Audio Interface recommendation

[hessel]

Hi,

I've been using my Tempest for a month now using headphones and really enjoying the machine! Now I'm looking for a decent audio interface to record some stuff in Logic. Does anyone have a recommendation when it comes to audio interfaces? Preferably I would be able to have inputs for the 6 voices of the tempest and keep the price below $1.000 if possible.

Any advice would be appreciated 

[Yorgos Arabatzis]

Check the new Arturia Audiofuse Studio:
https://m.thomann.de/gr/arturia_audiofuse_studio.htm?o=5&search=1560798882

Or a Zoom Livetrak

https://m.thomann.de/gr/zoom_livetrak_l_12.htm

https://m.thomann.de/gr/zoom_livetrak_l_20.htm?o=7&search=1560798882

[muleskinner]

Well I would highly recommend Metric Halo (especially if you're on a Mac) though they are pricey. I use a ULN-2 + Audient ASP 800 which gives me 10 analog channels. That's a fairly expensive combo though. The 2882 would do you.

The Focusrite Scarlett interfaces always seem highly recommended, as do the RME ones.

Personally I would steer away from 'new kids on the block'. Go for a manufacturer with a history of building interfaces and support for your particular OS. Why? In my experience what nearly always lets an audio interface down is its drivers. Update your OS and suddenly you can't use your interface any more as the manufacturer can't be arsed to update the drivers. or you get other stability and compatibility issues. This problem is particularly prevalent on Macs.

I have been using my ULN-2 for 13 years. It's still rock solid. Last year I upgraded to a 3D motherboard bringing it bang up to date for the price of a cheap audio interface and giving it even more expandability options. Sometimes things that seem expensive at first work out much better value in the long run...

[Yorgos Arabatzis]

It seems though that he can’t afford an interface that costs that much or else i’d recommend him also a UAD interface.But If i had the money i’d recommend definitely a Metric Halo like you but he needs at least 6 channels and the ULN-8 3D would be his option that costs 3K+ so..He’d better go with UAD or RME..Personally i have an old MOTU 828MKII and a Mackie 1202VLZ4 for connecting things and a UAD Arrow as the final device in my chain..

Well I would highly recommend Metric Halo (especially if you're on a Mac) though they are pricey. I use a ULN-2 + Audient ASP 800 which gives me 10 analog channels. That's a fairly expensive combo though. The 2882 would do you.

The Focusrite Scarlett interfaces always seem highly recommended, as do the RME ones.

Personally I would steer away from 'new kids on the block'. Go for a manufacturer with a history of building interfaces and support for your particular OS. Why? In my experience what nearly always lets an audio interface down is its drivers. Update your OS and suddenly you can't use your interface any more as the manufacturer can't be arsed to update the drivers. or you get other stability and compatibility issues. This problem is particularly prevalent on Macs.

I have been using my ULN-2 for 13 years. It's still rock solid. Last year I upgraded to a 3D motherboard bringing it bang up to date for the price of a cheap audio interface and giving it even more expandability options. Sometimes things that seem expensive at first work out much better value in the long run...

[hessel]

Thanks for both your replies! I'll look into Metric Halo. The 2882 wouldn't stretch my budget that much 

Gotta educate myself somewhat, cause right now I've got zero clue what causes the extreme price differences.

Both of you record the Tempest as 1 audio channel?

[Yorgos Arabatzis]

I record both 2 main outputs as it gives me stereo control..By recording 1 channel you get a mono output..

Both of you record the Tempest as 1 audio channel?

[muleskinner]

I usually record voices 1-4 as separate mono channels and voices 5+6 as stereo through the main outs but it varies.

[shaygan]

Hello, also wondering about the subject. Had a tempest for years, now would like to record separate outputs because possible to have separate audio tracks in ableton plus it seems like it sounds better this way.
My question is I know all the 6 outputs are stereo but really is this worthy to have stereo cable taking up to 6x2=12 (!) audio inputs on an audio interface? Apart from panning, which is not a reason for me to invest in a bigger audio card just to be able to pan (can do in ableton on mono track), what would be the benefits? No stereo effect on tempest so I don’t really get it. Thanks!

[muleskinner]

My question is I know all the 6 outputs are stereo but really is this worthy to have stereo cable taking up to 6x2=12 (!) audio inputs on an audio interface? Apart from panning, which is not a reason for me to invest in a bigger audio card just to be able to pan (can do in ableton on mono track), what would be the benefits? No stereo effect on tempest so I don’t really get it. Thanks!

I don't find it useful for stereo but what it is useful for is giving you a 'pseudo' 12 different voice outs.

So I tend to treat all the voices as mono, apart from voice 6 (and sometimes 5) which I have routed to the main outs.

I pan hard left by default, that way the feedback works as you'd expect as that's left channel only.

I then have a 'spare' output for each voice which I can access by panning an individual sound hard right (no feedback available on that sound though)!

So, you can have two completely different routings per voice with different effects chains and recorded as a different track in your DAW.

For me, this is useful, especially when projects get complex!

As an aside, one of the best 'bang for the buck' things I ever bought for my studio is a patch pay. Link that up to your audio interface and it's really easy to mess with different routings on the fly. I actually ended up buying two. The Samson s-patch+ is really good. Sounds boring but it changed my workflow totally for the better.

[Shanesplanet]

Stereo outs on the tempest are great for things like toms and certain cymbal or effects. I typically use voices 1kick 2snare 3 hats (all mono recorded), 4 toms (stereo) 5 fx (stereo), leaving voice 6 (unplugged)for basses. Allocating each voice to an output and using one of the mains to catch click and using voice 6 a bassline I'll replace with a voyager later, works best for me. 12 inputs sounds like a lot, but tis always better to have extra interface ins, than not enough.  I use a qu-16 thats 22 inputs and its constantly full up, once i insert a tempest, an effects send/return pedal, and a couple mics for guitars. Sending audio as a send FROM the daw, uses channels. Still, my fav workflow is catching each voice into the daw, processing it as I want, sending a stereo out to my timefactor and catching it too. This enables me to play as I normally would, while capturing everything raw for post process, but still hearing the mix as I expect post to be. The allen and heath stuff may not be creme of the crop, but its a low noise floor, reliable pres and after I mangle each sound horribly with plugins, I'm betting the quality is less aparent. Fwiw, Ive yet to design a drum rack in ableton, or use a plugin that inspires me as much as the tempest. Not as easy as just using a push ITB, but WAY more gratifying. Even better once you get used to NOT using quantatize. My pearl kit hasnt such a feature and its epic too.