how to connect multiple synths to audio interface

After all, while PC technology generally moves forward in huge leaps and bounds, the performance of audio interfaces is a much more measured affair. Probably the best solution, but adding all of those extra interface channels for every synth can get expensive. Inputs on interfaces are balanced almost on every unit. One way to link your synths together is by daisy-chaining them together via MIDI connection. Sorry for this newbie question but I'd like to understand before I buy the Focusrite. It looks like you are in the early stages of your synth addiction. But there are some restrictions you should bear in mind. Unless you plan to use a condenser microphone, make sure phantom power is off. Once you have determined that your studio monitors and your interface are compatible and that the levels are matched, you can connect them using the appropriate cables. It's also important to note that ASIO4ALL causes no audio degradation it simply routes audio and makes the various inputs and outputs appear as extra options inside all ASIO-compatible hosts. Most audio interfaces come with a variety of cables, so you should be able to find one that works for your setup. Here's a tip: disable any I/Os that you don't need. 12. Many thanks for your advice. FireWire 400, also called IEEE 1394a or i.LINK, is the consumer and professional standard for formats such as DV, DVCAM, DVCPRO, DVCPRO 50, DVCPRO HD, and HDV. Plug the audio output from the sound mixer into the audio input on the audio interface. This interface is then connected to the laptop or computer by a USB and there you have it, you're ready to get recording. Firstly, it allows the producer to compare the sound of the music being played back in the studio with the sound of the music being played back over the speakers in the room. However, if users ignore Windows and install the 1010 drivers and software correctly, these products can actually run happily alongside each other without conflict. Step #3: Connect your microphone. The easiest approach to running multiple interfaces is to buy those that can share the same multi-device driver, such as M-Audio's Delta series (the Audiophile 192's control panel is shown here). All black knobs for my black keyed Bass Station 2, Needed a place for my stuff so I built one. Just plug mics, guitars, or synths into the XLR-1/4" combo jacks on the front panel. In this article, well show you how to do it. One of the most important is whether or not you need a preamp. This can be useful for listening to music, watching movies, or playing video games. They also have cheap usb -> 5 pin midi in/out interfaces that are pretty useful if you want to sync or send midi from your daw that way. @BiancaNeve said: Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use a preamp depends on your specific situation and on the studio monitors that you are using. Thanks mate. This is because an audio interface will convert the digital signal from your computer into an analog signal that your studio monitors can understand. Web site designed & maintained by PB Associates & SOS. You may login with either your assigned username or your e-mail address. Heaps of great videos about midi networking on youtube. Since WDM/KS drivers bypass Microsoft's kernel mixer (which is normally used to mix the outputs from multiple audio applications into one stereo stream), this option can provide very low latency. I think focusrite makes an 8 channel adat interface that can be used to extend your channel count. 3. Well, some musicians fall at the first hurdle, by assuming that they can buy a second interface identical to their existing one, to double up on features. As I explained in some detail in my two-part feature on 'Real World Latency', back in SOS September/October 2002, in addition to the latency imposed by the interface's buffer size, the interface's A-D and D-A converters also impose some latency of their own, and there may also be other 'hidden extras', such as interface DSP code, that have further latency implications. There are a few different types of cables you can use to connect your studio monitors to your interface, but the most common are TRS and XLR cables. However, as in the case of Sonar 's WDM/KS driver option, there could well be a tiny fixed offset between the different interfaces. Similarly, you can daisy-chain up to four 828MkII, 896HD or Traveler Firewire interfaces for more I/O channels. If you have more than one synth, connect a cable from the "THRU" socket on your first synth to the "IN" socket on your second synth. On The Move: Here's a tip for if you have a laptop and a host application such as Cubase that includes Rewire support, plus Gigastudio 3 (which also has Rewire support), but you want to work 'on the move' without carting about an expensive audio interface with GSIF and ASIO support. As both the Spike and Duet only have two audio inputs each, Iam also looking to do away with those and get abetter audio interface. Studio monitors are typically either two-way or three-way designs. With Volt, you'll be creating like a pro, fast. Then they effectively become one larger interface with their inputs and outputs pooled. Allocate all time-sensitive tracks, such as drums, percussion, bass, guitar and so, on to the outputs of your first interface to keep them locked together. If you just want to hear them all you could just get a 2 input interface and use a mixer to jam out and just take the full mixer output and send that the scarlet. Cubase SX3, an ASIO-compatible host application, allows only one driver at a time to be selected in its Device Setup window, although it may be possible (using special drivers like ASIO4ALL, highlighted