Audio Interface For M2 Mac

[A Huge Growing Brain]

Can anyone recommend a decent audio interface for the M2 Macs? I just bought one only to find out my Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 is no longer compatible. :(

[A Huge Growing Brain]

Should also say I need at least 8 line ins. I did a quick search and the Behringer UMC1820 is popping up - is that any good?

[jimfowler]

Lynx Aurora

[soundular]

MOTU or RME would be my recommendations.

[A Huge Growing Brain]

Lynx Aurora

Thanks, sorry meant to say the request was for more on the budget side of things

[jimfowler]

Ah, well that rules out anything new from Lynx. You could pick up a used Aurora 8 with TB or USB in the L-Slot but they're still relatively pricey. Worth every nickel in my estimation.

[miles_macquarrie]

What about a mixer/interface like Tascam model 12?

[A Huge Growing Brain]

I'm only going to be using it to multitrack a Eurorack system and a Pulsar 23 so I'm not sure I'd notice much difference between something cheap i.e. the 1820 or equivalent Scarlett and something costing a few multiples of one of those units. Once it gets into Ableton everything is highly processed so I'm struggling to make a business case to myself for anything more expensive.

Also I have Genelec GLM for my monitoring so wouldn't be using the audio outs for monitoring.

[A Huge Growing Brain]

What about a mixer/interface like Tascam model 12?

Will have a look at that, was considering the Mackie Onyx 12 (as its really the only one I was aware of) but am two minds in general about a mixer as I use the Console 1 system. On the other hand it would be good to jam live with a mixing desk.

[deecalk1]

Scarlett 18i8 or 18i20 seems best for your situation. Plus you can an a Behringer 8200 or something similar for 8 more I/O for pretty cheap. Also, don’t be afraid of aggregate devices on Mac, it’s not as scary as everyone makes them out to be if you set it up correctly. M1/M2 Macs are capable of stacking several interfaces into one very smoothly.

[efluon]

at least 8 ins and budget is quite difficult.

i have a used audient id44 which works nicely with my M1 and has Adat i/o, and feels quite luxurious (sounds good as well). That could be combined with a used converter, there are some nice 44/48k ones that pop up cheaply now and then, e.g. creamware.

[A Huge Growing Brain]

at least 8 ins and budget is quite difficult.

i have a used audient id44 which works nicely with my M1 and has Adat i/o, and feels quite luxurious (sounds good as well). That could be combined with a used converter, there are some nice 44/48k ones that pop up cheaply now and then, e.g. creamware.

I was considering a smaller interface with ADAT and using that to connect the old Saffire.

Sorry bur what do I need a converter for?

[fragster]

Should also say I need at least 8 line ins. I did a quick search and the Behringer UMC1820 is popping up - is that any good?

Yes. Stable on silicon macs. Add the adat for 16x16

[A Huge Growing Brain]

Should also say I need at least 8 line ins. I did a quick search and the Behringer UMC1820 is popping up - is that any good?

Yes. Stable on silicon macs. Add the adat for 16x16

Thanks for confirmation. By saying add the adat - are you stating that the adat can be used or that I need to purchase an additional item to use it?

[efluon]

Sorry bur what do I need a converter for?

To connect 8 line ins. Or does the Sapphire work as a standalone converter??
--
TBH i think any class compliant USB interface will work. And most USB interfaces will still use the same XMOS chip, so the difference is mostly the user interface, mechanics and analog.
Better would be a proprietary interfaces like those from RME or a Thunderbolt interface, like those from UAD, but those are not cheap. I listed the Audient because the hardware feels nice and sounds good. I guess there are other interfaces, like those from Focusrite that have 8 ins on board.

[A Huge Growing Brain]

Sorry bur what do I need a converter for?

To connect 8 line ins. Or does the Sapphire work as a standalone converter??
--
TBH i think any class compliant USB interface will work. And most USB interfaces will still use the same XMOS chip, so the difference is mostly the user interface, mechanics and analog.
Better would be a proprietary interfaces like those from RME or a Thunderbolt interface, like those from UAD, but those are not cheap. I listed the Audient because the hardware feels nice and sounds good. I guess there are other interfaces, like those from Focusrite that have 8 ins on board.

I'm not as in to the technical part for this but my assumption was I could send digital audio from the Saffire Pro 40 to the Behringer over ADAT without needing a converter.

[efluon]

seems you are right: https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/ ... lone-Mode-

[A Huge Growing Brain]

seems you are right: https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/ ... lone-Mode-

[matttech]

Have you tried using the Saffire without installing any drivers (ie - just as a class compliant device)? I’m currently using a 1st gen focusrite 2i2 with an m1 iMac without any drivers and it works fine. The iMac sees it ok when connected

[nerven]

MOTU M6 is pretty sweet price/features…

[Sysagent]

The Presonus 1824C is quite handy in the modular world (I have one of these and the Focusrite 18i20), as it has DC coupled outputs which are quite useful for modular environments.

https://www.presonus.com/products/Studio-1824c

Input/Output
Up to 18 inputs/20 outputs simultaneously (8x8 at 192 kHz)
2 mic/instrument/line inputs with XMAX Class A mic preamps
6 mic/line inputs with XMAX Class A mic preamps
8 channels of ADAT Optical I/O (4 channels at 96 kHz)
2 balanced ¼-inch TRS main outputs - DC coupled for sending control voltages
8 balanced ¼-inch TRS line outputs for monitor mixing - DC coupled for sending control voltages

Also, as you can see, can extend via ADAT.

[fragster]

Should also say I need at least 8 line ins. I did a quick search and the Behringer UMC1820 is popping up - is that any good?

Yes. Stable on silicon macs. Add the adat for 16x16

Thanks for confirmation. By saying add the adat - are you stating that the adat can be used or that I need to purchase an additional item to use it?

You can get the adat if/when you need 8x8 extra. No need for it to start with.

[A Huge Growing Brain]

Have you tried using the Saffire without installing any drivers (ie - just as a class compliant device)? I’m currently using a 1st gen focusrite 2i2 with an m1 iMac without any drivers and it works fine. The iMac sees it ok when connected

I'm not sure how to do that - I'll have a read of the manual. How are you connecting it to the Mac?

For my old MacBook (it's not that old but the fan noise was driving me crazy when connecting it to an external display) I've got Saffire > fire wire > usb b > usb c

[A Huge Growing Brain]

The Presonus 1824C is quite handy in the modular world (I have one of these and the Focusrite 18i20), as it has DC coupled outputs which are quite useful for modular environments.

https://www.presonus.com/products/Studio-1824c

Input/Output
Up to 18 inputs/20 outputs simultaneously (8x8 at 192 kHz)
2 mic/instrument/line inputs with XMAX Class A mic preamps
6 mic/line inputs with XMAX Class A mic preamps
8 channels of ADAT Optical I/O (4 channels at 96 kHz)
2 balanced ¼-inch TRS main outputs - DC coupled for sending control voltages
8 balanced ¼-inch TRS line outputs for monitor mixing - DC coupled for sending control voltages

Also, as you can see, can extend via ADAT.

Thanks that's useful as it also has he graph amplitude meter on the front.

[Maffez]

That presonus looks interesting & indeed, having all essential controls on the front is ace!

When switching to Mac m1 I changed my fireface to a motu828es for similar reasons. Thunderbolt, all controls on the front = set the thing up and forget it exists (in a good way). The motu is also dc coupled.