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Chaining usb audio interfaces?
Hello. I'm sure many of us have audio interfaces that output via usb. Provided that they also had the correct digital I/O, is it possible to chain them together in order to record simultaneously with a greater channel count?
For example - a two channel interface outputs via spdif, into another two channel interface, which then passes all four discreet channels to the computer via usb?
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Sobell Model 1 Sobell six string archtop Gibson ES-165 Herb Ellis Eastman John Pisano Gibson Johnny A Franklin Prairie State Collings D1A |
#2
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If I’m understanding you correctly, then yes
I have a similar set up, though I’m using FireWire instead of usb. I have a Fireface UCX that I have connected to my PC and I’m using Calkwalk walk sonar as my recording platform. Hooked up via Spdif is an apogee Rosetta 200. I can assign track inputs to either the Fireface or the Rosetta. I use the Rosetta as the master clock
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David Webber Round-Body Furch D32-LM MJ Franks Lagacy OM Rainsong H-WS1000N2T Stonebridge OM33-SR DB Stonebridge D22-SRA Tacoma Papoose Voyage Air VAD-2 1980 Fender Strat A few Partscaster Strats MIC 60s Classic Vib Strat |
#3
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At least with my example, yes.
I have an older Focusrite 8 analog channel USB interface connected at my studio into computer, and then upstream of that is an additional optically-connected Focusrite 8 analog channel expansion. Wasn't hard to setup. Set the USB interface as the master word clock after hooking up the optical cable, and then all the channels on both interfaces appear in the DAW. Chaining (well maybe more like "paralleling") two USB interfaces into two computer USB ports is apparently possible, but I've never done that. That doesn't seem to be what you're asking about though.
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----------------------------------- Creator of The Parlando Project Guitars: 20th Century Seagull S6-12, S6 Folk, Seagull M6; '00 Guild JF30-12, '01 Martin 00-15, '16 Martin 000-17, '07 Parkwood PW510, Epiphone Biscuit resonator, Merlin Dulcimer, and various electric guitars, basses.... |
#4
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Sobell Model 1 Sobell six string archtop Gibson ES-165 Herb Ellis Eastman John Pisano Gibson Johnny A Franklin Prairie State Collings D1A |
#5
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David Webber Round-Body Furch D32-LM MJ Franks Lagacy OM Rainsong H-WS1000N2T Stonebridge OM33-SR DB Stonebridge D22-SRA Tacoma Papoose Voyage Air VAD-2 1980 Fender Strat A few Partscaster Strats MIC 60s Classic Vib Strat |
#6
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How many discrete 'output' channels via USB is the key to chaining - the last one in the chain (the one that outputs via USB to the computer) is the one that has to have the most. For example if it has 8 channel capacity, has 4 mic preamps and receives 4 channels vis SPDIF from another interface, that's it - 8 channels is the most its going to send to the computer. If you sendi8 channels to it via SPDIF, then you'd have to choose which 8 channels get sent out from the 12 available (8 SPDIF and 4 preamps).
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Mike My music: https://mikebirchmusic.bandcamp.com 2020 Taylor 324ceBE 2017 Taylor 114ce-N 2012 Taylor 310ce 2011 Fender CD140SCE Ibanez 12 string a/e 73(?) Epiphone 6830E 6 string 72 Fender Telecaster Epiphone Dot Studio Epiphone LP Jr Chinese Strat clone Kala baritone ukulele Seagull 'Merlin' Washburn Mandolin Luna 'tatoo' a/e ukulele antique banjolin Squire J bass |
#7
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As it happens, I haven't made much use of the optical inputs on these boxes other than the ADAT link, but I have used a fair number of the analog line and mic inputs. I'm not sure how many I've used at once in my largest recording project, but I may not have exceeded 12, though I currently have more than 12 connected for greatest flexibility in recording (i.e., I might play bass, keyboards, acoustic or electric guitar on a particular track or pass, they real keyboard player has two to three keyboards, and second guitar player, and vocals, etc.--and all are connected, and I just arm the tracks I'm going to use.) All the inputs appear to available in ProTools or Logic. Is there a "secret" limitation I'm not understanding or haven't encountered? When I bought my 18i20 Firewire was an option, and there was a feeling that USB 2 couldn't cut it for serious track counts. I was surprised to see it offered for this model, and pleased over the years that it seems to work well.
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----------------------------------- Creator of The Parlando Project Guitars: 20th Century Seagull S6-12, S6 Folk, Seagull M6; '00 Guild JF30-12, '01 Martin 00-15, '16 Martin 000-17, '07 Parkwood PW510, Epiphone Biscuit resonator, Merlin Dulcimer, and various electric guitars, basses.... |
#8
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As an example, the Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 has 4 XLR mic preamps + 4 line-in inputs + MIDI + SPDIF - but it's output via USB is limited to 8 discrete channels. YOu could have 4 mics and 4 line-in instruments/devices plugged into it, and record all those to separate tracks in your DAW. Plug another interface into it via SPDIF, and you will have to decide WHICH 8 inputs to send to the 8 outputs.