here) to persuade several interfaces to run with one driver. GarageBand or Loopy, or select a different audio interface output Then when it comes time to record you can just record each synth part separately. And I will connect with TRS, balanced cables as you suggest. If youre having trouble getting your studio monitors to work, or if youre not sure which cables to buy, contact your local audio specialist for help. No ADAT or interconnectivity required between the two devices! In order to get the most accurate representation of your music, you need to use studio monitors that are specifically designed for that purpose. Route MIDI between apps drive a synth from a MIDI sequencer, or add an arpeggiator to your MIDI keyboard or sync with your external MIDI gear. the point is as follows: External Instruments are basically a way to include a soundproducing hardware device (synth, etc.) an award-winning music app for iPhone and iPad which lets you use This is something that a lot of musicians wrestle with. In your DAW, select the input of each one of the tracks and you're done. My place is something different than your typical music room: a two floors independent house (90sqm) with a beautiful garden and an old small chapel turned into a personal 12sqm studio, stuffed with music gear, instruments and noise making toys. Sadly, some musicians don't realise this before buying an expensive second interface and then finding that they can't add it to their existing one inside their audio application. Connect the inch (3.5mm) jack of the Y-Cable to your computer or laptop's "line in" Connect the inch (6.35mm) jacks of a Y-Cable to your synthesiser's audio output Most synths have either 1 or 2 outputs at the back which are usually sized at 6.35mm ( inch). They come in either jack or RCA forms - RCA is the connector you find on Hi-Fi amplifiers for connecting turntables, tuners, CD players etc. These prevent the interfaces from drifting apart over long periods, by using Windows 2000/XP's 'Kernel Sync' feature. DMCA, Where Is The Berries And Cream Audio From. Theres way better interfaces than the focusrites but theyre perfect for what youll be doing. The second reason why studios have two sets of speakers is because it allows the producer to adjust the sound of the music being played back in the studio. You connect synths to line inputs via TRS cables. Expanding the number of inputs in your setup can be done at a relatively low cost. The level of your studio monitors should be matched to the level of your interface. Fortunately, quite a few manufacturers have developed suitable multi-device drivers that typically support up to four identical interfaces, or a mix of up to four similar models from the same range. Those with more money to spend might want to look at Mackie's Onyx 800R, once again with eight mic preamps (and M&S options), this time taken from their acclaimed Onyx mixers. Studio monitors are essential for creating and mixing music. lol, someone down voted you. RTP-MIDI Connection. With audio interface you can even do this when the other computer is not on, i.e. Not only will they help you produce better music, but they will also improve your mixing and mastering skills. Sound Magic Black Friday Week #1 Sale Event, Up to 90% OFF will end in 12 hours!! Now Im having a bit of headache to connect them to my audio interface a Zoom u-44(thats connected to my iPad). Remember, also, that ASIO4ALL relies on the existing WDM drivers for your interface, so if these only provide reduced I/O support compared with their ASIO drivers, this is all you'll be able to access with ASIO4ALL. You wont be able to have both synths plugged with the guitar unless you use the audio usb via model cycles, I use a cycles as an external drum machine sometimes, usb audio is a little iffy so I prefer the audio through stereo and only clock it over usb, Thanks a lot. The interface will usually be fitted with at least a couple of inputs.So you simply plug a cable from the output of the synthesizer to the interface. The most common cables for connecting studio monitors to an interface are balanced XLR cables and unbalanced RCA cables. With a little experimentation, youll be able to get the most out of your studio monitors. If your studio monitors have a lower impedance than your interface, you will need to use a transformer to match the impedance. Speaker and headphone monitoring would be done from the output of the mixer. 1) Connect an audio interface to your laptop or PC using USB. Others are lusting after various recent interfaces that offer high-quality mic preamps and built-in DSP effects. At 185, it's extremely good value for money, providing eight mic/line inputs with rotary gain controls on the front panel, globally switched phantom power, and eight balanced XLR outputs on the rear panel, along with ADAT In/Out. If you want to keep a budget, 4i4 is awesome and low latency. If you have several completely different requirements, this may make sense. A more up-market alternative is RME's 900 ADI8 DS, reviewed SOS September 2003. Zoom U-44 Handy 4-In/4-Out Audio Interface. 