Maybe they will improve the latency with updates… don’t know if this is feasible
Anyway, that interface has an unusual amount of input and by that alone it puts itself about all others
I also wondering if it could be used with the MPC live
I did end up buying one of these. I’m getting the same latency numbers reported in Ableton as I did with my Scarlett: 11.6 ms overall at 128 samples. I haven’t tried a more scientific measurement. Not ideal, but acceptable for me. I think the limiting factor is the macOS Core Audio driver, so maybe not something Arturia can improve, unless they write a custom driver like RME does.
Otherwise, I’m pretty pleased so far. I don’t know if I’m getting any better sound quality than before, but I do have al of my main synths hooked up at once and playable at any time, with room to grow, which was the main reason I got it. The routing matrix makes it easy to send them directly to the speakers in hardware, so I only have to worry about the latency when recording something. The ability to save presets is great, too.
4 Likes
@tmoore Thank you for sharing the first review here! Are you happy with the volume/noise levels coming to your DAW?
I haven’t really been recording yet, so I’ve only done some basic testing. At first, it seemed like all of my synths were coming in at a very low level. The AudioFuse Control Center software does have settings to (digitally) boost the levels to even them out, but I was surprised that I had to use them on everything. Eventually, I noticed that the Pad switch was enabled on every input by default—perhaps a smart default for safety reasons, but I didn’t expect it, and it’s easy to overlook when they all look the same. Once I turned that off, everything was good.
I am very much a hobbyist and not a professional, so I’m happy with “good enough” sound quality. I didn’t hear any problems, but I haven’t done any deliberate testing of noise levels, and I don’t have the most sensitive ears, best monitors, or quietest studio environment, so take it with a grain of salt. I’ve been happy to trust the reviewers who say that this interface performs pretty well.
For me, the appeal was 100% about the functionality and I/O for price. The ability to just turn stuff on and play, and then switch to recording without having to repatch everything is worth it to me. Previously, I had a clunky setup with some things plugged into a Tascam Model 12 and other things connected to a Focusrite Scarlett 18i8, and the fact that I had to swap which one was connected to the monitors and use two totally different recording processes meant that I just used everything less.
4 Likes
Anybody using one of these?
I’m not very good with the computer / audio interface thing. The issue is this new interface. The problem with me, is I overthink everything. I’m having a hard time setting this up with Ableton. Now, in Ableton, everything seems to work, I’m just not convinced it’s setup correctly.
For 1, in the matrix USB inputs 1 and 2 are missing. And in the screenshot below, I only see meters on USB 1/2 moving
I have things plugged into audio in (on the back of the 16 Rig) 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 all setup as linked or combined inputs if you will.
This, below, is the screen where 1/2 are missing
And a video. I would greatly appreciate some help. Thank you.
2 Likes
First, don’t have this, so keep that in mind. But it seems USB 1 and 2 that you are referencing here are the outputs not inputs. Usually usb1 and 2 outputs are your main output for class compliant or driver based audio interfaces and you can’t change that routing. They probably also default to your output 1/2 in the unit or “Monitor” outputs. How many outputs are you trying to send to? If just mains from Ableton it’s working as it should.
The matrix you are showing in the last pic is if you want to reroute the outputs you see in software, to different hardware output. Ie output 3/4 in software actually getting routed internally (in the audiofuse) to send audio to analog out 9/10.
You would only see levels on other USB channels if you’re specifically sending to different outputs in software.
Check your analog input levels if you want to see your instrument levels. But if you hear everything then it is working 
Edit: yeah in the video you’re playing with the output mixer but you’re only sending to Ableton master which probably is default to usb 1/2. This is normal.
3 Likes
Thank you kind sir.
1 Like
Quick question for any AF16Rig owners - is the encoder that rubberized coating that tends to be a dust magnet and turn to goo after a few years? It looks like it, but is hard to know…
(Just echoing here this post and this other discussion.)
