (24/192) that tracks created this way could be imported in the studio to the main rig and used in projects if need be. So far this is at the top of my list: Focusrite Scarlett 4i4Anything else about which I should know or consider? TIA, -09 I ended up getting the Motu M4 and it was surprisingly good. Very low noise and it sounded fine. USB powered too.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2020 19:25:23 GMT -6
i have used SPL Crimson with great results, its fully discrete and reasonably priced, made in Germany. cant beat that!
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Post by mrholmes on Mar 26, 2020 21:00:50 GMT -6
Greetings, fellow shut-ins... I've been looking at 2-ch or 4-ch interfaces for a mobile writing rig. Just the interface (bus-powered preferably) and a laptop. Toss it in a bag and go. But I want something of high enough quality (24/192) that tracks created this way could be imported in the studio to the main rig and used in projects if need be. So far this is at the top of my list: Focusrite Scarlett 4i4Anything else about which I should know or consider? TIA, -09 I use a class compliant Behringer U-phoria for this, which also runs on my Android cellphone... Funny enough no one was yet complaining about the conversion quality. That's how good even cheap ADs are in 2020. www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UM2usb--behringer-u-phoria-um2-usb-audio-interface
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2020 21:25:09 GMT -6
i have used SPL Crimson with great results, its fully discrete and reasonably priced, made in Germany. cant beat that! How's the latency and stability on large projects? I've been constantly tempted by that for years but always seem to get something else.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2020 21:52:27 GMT -6
i have used SPL Crimson with great results, its fully discrete and reasonably priced, made in Germany. cant beat that! How's the latency and stability on large projects? I've been constantly tempted by that for years but always seem to get something else. just use it for tracking front and its very simple to use. i wouldn't know for large projects, sorry. btw rme came out with new improved babyface pro FS so you may want to look into that. since i have many synths, i got the UFX+ and but i haven't had time to use it yet due to family obligations, i think there seems to be learning curve with total mix which i dont like.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2020 11:29:21 GMT -6
How's the latency and stability on large projects? I've been constantly tempted by that for years but always seem to get something else. just use it for tracking front and its very simple to use. i wouldn't know for large projects, sorry. btw rme came out with new improved babyface pro FS so you may want to look into that. since i have many synths, i got the UFX+ and but i haven't had time to use it yet due to family obligations, i think there seems to be learning curve with total mix which i dont like. Yeah it looks absolutely killer, digititus-free, tracking/overdub desktop interface but I wonder how the latency is for di guitars or how the windows driver performs under load. I am using MOTU Ultralite AVB for that and to control other MOTU AVB units but it’s not the easiest to plug in and play. SPL is just ridiculously marked up in the USA. Thomman has the Crimson for under 600 Euros and it’s 1000 usd at Sweetwater. The markup is more than the hefty RME one. I guess I’ll just check it to compare it to apogee symphony desktop when that comes out.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2020 12:31:39 GMT -6
Thrrr is emerging anubis too
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Post by johneppstein on Mar 27, 2020 14:34:43 GMT -6
Greetings, fellow shut-ins... I've been looking at 2-ch or 4-ch interfaces for a mobile writing rig. Just the interface (bus-powered preferably) and a laptop. Toss it in a bag and go. But I want something of high enough quality (24/192) that tracks created this way could be imported in the studio to the main rig and used in projects if need be. So far this is at the top of my list: Focusrite Scarlett 4i4Anything else about which I should know or consider? TIA, -09 I hear way too many bad things about the Scarlett series to ever consider one.
