Expert Sleepers ES-9 USB Audio Interface

os · Post by os » Tue Sep 17, 2019 2:56 am

Just announced this:

https://www.expert-sleepers.co.uk/es9.html

The ES-9 is a Eurorack 16-in/16-out USB audio interface, with DC-coupled inputs and outputs that can be used for both audio and CVs.

With its balanced 1/4" main outputs & headphone socket, it's the perfect one-stop solution for integrating a modular synth and a laptop/tablet, either in the studio or when playing out at a gig.

dubonaire · Post by **dubonaire** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 4:06 am

This will be my first Expert Sleepers module. I could run this as a second audio interface. My only concern is with this and the Cirklon I could run everything from outside the modular and not sure if I want to do that. But will get this anyway.

wavejockey · Post by **wavejockey** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 4:11 am

what type of (premium?) USB cable do you advice with these?

os · Post by os » Tue Sep 17, 2019 4:20 am

I've been using these - same as I use with the FH-2.

dubonaire · Post by **dubonaire** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 6:06 am

os wrote:I've been using these - same as I use with the FH-2.

mdoudoroff · Post by **mdoudoroff** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 6:31 am

os, thank you for making this module. Someone needed to!

damase · Post by **damase** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 7:14 am

So many inputs and no adat

TemplarK · Post by **TemplarK** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 7:25 am

tiger001 wrote:what type of (premium?) USB cable do you advice with these?

One with nice braiding.

cackland · Post by **cackland** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 7:33 am

Very nice. I'm probably the minority, however would love to see a baby brother in the 1U (Intellijel & Pulp) format.

starthief · Post by **starthief** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 7:48 am

This is nice!

I of course just picked up an ES-3 and ES-6 last week...

Had I been just a little slower on that, I'd have held out for the ES-9, and replaced my audio interface and reduced some cable clutter. Ah well

organon · Post by **organon** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 8:46 am

451mA

organon · Post by **organon** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 8:57 am

Will this replace the ES-8 or will there be a restock and ongoing support for the ES-8? Just asking because I noticed the ES-8 is out of stock everywhere and now here comes this announcement.

os · Post by os » Tue Sep 17, 2019 9:01 am

The ES-8 should be back in stock very soon.

ryangaston · Post by **ryangaston** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 10:18 am

Looks amazing!! I’d been wondering lately why something like this didn’t exactly exist. Just add a Little Mikey and it works great for external instruments/mics too...brilliant

ckwjr · Post by **ckwjr** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 11:48 am

This looks great. I've been using the ES-8 for several months, have never had any problems with it. I'll definitely think about upgrading to the ES-9!

lauprellim · Post by **lauprellim** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 11:56 am

Don't mean to state the obvious, but it looks like there's only 14/out and 8/in on this module. But there are optical ins/outs. Do you need to expand with another module to get the full 16/in/out?

Definitely like the headphone jacks, but not able to upgrade....we just got ES-8, ES-6 and ES-3, and I'm very happy with those! But the headphone jacks WOULD be really useful!

Thanks and have a great day.

dumbledog · Post by **dumbledog** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 1:07 pm

Os, have you tried installing one into the newer 51mm 4ms Pods? I feel like this could be a nice compact interface solution for me that would allow me to sideline my MOTU 828x, which doesn't really get the use it that it should.

os · Post by os » Tue Sep 17, 2019 1:55 pm

Don't mean to state the obvious, but it looks like there's only 14/out and 8/in on this module.

You've got them the wrong way round. The middle section (white background) are inputs.

Os, have you tried installing one into the newer 51mm 4ms Pods?

Yes, we tried it. It's tight, but it fits!

Jaypee · Post by **Jaypee** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 2:58 pm

Exactly what I needed!!! Was about to buy a Lynx Aurora 16...

Would love to hear an A/B comparison with a 'high end' converters though

scrunday · Post by **scrunday** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 3:01 pm

Please forgive what is possibly a naive question--

Is the ES-9, and its predecessors for that matter, designed to replace a native Mac/PC soundcard as well as serve as a hub for line-in and line-out or is it primarily designed to serve as an interface for line-in/out and that should be used in tandem with an external soundcard (e.g, UA, Focusrite, Presonus, etc.)?

This question is based on my understanding that the soundcards in most consumer-grade computers lack what is required for music production even for a completely in-the-box approach.

dumbledog · Post by **dumbledog** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 3:11 pm

os wrote:
Os, have you tried installing one into the newer 51mm 4ms Pods?
Yes, we tried it. It's tight, but it fits!

Oh hell yeah, thanks much. I haven't even so much as bothered to turn on the modulars in about four months but this will be fun.

pekbro · Post by **pekbro** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 4:33 pm

Very nice!

scrunday wrote:Please forgive what is possibly a naive question--

If you have a mac you should be able to set it up as an aggregate device
in conjunction with your "soundcard"

If you have a pc, it will replace it as a pc cannot use more than 1 interface
(at the same time) and it doesn't seem to have ADAT support. ADAT would
allow it to be used to extend the in and outputs of another ADAT interface.

Personally, I'm not sure I'm quite ready to give up a dedicated interface
for it. Definitely it would be super handy though.

scrunday · Post by **scrunday** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 5:09 pm

pekbro wrote:Very nice!

scrunday wrote:Please forgive what is possibly a naive question--

If you have a mac you should be able to set it up as an aggregate device
in conjunction with your "soundcard"

If you have a pc, it will replace it as a pc cannot use more than 1 interface
(at the same time) and it doesn't seem to have ADAT support. ADAT would
allow it to be used to extend the in and outputs of another ADAT interface.

Personally, I'm not sure I'm quite ready to give up a dedicated interface
for it. Definitely it would be super handy though.

I get the aggregate device thing. It's what drove me away from the PC environment 5 years ago (i.e., trying to use multiple hardware devices with audio over USB simultaneously on a PC laptop).

The ES-9 looks awesome. I'm just curious if it's soundcard capabilities (not just getting sounds and CV in and out of my computer) is sufficient for music production or would I need to augment it with something like a UA Apollo for mixing and mastering.

VibratingMotorGate · Post by **VibratingMotorGate** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 9:18 pm

What is the signal to noise ratio and dynamic range? I suppose this might depend on the power supply.

theotteryears · Post by **theotteryears** » Wed Sep 18, 2019 2:57 am

Is there a way to turn down the monitor outs via the front panel?

MOD WIGGLER

MOD WIGGLER

Expert Sleepers ES-9 USB Audio Interface

Expert Sleepers ES-9 USB Audio Interface