4) Open up your recording software or DAW. I would like to connect two synths to an Audio Interface (Uno Synth Pro desktop and Elektron Model Cycles). In such cases, you should always follow the manufacturer's step-by-step installation instructions for the new interface, and cancel or ignore any attempts by Windows to automatically install any other drivers for it. Those with several entirely different interfaces should find that Windows will run them all separately, but whether or not you can use them all simultaneously in your chosen audio application is another matter. However, in some cases a preamp may be needed to achieve this flat frequency response. How do I send multiple synths to MIDI? However, if you only have one studio monitor, youre missing out on some important information. Step #4: Create a new project in your DAW. Choose between a MIDI or audio device. You will need at least one USB to 2 x MIDI cables. Go with Steinberg over Scarlett. Check the inputs and outputs of your equipment to see which connections you have. Luckily this what most affordable interfaces will have. All rights reserved. However, some older PCI devices do have multi-device support, such as Terratec's Phase 88. This helps to ensure that the music sounds the same when it is played back in the studio as it does when it is played back in the room. Click "Add External Instrument", give it a name that suits you, and connect a set of inputs to it from your audio interface. If you dont have an audio interface, or if youre in the market for a new one, we recommend the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. Small diaphragm condenser: AKG p170 vs Shure sm81? And if youre just starting out, its a good idea to invest in two sets of monitors one for your studio and one for your home. The remaining RME Midi port would go to your 5th synth. A lot of musicians received the beta version of this driver and the results looked promising, but, sadly, the final release never appeared. When youre just starting out in the world of music production, it can be tempting to buy the cheapest studio monitors you can find. "I have three synthesizer modules and one keyboard connected to a single port MIDI interface.I'm able to play the keyboard's sounds and those of the modules through my sequencing software. Studio monitors are designed to give you an accurate representation of your music. Most musicians find this runs like a dream, althoughin the case of multiple PCI cards, very occasionally the odd PC motherboard may throw a spanner in the works and prevent the cards from running smoothly alongside each other. The co-ax cable on the zoom is a digital connection for spdif (Sony Phillips digital interchange format if I remember right), Aha!! Just use Rewire to port the audio output from Gigastudio to Cubase and then ASIO4ALL to provide low-latency ASIO drivers for the laptop's sound chip. A preamp can help to give them the boost they need. to 1/4"mono or stereo?! Older synths may have insufficient output levels, so use of a mic input is better for those. Is it possible to hook it to the coaxial in on the Zoom? This allows the producer to ensure that the music sounds the same when it is played back over the speakers in the room as it does when it is played back on the studio monitors. The advantage of working like this, rather than using an external mixer, is that you can apply plugins to the synth channels if you need more effects. Studio monitors are not always cheap, but they are worth the investment. Then connect your speakers or headphones via 1/4" sockets to monitor your audio with no latency. I'll look into Steinberg Interfaces and MIDI networking.. Not sure if this has been said already but you can always get an interface with 2/4 inputs and an adat In/out to add another later on. The Apogee Quartet is a high quality audio interface for iPad with multiple outputs and inputs. TS is unbalanced audio, TRS is balanced. Of course a digital(spdif) input doesnt work on a analog signal Also suggest having a look at Motu if you have not already. Sometimes this previous device is still active, or it may be one that you've removed without properly un-installing its drivers first. Just had a look Motu interfaces. ESI Pro's Maxio XD drivers support up to four units, and by the time you read this, Echo should also have released multi-device drivers for their Audiofire range, although their PCI products don't have multi-device driver support, and nor does Emu's Digital Audio System range, or any of Edirol's range. In a nutshell, using an audio interface with your studio monitors will give you a cleaner and more accurate sound. The driver should have a control panel where you can activate the inputs and outputs of each device you will use. The MOTU multiport MIDI interface will enable you to handle up to eight multitimbral synths at once without running out of MIDI channels, so that seems apractical choice. Im confused and in need of help to be able to record play with my new little friends, The co-ax cable on the zoom is a digital connection for spdif (Sony Phillips digital interchange format if I remember right). But what cables do I need? Here are the basic steps for syncing a device to a DAW via MIDI clock: Connect your MIDI device via MIDI cable or USB. This means that the the audio outputs are part of the vsti-channels which do not have a record button! M-Audio's Internet Knowledge Base also includes full details on the various settings that are required. Is it 1/8"mm stereo to 1/4" mono? Once this has been done, all interfaces will be locked to the clock of the one designated as Master and you can safely do multitrack digital and analogue recording and playback across several interfaces, while they remain permanently locked to sample accuracy. California Consumer Privacy Act | synths with editors like Midiquest etc) 1/ Anyway, you wont find any interface handling audio + midi simultaneously with more than 2 midi/in outs. your other music apps together. The contents of this article are subject to worldwide copyright protection and reproduction in whole or part, whether mechanical or electronic, is expressly forbidden without the prior written consent of the Publishers. Most audio interfaces have multiple outputs, which is perfect for connecting multiple studio monitors. The New Loops Massive Black Friday Sale