Topic: 4-channel audio interface, recommendations?

Hi,
I would like to use 4 mics in Pianoteq sent to 4 hardware output channels.
As I can't figure it out from the manuals, I would appreciate information about

1. which audio interfaces are recognized as 4 channels by computer and Pianoteq (7.1 onboard sound being recognized as 5 channels in Pianoteq)?

2. which of them has good playability in terms of latency etc.

Thanks for your help
Andreas

Re: 4-channel audio interface, recommendations?

Any audio interface that has more than 2 audio outputs can be used for this.

Hard work and guts!

Re: 4-channel audio interface, recommendations?

Andreas wrote:

which audio interfaces are recognized as 4 channels by computer

I'm also looking at 4-channel audio devices for mobile DJ'ing. In the price range of the miniDSP 2x4 HD, I was considering these:

- Native Instruments KOMPLETE 6
- PreSonus Studio 26 2x4
- Tascam US-4x4 *
- Focusrite Scarlett 2i4
- Focusrite Scarlett  6i6 *

Notes: * Only the 6i6 and US-4x4 run on AC/DC power, so they can be used as stand-alone devices. All the others are USB bus-powered and must be connected to a computer.

Re: Mixers
- The Radial Key Largo and Yamaha MG10XU mixers show up as 2in/2out devices.
- Please note that the Radial Key Largo does not have a headphone out.

Last edited by Groove On (22-04-2018 23:57)

Re: 4-channel audio interface, recommendations?

Hi guys!

I also needed an interface with good latency, 4+ separate output channels with MIDI in/out.
I did alot of reading up on different interfaces and ended up ordering a MOTU ultralight mk4 (http://motu.com/products/proaudio/ultralite-mk4), it should arrive in the next few days.

The hardware seems really great, the wildcard is the drivers. Apparently they rewrote the drivers from scratch to improve latency and performance and they did have some initial issues with them. However, they released updated drivers in february and after a lot of googling around I can't find anyone indicating that they still have issues, so fingers crossed...

If you want I can give a short review on it after I've had it for a few days.

Re: 4-channel audio interface, recommendations?

Thanks for your feedback!

I've been continuing my online search and came up with the ESI UDJ6. A small USB-DAC Interface with 6 output channels for €59!
http://www.esi-audio.de/produkte/udj6/

The MOTU is surely a great interface, but priced north of €700....

The UDJ6 has good reviews on the online shop websites (e.g. Thomann in Germany), so may be this is the least expensive way, other than on board 7.1, to have  Pianoteq output to five channels.

Has any forum member tried it?

Cheers,
Andreas

Re: 4-channel audio interface, recommendations?

Don't buy it. It has horrible latency. I've got one.
EDIT: I published some tests in pianoworld a couple of years ago http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads...._USB_.html
EDIT2: I'm speaking of UDJ6. I think the latency could be acceptable for a DJ but not for a pianist.

Last edited by marcos daniel (23-04-2018 15:53)

Re: 4-channel audio interface, recommendations?

Thanks a lot,
that is exactly the kind of advice I was hoping for.
As they say, if something is too good to be true, it probably is not true....

Today I nearly pushed the button to buy one with 30 days return, but now you have saved me from that hassle.
Thanks & best wishes
Andreas

Re: 4-channel audio interface, recommendations?

Hi all,
I ordered the Roland Mobile UA and I am VERY happy. Thanks very much to Leandro Duarte for the recommendation.

It offers 4 independent channels recognized by Pianoteq and working (tested with headphones). As I only have two speakers connected right now, I tested playability in a two channel setup. Very impressive, to my ears no discernible latency at 256 samples. I test latency by having the Casio's internal system playing in parallel to the MIDI-Pianoteq sound. This is not a numerical measurement, but if I can't distinguish two different sounds on a keystroke I figure it will not affect my playing at all. I can hear a slight latency at 512 samples.

So: sleek package not larger than an mobile phone, easy setup, great sound, minimal latency, 4 channels, for €100 -> this is a very clear recommendation.
The only downside is that it is just out of production, I've picked it up on eBay.

Best wishes
Andreas