Recommendations needed for a new audio interface with Cubase 10

[strummer]

@skijumptoes

I’ve often thought of adding an ADAT rack to my setup (Just a cheapy Behringer ADA8200 or Focusrite Octopre), but then i read reports on how ADAT can add latency, cause sync issues and sometimes appear as separate audio interfaces in windows OS, so i’ve held off. But then, the other part of me thinks why do those desktop Apollo’s get such rave reviews if ADAT can be troublesome? It’s very hard to cut through the nonsense online - OR, is it very subjective as to what is hosting the ADAT connection?

I love ADAT, Used to run an RME UCX with a Personus D8, now I have an UR824 with two D8, not a problem ever. Next up is a second UR824 to get 24 in and 16 ch out.

[skijumptoes]

What made you jump from the RME to Steinberg then, if already using ADAT? I presumed the RME would provide a better experience over an URxx.

Also, i thought you could only pair two interfaces on MacOS?

I’m seriously tempted by the RME Digiface and adding an ADA8200 to get started on a budget in the USB domain, as currently i’m running Focusrite Saffire 56 but at some point i’m gonna have to leave firewire but i need to run something alongside it to start with before committing to a new setup. I love the idea of those 4x ADATs, but then having ONLY a headphone out port is blowing my mind a bit - but i guess you come out of the outputs of the ADATs.

I just find it hard, based on previous experience with USB interfaces, that they can come near the stability and latency i get via Firewire - which is my main curiosity.

[strummer]

@skijumptoes

What made you jump from the RME to Steinberg then, if already using ADAT? I presumed the RME would provide a better experience over an URxx.

Also, i thought you could only pair two interfaces on MacOS?

I’m seriously tempted by the RME Digiface and adding an ADA8200 to get started on a budget in the USB domain, as currently i’m running Focusrite Saffire 56 but at some point i’m gonna have to leave firewire but i need to run something alongside it to start with before committing to a new setup. I love the idea of those 4x ADATs, but then having ONLY a headphone out port is blowing my mind a bit - but i guess you come out of the outputs of the ADATs.

I just find it hard, based on previous experience with USB interfaces, that they can come near the stability and latency i get via Firewire - which is my main curiosity.

I guess you are asking me:)
I needed more channels, the UCX has only one ADAT in and 2 mic inputs along with 6 line in and a Spdif, so it maxes otu at 18 inputs.
I am on Win, don’t know about mac much, but using ADAT means there is only ever the one interface connected, the ADAT units (in my case D8:s) are set to clock sync with the soundcard and the soundcard just gets the optical signals in along with it’s own analogue inputs.
Going from an RME to a UR824 meant a bit higher latency for the same setting, but as I record mostly with microphones and line (seldom midi) that is no problem, RME has a brilliant mixer (and direct monitor if you want it) but UR824 has direct monitor w/dsp, and it’s inside Cubase:) Also, the RME mic preamps were perhaps a smidge better than the Yamahas, but not much, and now I have 8 mic in with that quality!
Control over the RME software does much more than the Steinberg version, and it has a slew of great functions. DSP is very good with reverb and echo, but then Steinberg has that too, and guitar amps!
Ask me again when I have 2 000 Euros to spare, and I’ll probably say I just bought myself an RME UFX II, but for now I’m good with the UR824.

I wouldn’t get a Digiface unless I had some decent preamps, the Babyface Pro is a much better choice imho, or an UCX. If you want the Digiface, you could get a UR824 to get 8 mic in and 8 ch out vi ADAT, that would sort it all:)

[skijumptoes]

@strummer

I wouldn’t get a Digiface unless I had some decent preamps, the Babyface Pro is a much better choice imho, or an UCX. If you want the Digiface, you could get a UR824 to get 8 mic in and 8 ch out vi ADAT, that would sort it all:)

Thanks for the reply, appreciate it. And i didn’t realise those Steinberg interfaces had DSP controllable within Cubase - That’s REALLY interested me. Seriously looking at the UR824 now - it looks a steal for what you get with the ADAT option too. Plus, i think i’m done with Mac for audio and perhaps should give USB a try - Apple just seem to want to grab you by the balls and squeeze.

One question, have you tried the pre-amps on your UR824 for mic’ing guitar amps? Sometimes i have to raise the gain on my focusrite (Around 75-80%) to get a good recording level if it’s late at night. Do they get noisy when applying gain?

Edit: wow it’s a good price too - Steinberg Ultimate Cubase Recording Pack w/ UR824 & Cubase Pro 10 - Andertons Music Co.

Cubase on it’s own is 400+ - that’s insane!

[strummer]

@skijumptoes

@strummer

I wouldn’t get a Digiface unless I had some decent preamps, the Babyface Pro is a much better choice imho, or an UCX. If you want the Digiface, you could get a UR824 to get 8 mic in and 8 ch out vi ADAT, that would sort it all:)

Thanks for the reply, appreciate it. And i didn’t realise those Steinberg interfaces had DSP controllable within Cubase - That’s REALLY interested me. Seriously looking at the UR824 now - it looks a steal for what you get with the ADAT option too. Plus, i think i’m done with Mac for audio and perhaps should give USB a try - Apple just seem to want to grab you by the balls and squeeze.

One question, have you tried the pre-amps on your UR824 for mic’ing guitar amps? Sometimes i have to raise the gain on my focusrite (Around 75-80%) to get a good recording level if it’s late at night. Do they get noisy when applying gain?

Edit: wow it’s a good price too - Steinberg Ultimate Cubase Recording Pack w/ UR824 & Cubase Pro 10 - Andertons Music Co.

Cubase on it’s own is 400+ - that’s insane!

Yes, as the preamps in the UR824 are the best I have right now I huse them for guitars, vocals, overheads and as much else as I can get away with. Now most of the bands I record kind of crank the poopies out of everything, but some take it easy, and I also use ribbon mics for both electric guitar and overheads a lot (Bumblebee RM-5) and those are loooow on signal, so I often crank the gain. And no, not noisier than the RME:S in the UCX.
One thing about the DSP worth knowing is that is’s just one channel with guitar amps, and all 8 (and I think ADAT A) inputs has the channel strip and reverb.

[currentsound]

@skijumptoes

@strummer

I wouldn’t get a Digiface unless I had some decent preamps, the Babyface Pro is a much better choice imho, or an UCX. If you want the Digiface, you could get a UR824 to get 8 mic in and 8 ch out vi ADAT, that would sort it all:)

Thanks for the reply, appreciate it. And i didn’t realise those Steinberg interfaces had DSP controllable within Cubase - That’s REALLY interested me. Seriously looking at the UR824 now - it looks a steal for what you get with the ADAT option too. Plus, i think i’m done with Mac for audio and perhaps should give USB a try - Apple just seem to want to grab you by the balls and squeeze.

One question, have you tried the pre-amps on your UR824 for mic’ing guitar amps? Sometimes i have to raise the gain on my focusrite (Around 75-80%) to get a good recording level if it’s late at night. Do they get noisy when applying gain?

Edit: wow it’s a good price too - Steinberg Ultimate Cubase Recording Pack w/ UR824 & Cubase Pro 10 - Andertons Music Co.

Cubase on it’s own is 400+ - that’s insane!

The UR824 is best for it’s zero latency analogue monitoring in Cubase but in terms of DSP, it’s just EQ, compression and reverb.

The UAD system doesn’t give you the zero latency monitoring inside of Cubase, you need to use the UAD mixer as well as load the plugins into the UAD mixer when tracking to keep the latency low but has more fancy DSP plugins and you can buy more DSP plugins for it later.