Has Started! Click here to verify you are human. With ASIO4ALL, my laptop soundchip managed an excellent 5ms latency.ASIO4ALL may not have the most professional-looking Control Panel, but it can work rather well if you want to mix several different interfaces and run them simultaneously in an ASIO-compatible host application. When the mix is sounding right, you record the output of the mixer back via your audio interface onto anew stereo track, but with the playback fader turned down during recording so the signal doesn't feed back on itself. The driver is written for the three major Firewire chip sets (Oxford Semiconductor, Wavefront Semiconductor and BridgeCo), so version 1.0 should support a wide variety of interfaces, including the Apogee Rosetta 200, Behringer FCA202, Focusrite Saffire, M-Audio Firewire Solo and Ozonic keyboard and Miglia Harmony Audio. This Behringer ADA8000 can be found for well under 200 $250 and will give you an extra eight inputs to play with. I know musicians successfully running four M-Audio Delta 1010s under Windows XP, as well as mixtures of the smaller Delta interfaces such as the Delta 44/66 or Audiophiles. There are a few things you need to consider when connecting studio monitors to an interface. I really appreciate it. More of a hassle but could save some money. I am thinking of buying a Focusrite scarlett 4i4 3rd gen. 8. Studio monitors are a key part of any music production setup, but connecting them to your computer can be a little confusing. Wish me luck, Im about to drill some holes! Once you have an audio interface, the next step is to connect your studio monitors to it. I can only find info on the net about connecting guitars and Microphones. They wouldn't be able to differentiate between them and the second interface would be ignored, or (more likely) your PC would crash or fail to boot up at all. All contents copyright SOS Publications Group and/or its licensors, 1985-2022. I appreciate it. Drivers that only support a single device will become confused when faced with two identical interfaces, but sometimes Windows can also get confused when you plug in a new interface, and can think it knows what the new device is before you've installed the correct drivers. Once youve chosen the right cables, its time to connect them. 5) Head to preferences in the . Centrance's forthcoming Universal Driver promises professional low-latency performance if you want to run several different Firewire audio interfaces simultaneously, and even divide up their I/O amongst several ASIO-compatible applications.By the time you read this, Centrance (www.centrance.com) should have released their CE1506 Universal Driver for Firewire audio devices. KVR Audio Forum - USB Audio interface for multiple synths at once - Hardware (Instruments and Effects) Forum After all this talk of exotic drivers, I should remind those with unused ADAT ports that they already have an easy way to add more analogue inputs and outputs to their interface, to cater for live recordings or surround requirements, simply by plugging in a hardware box containing some A-D or D-A converters, or both. Given that it's freeware, we can forgive a few quirks, as well as a 'novel' Control Panel window (see screen on previous page). The advantage of working like this, rather than using an external mixer, is that you can apply plugins to the synth channels if you need more effects. There are also quite a few compatible converters available in desktop and rackmount formats, many of which have already been reviewed in the pages of SOS. You can also come back to your mixes years later when the synths have been disconnected or sold. If youre using a laptop to create your music, then you definitely need to use an audio interface with your studio monitors. The main one I use for my ASIO audio recording/playback is Emu's 1820M, because, of the three, this one has the best converter quality. The XLR cable should be plugged into the balanced input on your interface, and the studio monitors should be plugged into the balanced output on your interface. There is also one sure way of combining several completely different interface models from different manufacturers without running into problems, and that's when they are each performing an entirely separate task. The views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the publishers. This is because the laptops sound card is not designed for studio use. Future versions of the driver could add support for products from Alesis, Presonus and Yamaha, amongst others. Step 3: Install necessary drivers. What cables do I need for studio monitors to interface. For instance, I spotted one person running an RME HDSP 9652 for 24-track playback via ADAT interfacing into a Yamaha 01V96 mixer, but was sometimes using an M-Audio Delta 1010 instead, for old projects and some analogue recording. The 4i4 will be maxed out with 2 stereo synths. They are usually placed in the room so that the music producer or recording artist can listen to the sound of the music being played back. If your studio monitors have XLR jacks, you can use a standard XLR cable to connect them to your interface, or you can use a XLR to TRS cable to connect them. https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-CMP-159-Stereo-Breakout-Cable/dp/B005HGM1D6. Once everything is connected, its time to test your setup. 