Guitars, Music Production, Home Studio, and Technology: Daddy wants a new Audio Interface

Pappa bear wants a new Audio Interface..........

What's your budget?

Up to £400 GBP

What features are important?

Simplified IO and future growth

Tracking vocal / instrument mics / MIDI without having to disconnect / re-connect everything
Plentiful IO for any future developments.

S/PDIF (Coaxial) x 2

Linking Avid Eleven Rack but without compromising feature set such as Embed Rig Settings into track
Keeping the True-Z characteristics of 11R (not bypassing it)
Retain Embed Rig settings into track over S/PDIF
Word-Clock SYNC with Eleven Rack and Master Word-Clock [the new Audio Interface!]

Enhance options & quality for vocal & instrument mic's

Looking for decent MIC pre's
Must support 48V Phantom
Must include PAD when ......

ADAT Lightpipe / Optical (x2)*Desirable

Would be nice for any future expansion

Word Clock (BNC)Input / Output *Desirable

Most reliable connection for Master Word-Clock generator role

Standalone mode

Can run as a signal mixer in standalone mode

19" Rack Enclosure ready
Power ON / OFF Switch
Windows 7.x x64 Bit // Pro Tools 10.x compatible
USB 2.0 ..ideally - or Firewire

Interfaces under consideration

PreSonus AudioBox 1818-VSL

RRP £430 GBP

Focusrite Scarlett 18i20

RRP £400 GBP

This unit is effectively the Saffire Pro 40 with USB 2.0 rather than FireWire.

Behringer U-Phoria UMC1820

ESTIMATED @ £200 GBP (NOT RELEASED YET!)

Presonus has built-in DSP 26x8 DSP mixer which allows for Near-zero-latency monitoring with extensive signal processing - including compression, reverb, delay and EQ to be added to the 'monitoring' side with no audible delay. The end result : a more natural performance from the performer (counteracting the clinical sound absorbing studio env). This is of course interesting in LIVE situations, but also for mixing in the studio.

Without a decent hardware / software combination such as a software based mixer / router - you rely on the DAW to add the effects into the signal chain - which can add milliseconds before the output is heard via the speakers or headphones.

Whilst the hardware from all vendors is quite similar - it is often the software that makes or breaks the solution. Let's examine the options.

PreSonus have VSL

Focusrite have MixControl

Behringer have ?????????????????? I don't know - TBC

Issues that affect my decision making -

PreSonus 1818-VSL

Line Inputs DO NOT BYPASS the XMAX Pre-amps

ALL Inputs go via the pre's

Scenes (Mix snapshots) Configs cannot be saved to the device Non-volatile (device) memory? You will save your Scenes to your laptop hard drive; i.e. a Laptop is ALWAYS needed for routing / mix favourites / defaults.
Numerous reports of pops and clicks (drivers, and hardware related?)
Buttons are reported to be plastic / flimsy

Focusrite Sapphire 18i20

Line Inputs DO NOT BYPASS the Scarlett Pre's

Combo Input Sockets (Combo Line / XLR) use a small portion of the pre-amp circuitry, and they recommend setting the GAIN to 12 o'clock to get near UNITY.GAIN.

PAD / INST on 1-2 COMBO INPUTS only
Buttons are reported to be plastic / flimsy

Behringer UMC1820

Too soon to say - as the unit at this time is NOT GENERALLY AVAILABLE
Software / drivers will be the downfall of this unit

I'll be paying close attention to what Behringer offer in terms of Mixer / Routing and standalone capabilities

BEHRINGER UMC1820 - Too good to be true?

The U-PHORIA UMC1820 from Behringer which was announced at NAMM 2014.

RRP $299 US DOLLARS - rumoured to be around £200 GBP

Currently pre-order ONLY - US stockist - and released around mid-March 2014 (March 15 according to one web store!)

So here are the specifications:-

The U-PHORIA UMC1820 from Behringer is a USB 2.0 audio/MIDI interface featuring a combination of eighteen analog and digital inputs and twenty analog and digital outputs. With 24-bit/96kHz resolution, the unit provides connectivity for microphones, guitars, keyboards and MIDI devices. Eight MIDAS designed microphone preamps can supply 48V phantom power for use with condenser microphones.

Aside from the eight XLR/TRS combo connectors, the interface also includes S/PDIF coaxial input and output, as well as ADAT optical inputs and outputs that support both S/PDIF and SMUX operation. MIDI input and output is available, along with USB MIDI for adding a control surface for DAW control. And speaking of DAWs, the unit is compatible with most popular recording software for Mac OS X and Windows.

A mix control allows zero-latency direct monitoring to aid performances without any delay or lag in the returning signal. A pair of headphone outputs is available with individual volume controls and an A/B source select for DJ-style cueing. Upon registering the interface at behringer.com, a complimentary download code for the full version of Tracktion DAW software is provided.

Eighteen input, twenty output USB 2.0 audio/MIDI interface with 24-bit/96kHz resolution

Eight MIDAS designed microphone preamps with 48V phantom power

Eight XLR/TRS combo inputs

Coaxial S/PDIF input and output

ADAT optical input and output supporting S/PDIF and S/MUX formats up to 96kHz

Simultaneous use of all analog, coaxial S/PDIF, optical ADAT and MIDI signals

Zero-latency direct monitoring of all analog inputs while recording

ADAT input allows for expanding to a total of sixteen MIDAS designed preamps using an optional ADA8200 expander

Input/playback mix control and stereo/mono switch for direct monitoring

Dual headphones outputs with individual level controls and monitor A/B source select for DJ-style cueing

Main outputs with dim, mute and dedicated main level control

Compatible with most current recording software running under Mac OS X and Windows XP or higher

Free audio recording, editing and podcasting software plus 150 instrument/effect plug-ins downloadable at behringer.com

Impact-resistant metal chassis

Type	USB 2.0
Converter	24-bit, internal clock
Sample Rates	Up to 96 kHz *Rumoured to be upgradeble via FIRMWARE to 192kHz near to launch !
Connections	2 x XLR/TRS combo Input (front) 6 x XLR/TRS combo Input (rear) 2 x 1/4" TRS main Out 8 x 1/4" TRS Out 2 x 1/4" TRS headphone 2 x RCA coaxial S/PDIF I/O 2 x TOSLink ADAT I/O (switchable to S/PDIF) 2 x 5-pin DIN MIDI I/O 1 x USB Type B

Dimensions	19" 1U rackmount