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Post by bricejchandler on Mar 27, 2020 15:24:30 GMT -6
Greetings, fellow shut-ins... I've been looking at 2-ch or 4-ch interfaces for a mobile writing rig. Just the interface (bus-powered preferably) and a laptop. Toss it in a bag and go. But I want something of high enough quality (24/192) that tracks created this way could be imported in the studio to the main rig and used in projects if need be. So far this is at the top of my list: Focusrite Scarlett 4i4Anything else about which I should know or consider? TIA, -09 I hear way too many bad things about the Scarlett series to ever consider one. The MK3s are actually surprisingly good. I've used them a couple of times for extra inputs on remote rigs and they were nice. My previous experience was with the MK1s that I used to use live to send samples to FOH and those were far from great, but Focusrite has really improved their design.
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Post by lando on Mar 27, 2020 15:48:16 GMT -6
Could the Apollo Twin X be an option? Very good conversion in that generation and two good preamps. Not bus powered unfortunately but the good ones rarely are Then there’s unison preamps, the UAD processing etc but that’s just garnish.
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Post by johneppstein on Mar 27, 2020 17:47:10 GMT -6
I hear way too many bad things about the Scarlett series to ever consider one. The MK3s are actually surprisingly good. I've used them a couple of times for extra inputs on remote rigs and they were nice. My previous experience was with the MK1s that I used to use live to send samples to FOH and those were far from great, but Focusrite has really improved their design. Yes, Focusrite HAS improved the Scarlett series, now it's merely "not very good", whereas previously it was utterly horrendous. The MKI should never have been marketed.
Over at the GS guitar forum I see more complaints involving Scarletts than (probably) all other brands of interface put together. The line is bargain basement gear designed to take advantage of the great deal of publicity Focusrite received for their profeassional line of gear, which the Scarlett series ain't - it's cheap stuff made to sell to beginners who read too many gear mags.
Of course Focusrite isn't the only company using a reputation earned by building high level stuff to sell much lower quality prosumer stuff....
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Post by howie on Mar 27, 2020 18:17:49 GMT -6
I had an Audient ID 22 for a few years - worked great till it didn't. Sort of self destructed. I bought an Audient ID 44 - it's newer big brother on sale (new) on Reverb for about $500. (including shipped from Liverpool to California) 4 preamps - 2 head phone jacks - 2 D.I's. Been using it since May. Works fine, and works well connected to a Louder than Liftoff Silver Bullet.
Hope it lasts.
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Post by tkaitkai on Mar 27, 2020 19:01:36 GMT -6
Yeah, I wouldn’t call the Scarlett stuff high end, and having tested one of the 3rd gen Scarletts recently, it definitely wouldn’t be my top pick. The preamps and A/D are kind of okay — a little murky, but I suppose that could be useful in some situations. The D/A, however, is a noticeable step down in quality compared to my Apollo (which, btw, is a MKI). I don’t think the Scarletts would hold a candle to something like a Lyra or even just an Element, Twin X, or iD44.
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Post by chessparov on Mar 27, 2020 19:19:12 GMT -6
Clarett comments? Chris
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Post by reddirt on Mar 27, 2020 22:30:40 GMT -6
Metric Halo ULN-2 is a great device and runs off DC power if required. i think they are now USB C. Only 2 pres but they are real quality; my firewire version is 11 years old without a blip. Cheers, Ross
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Post by sirthought on Mar 28, 2020 1:23:53 GMT -6
Metric Halo ULN-2 work great. The pres and conversion are high end. If I were buying for this purpose this is the one I'd choose. Super versatile, pro expansion (unlike the Focusrite and MOTU options discussed), and the DSP on board can help during tracking.
I think the MOTU M4 is the best deal in small desktop units. The pres are very quiet and the DAC is more than respectable. For what they cost I think it might be worth the gamble, unless you want to work with outboard a bunch. But that front panel meter is very helpful and not seen on a unit this size.
I spend a fair amount of time on the UAD forum. Sad to say the customer base has pretty mixed results with Windows computers. A Twin is a safer bet for a Mac owner.
I think lots of units can do a good job for people. As long as the pres are fairly low noise. The RME is probably a super safe pic and will give you what you want, but I'm guessing there are more affordable options that will do the trick.
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