2. If you use USB, make sure your device can send/receive MIDI data over USB, a.k.a. In this article, we will discuss the two most common methods: using a USB cable or using a Thunderbolt cable. Over the years, I've noticed that multi-device support for new models is rare but often promised in a future driver update. This Behringer ADA8000 can be found for well under. All contents copyright SOS Publications Group and/or its licensors, 1985-2022. So far it has worked wellexcept suddenly I am running out of inputs even thought though it would have more than enough! This ensures that the sound is accurate and consistent, regardless of the position of the listener. Both my synths have stereo audio outputs L/R. There's some great pointers there. Press J to jump to the feed. Then they effectively become one larger interface with their inputs and outputs pooled. How do Iset up, say, three hardware synths via audio and MIDI (I believe you need both connected to get sound in your DAW?) First, find the output on the audio interface that corresponds to the studio monitor you want to connect. MOTU are also enthusiastic about multi-device support, and if you received one of their PCI424 cards with your MOTU Audiowire interface you can plug a further three interfaces into it, from a large range of options including any 2408 (Mk1 to Mk3), 308, 24i, 24i/o, 1296 or HD192. keyboard or sync with your external MIDI gear. If you ever think you'll need more inputs and outputs than you have at present, the best approach is to choose an interface that already has multi-device drivers, such as the ones I've mentioned. MIDI over USB. Obsessed with synthesizers: hardware & software, How to remove GrapheneOS from pixel device, How to configure modem + router + access point in townhouse, How to fix flickering RDP connection on 100 Hz display, best find of my life, 0$ at a freewill donations garage sale, Finally pulled the trigger on the Hydrasynth. However, studio monitors can be quite expensive, and not everyone needs or wants this level of accuracy. Most audio interfaces have multiple outputs, which is perfect for connecting multiple studio monitors. Its a great option for home studios, and it has two outputs, which is perfect for connecting multiple monitors. Working in this way, each synth would have both aMIDI trackto control it and astereo audio track to record it. This is important because it allows you to hear any flaws in your tracks and correct them before you release them to the world. for those 2 synths you would just put the left and right quarter out into the left and right quarter ins for you 4 input scarlet. If you come across such issues, the answer is to use your ears to set the timing, or to calculate the fixed timing difference between the interfaces (I suspect this timing difference to be the main reason why Steinberg haven't yet added multi-device support to their ASIO driver protocol.). Volt 2 gives you simple 2-in / 2-out audio connections. Chain effects on your favourite synth, run the output of apps or Audio Units into an app like GarageBand or Loopy, or select a different audio interface output for each app. Then, use the appropriate cable to connect the two devices. In your DAW, create a new project and set your studio monitors as your playback device. I produce mainly in ableton, but caught the synth bug a year ago. If you need more audio interfacing, do you really have to trash an interface that's otherwise perfectly satisfactory and buy a bigger one? If you're using PCI cards from the same manufacturer, it may be possible to lock them together by connecting an internal Sync cable between the cards, but for other PCI cards, and for USB and Firewire interfaces, you'll either need to use Word Clock I/O if you have suitable ports (which generate and receive a dedicated clock signal), or the embedded clock signal from one of your S/PDIF, ADAT or other digital audio ports. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Privacy Policy | For instance, I'm currently running three PCI interfaces in my PC. However, there are adapters available that will allow you to connect unbalanced studio monitors to a balanced interface. They make midi interfaces between 4 and 8 ports. Justajiva January 2015 into cubase in the SAME way as VSTi (virtual instruments) are included. This is a simple process, and it should only take a few minutes. Arguably the best audio interface you can buy for less than $200, The iD4 MkII is a simple two-input/two-output offering featuring a mic preamp - complete with phantom power for using condenser mics - as well as an instrument level DI for plugging in your guitar or bass, plus a smart scroll wheel enabling you to tweak settings in your software. The same advice applies even if you're only using a single interface, and it may prove a useful tip when you're trying to play soft synths 'live' with as low a latency as possible. Hugh Robjohns reviewed this device in SOS February 2005and it costs about 850 on the street. Writing a will - what to say about musical aspects. This can be a serious problem on stage or in a studio with lots of MIDI gear, especially when you need to connect a computer to a MIDI interface with a USB-DAW connection. This is important for mixing and mastering, so that you can make adjustments and tweaks that will result in a great-sounding final product. The reviews are good. I've noticed right away that the Uno dont send audio through the USB and only analog audio through output. The easiest approach to running multiple interfaces is to buy those that can share the same multi-device driver, such as M-Audio's Delta series (the Audiophile 192's control panel is shown here). Writing a will - what to say about musical aspects. How do I record 15+ synths at once? Many musicians may notice no drift at all using such techniques. For example, I measured a total of 189 samples of extra latency on my Echo Mia, 152 samples on M-Audio's Duo and 91 samples on the Egosys Wami Rack 192X.

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how to connect multiple synths to audio interface