Advice using lots of audio inputs and outputs on stage

[chapelier fou]

Hi,

i am planning to use a new setup involving 5 instruments going into the computer, and up to 16 analog outs going to the mixing desk.

I thought about a Focusrite Clarett 8Pre + Scarlett 18i20 combination with ADAT.

Would you say it would be reliable ?
Any advice ?

[timday]

Edited - Scratch all that - misread your post. You want 16 out so an octopre will not do you. Clarett still seems an expensive way to go though. You might be better off doing an aggregate I/O if you have a Mac rather than ADAT as I'm not sure how well Scarletts work as effectively an ADAT slave unit.
There is a MOTU option (you can chain their interfaces via firewire providing input and output even on PC) and the mic pres are lovely but I have come to mistrust them for live use after having issues changing sample rate and with Ableton losing track of them for no readily apparent reason. Some people here love 'em though, YMMV but Focusrite gear has never been anything less than rock solid IME

I would have to say are you sure you need 16 out as you can group in Ableton's internal mixer and the extra 8 out is going to cost you quite a bit of extra money.

If you are looking at this much I/O you may also want to look at DI - if you have DI boxes in your rack you will get a much cleaner signal to the mixer (assuming you are running XLRs to a fairly distant desk) plus you will have earth lifts in case you need them. Not many venues will have 16 DI units unless you are playing somewhere pretty big. I only run 6 out and I often need to supply my own DI.

[siliconarc]

i can't comment on those as i've not used them, but have you considered an all-in-one box?
it can be expensive but might be worth it for you.

a friend has just bought a used Antelope Orion 32 - it's a beast!
Antelope also make the smaller, portable Zen Studio interface which could be a solution...

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec14/a ... studio.htm

on sale here: http://www.unityaudio.co.uk/product/617/zen-studio/

[chapelier fou]

Thanks !
The antelope don't have midi and it's a deal breaker to me. The Zen has only 14 outs including headphones. The Orion would be nice, but again, no midi.
Instrument inputs would be a bonus.
I had so much trouble with Motu in the past that i'd love to avoid this brand.
The guy from Focusrite pointed me the OctoPre MKII Dynamic to expand the Clarett.

But yeah, a single interface with MIDI, 6 inputs and 16 outputs would be perfect.

[timday]

It looks like the dynamic will do you - the straight up octopre doesn't have ADAT in but the dynamic does so it looks as if that's what you want.

Scarlett 18i20 or Saffire Pro 40 are around half the price of a Clarett though so unless you have a really good reason for thunderbolt or badly need the new mic pres you might want to consider them.

[chapelier fou]

Thanks. I accidentally ordered an Octopre (not dynamic) and had the chance to discover, that i was wrong thinking it will offer 'new' analog outs. You definitely need the 'dynamic' one.
I am more into TB mostly because i also have a ton of usb controllers (like 6 or so) and i'd like to separate things. Maybe it's stupid.

[Liam]

Check out the Behringer AIr series (X18 or XR18)> usb 18 in 18 out with midi i/o, ethernet, Ultranet (16 i/o expansion) etc

The X 18 sells for $499 from Sweetwater. iPad, Android or PC and Mac control. Has a spot to place tablet if you use that for control.

Works thru the iConnectmidi devices as well.

[timday]

I think he needs multiple analogue outs so an X18 is no good. An X32 might do it but it is very large and costs a lot more.

I think the 18x18 Behringer refer to is it will take 18 channels over USB from an iPad or laptop into the mixer but then the mixer will mix those down to the mains and sends. There certainly aren't 18 analogue outs on it looking at the pics.

The new Behringer gear with Midas pres isn't bad though. Much better than their older stuff.

[timday]

Thanks. I accidentally ordered an Octopre (not dynamic) and had the chance to discover, that i was wrong thinking it will offer 'new' analog outs. You definitely need the 'dynamic' one.
I am more into TB mostly because i also have a ton of usb controllers (like 6 or so) and i'd like to separate things. Maybe it's stupid.

Not entirely, I'm getting a Saffire pro 40 for the same reason (in my case I'm MIDI controlling multiple hardware synths via USB which is using up all my USB ports and then some). I know FW is about to disappear but Focusrite have stated they will continue to support the Saffire and £25 extra for a TB>FW cable is cheaper than £300 extra for a Clarett. Mind you the Saffire doesn't seem to have word clock which you may or may not care about.

[Liam]

I think he needs multiple analogue outs so an X18 is no good. An X32 might do it but it is very large and costs a lot more.

I think the 18x18 Behringer refer to is it will take 18 channels over USB from an iPad or laptop into the mixer but then the mixer will mix those down to the mains and sends. There certainly aren't 18 analogue outs on it looking at the pics.

The new Behringer gear with Midas pres isn't bad though. Much better than their older stuff.

The X 18 has 18 Ins and two Main outs (xlr) as well as 6 1/4" outs ans two RCA outs (L + R). A total of 10 Outs plus the USB outs.

[102455]

Allen & Heath ICE-16?

16 ins + 16 outs via FireWire or USB, plus the ability to record 16 tracks to a USB flash drive or hard drive without a computer.

[chapelier fou]

Allen & Heath ICE-16?

16 ins + 16 outs via FireWire or USB, plus the ability to record 16 tracks to a USB flash drive or hard drive without a computer.

Weird one. I wouldn't use this on stage. No instrument ins, no MIDI, RCA outputs, etc...

[102455]

What sort of "instruments"? Not line level I assume (you didn't say).

You also didn't say initally that MIDI was a requirement.

RCA outs yes, but purely because of space restraints. They're not consumer level.

They also do the 16D with balanced I/O (via D connectors).

[chapelier fou]

Violin pickups, clarinet pickups, and an electric guitar. So i'd need DIs and stuff like ZBox.
Yeah, sorry, i didn't mention that (i've been discussing this on the lines forum as well, and i assumed i've told it here as well, sorry).

[fishmonkey]

one good option would be to start with an RME Fireface UFX+:

http://www.rme-audio.de/en/products/fir ... x-plus.php

and then add whatever extra analogue outs you need.

the Focusrite Claretts are appealing but they have zero track record so far, so IMO they are a big gamble. i would avoid the Scarlett range, they have a poor reliability record.