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Mike My music: https://mikebirchmusic.bandcamp.com 2020 Taylor 324ceBE 2017 Taylor 114ce-N 2012 Taylor 310ce 2011 Fender CD140SCE Ibanez 12 string a/e 73(?) Epiphone 6830E 6 string 72 Fender Telecaster Epiphone Dot Studio Epiphone LP Jr Chinese Strat clone Kala baritone ukulele Seagull 'Merlin' Washburn Mandolin Luna 'tatoo' a/e ukulele antique banjolin Squire J bass |
#9
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Phil
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Solo Fingerstyle CDs: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back (2021) One Size Does Not Fit All (2018) I play Crosby, Emerald, Larrivée, Lowden, Rainsong & Tacoma guitars. Check out my Guitar Website. See guitar photos & info at my Guitars page. |
#10
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In the case of the 18i8, it indeed will do 18 channels out via USB, but they are limited to 8 from the input jacks (4 mic + 4 line), 8 from the optical/ADAT inputs and 2 (just 'stereo') from the SPDIF inputs. The end result is 'chaining' would only be effective if you wanted more mic preamps - then used that device's outputs to the line-ins (or just 2 mic preamps via SPDIF).
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Mike My music: https://mikebirchmusic.bandcamp.com 2020 Taylor 324ceBE 2017 Taylor 114ce-N 2012 Taylor 310ce 2011 Fender CD140SCE Ibanez 12 string a/e 73(?) Epiphone 6830E 6 string 72 Fender Telecaster Epiphone Dot Studio Epiphone LP Jr Chinese Strat clone Kala baritone ukulele Seagull 'Merlin' Washburn Mandolin Luna 'tatoo' a/e ukulele antique banjolin Squire J bass Last edited by MikeBmusic; 10-24-2018 at 06:28 AM. |
#11
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humm interesting
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Enjoy the Journey.... Kev... KevWind at Soundcloud KevWind at YouYube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...EZxkPKyieOTgRD System : Studio system Avid Carbon interface , PT Ultimate 2023.12 -Mid 2020 iMac 27" 3.8GHz 8-core i7 10th Gen ,, Ventura 13.2.1 Mobile MBP M1 Pro , PT Ultimate 2023.12 Sonoma 14.4 |
#12
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That’s a bit cryptic. For someone who is a bit (no pun intended) limited in converter knowledge, can you elaborate.
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David Webber Round-Body Furch D32-LM MJ Franks Lagacy OM Rainsong H-WS1000N2T Stonebridge OM33-SR DB Stonebridge D22-SRA Tacoma Papoose Voyage Air VAD-2 1980 Fender Strat A few Partscaster Strats MIC 60s Classic Vib Strat |
#13
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And after going to the Focusrite website and opening the user manuals and finding the I/O charts in the manuals for both the 18i8 and the 18i20 It sure looked to me like the 18i8 while having 18 input channels could only actually output 8 discrete channels at any one time , where the 18i20 can output 20 which I assumed was why the model numbers the way they are. thus the 18i8 was 18 channels of input with 8 channels of output 18i (for inputs and - 8 for the outputs .......where the the 18i20 is 18 in and 20 out. So with people saying that you could actually record 18 channels at once with the 18i8 I thought was pretty "interesting" , because it is not mentioned in the manual .......cryptic was not intentional .
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Enjoy the Journey.... Kev... KevWind at Soundcloud KevWind at YouYube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...EZxkPKyieOTgRD System : Studio system Avid Carbon interface , PT Ultimate 2023.12 -Mid 2020 iMac 27" 3.8GHz 8-core i7 10th Gen ,, Ventura 13.2.1 Mobile MBP M1 Pro , PT Ultimate 2023.12 Sonoma 14.4 |
#14
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You were referring to a specific post, and not the thread in general. got it I asked because I find your knowledge base worthy of attention. Thanks
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David Webber Round-Body Furch D32-LM MJ Franks Lagacy OM Rainsong H-WS1000N2T Stonebridge OM33-SR DB Stonebridge D22-SRA Tacoma Papoose Voyage Air VAD-2 1980 Fender Strat A few Partscaster Strats MIC 60s Classic Vib Strat |
#15
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Mike My music: https://mikebirchmusic.bandcamp.com 2020 Taylor 324ceBE 2017 Taylor 114ce-N 2012 Taylor 310ce 2011 Fender CD140SCE Ibanez 12 string a/e 73(?) Epiphone 6830E 6 string 72 Fender Telecaster Epiphone Dot Studio Epiphone LP Jr Chinese Strat clone Kala baritone ukulele Seagull 'Merlin' Washburn Mandolin Luna 'tatoo' a/e ukulele antique banjolin Squire J bass |