Is there an audio interface that I can use also as mixer?

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paul
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Is there an audio interface that I can use also as mixer?

Post by paul »

Hello!

For my band needs, I need to upgrade to a larger soundcard, and a small mixer. I was thinking of combining the two.
More precisely, is there an audio interface that satisfies the following?

- Works well with Linux, Jack
- at least 6 inputs, at least 2 outputs + 2 monitor (e.g. phones)
- can directly map input to output/monitor (like a mixer)
- USB (my pc doesn't have firewire)
- Phantom power
- reasonably low latency
- reasonably good preamp
- reasonably low noise
- 44100 Hz sampling rate is enough
- physically not too big (especially, not too thick)
- MIDI in (optional)

Extra feature, if I'm not already asking too much: equalizer on inputs.

Thanks!
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Re: Is there an audio interface that I can use also as mixer

Post by rghvdberg »

paul
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Re: Is there an audio interface that I can use also as mixer

Post by paul »

Afaik, mixers which also have USB do not behave like complete interfaces, instead they just output a couple of channels to the computer. But I might be wrong here.
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tux99
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Re: Is there an audio interface that I can use also as mixer

Post by tux99 »

You might be interested in a Phonic Helix mixer:
http://www.phonic.com/en/helix-board-18-universal.html
Helix Board 18 Universal is part of the new generation of USB / FireWire mixers from Phonic. The Universal mixer features a FireWire and USB interface that can individually stream up to 16 independent channels of audio to the computer and return two tracks for monitoring, all at screaming fast transfer rates of up to 24-bit/96 kHz with near-zero latency. Pre/post switches on each input channel ensure users can adjust the outgoing USB/FireWire signal between a pre fader and post fader signal with the utmost of ease.
I have no idea whether they work with Linux though, and I have no personal experience with them.
paul
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Re: Is there an audio interface that I can use also as mixer

Post by paul »

tux99 wrote:You might be interested in a Phonic Helix mixer:
http://www.phonic.com/en/helix-board-18-universal.html
Helix Board 18 Universal is part of the new generation of USB / FireWire mixers from Phonic. The Universal mixer features a FireWire and USB interface that can individually stream up to 16 independent channels of audio to the computer and return two tracks for monitoring, all at screaming fast transfer rates of up to 24-bit/96 kHz with near-zero latency. Pre/post switches on each input channel ensure users can adjust the outgoing USB/FireWire signal between a pre fader and post fader signal with the utmost of ease.
I have no idea whether they work with Linux though, and I have no personal experience with them.

Wow, this is definitely interesting. I'm looking for something exacly like that....
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Re: Is there an audio interface that I can use also as mixer

Post by artek »

Is there an audio interface that I can use also as mixer
Mixing live band itb is very risky.
I would use analog mixer and audio interface for recording, look for delta 1010, presonus 1818vsl, adat card + ada8000.
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Re: Is there an audio interface that I can use also as mixer

Post by paul »

OK, I've checked. Both mixers behave as I would like.
Behringer's: http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UFX1204.aspx
Phonic's: http://www.phonic.com/en/helix-board-18-universal.html (discontinued but still available online).

Which one do you guys think is better? Sound quality-wise, especially?

Thank you!
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artek
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Re: Is there an audio interface that I can use also as mixer

Post by artek »

Which one do you guys think is better? Sound quality-wise, especially?
I would say that the same, kind of cold sound.
You can try asking about it on gearslutz but these are a cheap stuff.
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Re: Is there an audio interface that I can use also as mixer

Post by paul »

artek wrote:
Which one do you guys think is better? Sound quality-wise, especially?
I would say that the same, kind of cold sound.
You can try asking about it on gearslutz but these are a cheap stuff.
Uhm...what do you mean by cold? And do you mean on the outputs, or in the recording?

Also, what about this? http://www.alesis.com/multimix8usb20
Any other alternative would be also welcome - but keep in mind I have no FireWire port.
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tux99
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Re: Is there an audio interface that I can use also as mixer

Post by tux99 »

paul wrote: Which one do you guys think is better? Sound quality-wise, especially?
I have no experience with either of them but from what I read about them I would guess that the Phonic is better quality than the Behringer.

I was quite interested in the Phonic some time ago but in the end I bought a Soundcraft M12 analog mixer as Soundcraft mixers have a better and warmer sound, especially the parametric eq sounds really good on Soundcraft mixers.

The M12 has a SPDIF digital out which is sufficient for me, and I actually prefer a SPDIF digital out compared to a USB out, as I can just connect it to the SPDIF input on my PC soundcard without worrying about drivers (unlike with USB out).
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Re: Is there an audio interface that I can use also as mixer

Post by paul »

tux99 wrote: Soundcraft mixers have a better and warmer sound, especially the parametric eq sounds really good on Soundcraft mixers.
Uhm...what about this then?
http://www.soundcraft.com/products/signature-12-mtk
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tux99
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Re: Is there an audio interface that I can use also as mixer

Post by tux99 »

paul wrote:Uhm...what about this then?
http://www.soundcraft.com/products/signature-12-mtk
It looks good, seems to have a multitrack USB audio interface built in. I have no experience with it but in general I find Soundcraft mixers are usually of good quality with a nice sound (I own two: an 17 year old Spirit Folio 10/2 and the M12).

You need to find out whether the USB audio interface works with Linux though.
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Re: Is there an audio interface that I can use also as mixer

Post by artek »

paul wrote: Uhm...what do you mean by cold? And do you mean on the outputs, or in the recording?
Audio path in mixers is coloring sound to a cold like a dead or blue dead cold impression :lol:

Beringer Xenyx and Phonic Helix are not listed as working on linux with usb.
http://www.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Matrix:Main
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Re: Is there an audio interface that I can use also as mixer?

Post by paul »

Hey people, any updates on the interface-mixer front?
After months I'm still waiting for the Soundcraft 12MTK to come out, but every month they delay the release, so I think I'll just give up and look for something else.
The Alesis 8 Multimix USB (not FX, I mean the one with the actual multichannel interface) seems pretty hard to find as well.
Anyone has any news or experience about mixer-interfaces?
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Re: Is there an audio interface that I can use also as mixer?

Post by rghvdberg »

I have a behringer mixer. It works on Linux.
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