I think so. It definitely has a soft feel, and I’ve seen people complain about Arturia’s knob choices for this reason. YMMV, but I have a MatrixBrute from 2018 that still feels fine. I think the main encoder knob on that is the same as the volume encoder on the 16Rig (which has a metal cap but the soft touch coating on the sides). At least knobs are pretty easy to replace, unlike the super sticky case on my Push 2.
2 Likes
It all seems pretty good quality to me so far. Sussed out how to setup the aux mixes - actually pretty sick can prob send a mix to my two samplers separately.
Need a few more cables but once I have it all hooked up I’ll be loving it. Being able to print 16 inputs at once basically changes / improves my workflow hugely.
I did notice the sound cut out twice yesterday which is a bit concerning. But it might have been something unrelated to the interface - will do more testing this weekend.
2 Likes
Thinking about getting one of these, the manual says the inputs are unbalanced and/or balanced, is that correct? I have some synths that have unbalanced output and some are balanced, so it would be good to use this with both. Is that possible? Is there a switch in the software that you can select or does it detect the signal automatically?
Also, if I wanted to have something like the OTO Machines BAM as a send effect, could I simply take two outputs from the 16rig into the BAM then BAM outputs into two inputs on the 16rig? Is that the best way to do it?
I couldn’t find anything in the manual that said this (it just says that the inputs and outputs are balanced), but I have both balanced (TRS) and unbalanced (TS) connections to the inputs on mine, and it seems to be fine. I’m pretty sure this will be the case with most audio interfaces, not something distinctive about the 16Rig.
Assuming you’re talking about line level signals from synths, drum machines, and the like, there’s no balanced vs. unbalanced switch.
If you want to connect unbalanced instrument cables from a guitar/bass or something similar that uses pickups and needs a high impedance input, you need to use the front panel inputs and switch them into INST mode using the menu on the device or the AudioFuse Control Center software.
I’m no electrical engineer, so my understanding of this might be simplistic, but as far as I know, connecting an unbalanced output to a balanced input with a TS cable “just works” without having to switch anything or explicitly detect anything, because it shorts the ring connector of the input to ground. The way balanced connections works means that this has no effect on the sound other than a lower input level compared with a balanced signal. You adjust for that using the output volume on the connected device or by adjusting the signal levels in software.
I think if you want to be really rigorous about it, you can use transformer/isolator devices that convert your unbalanced signal to a balanced one. I never have.
There’s another thread that discusses this kind of thing here:
Yes, exactly
2 Likes
I ordered one this weekend. I’ll probably get around to setting it up next weekend. Fingers crossed the windows driver gods play nicely.
2 Likes
This thing looks like a beast of a tool. The matrix window is lovely compared to the Focusrite 18i20 software.
Arturias also makes more sense with the number of inputs/outputs.
I don’t think I’m in a rush to switch to a new interface but I wouldn’t mind adding this when the time is right.
1 Like
Got my last week, it’s nicely built and the software is actually pretty good. The matrix is a little confusing at first but once you nail it’s pretty logic and I like how you can recall presets. I’ll prob set one up for direct monitoring and a second up for when I want to work purely in the DAW and not direct monitor.
I have had sound drop outs when the USB is plugged in which is concerning. Although I did just get a firmware update yesterday (v1.19 I think) and it seems to have been more stable. I’m on M1 Pro Mac.
Basic rule of thumb with modern electronics:
A balanced cable can carry an unbalanced signal, and a balanced input jack can receive an unbalanced cable… Whereas, the opposite is never true.
Indeed, it should just work.
Cheers!
3 Likes
Thanks for that explanation. What does that mean when connecting the balanced outputs from the 16Rig to an unbalanced input, say on a pedal or a synth external in? I always thought that using a TS cable for this would be fine because the inverted signal would just go to ground and the tip signal would pass through unaltered.
1 Like
Yes, in this case, you could just use a regular TS cable, and it should be fine.
Of course, you’ll lose the balanced aspect though.
Cheers!
1 Like