Class-compliant interface with enough outs for a mixer?

The Lounge General Discussion
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One of the odder (but cool) features of the Synclavier Regen is that you can plug a class-compliant USB interface into it and rout each of its timbers to independent outputs of the interface. I’ve got a A&H Wz3 14:4:2 I want to mix all this with.

So I think that means I need a USB class compliant audio interface with 14 outs.

But the most I see on any of the usual suspects (18i20, 1824c, Evo16) is 8 physical outs. How do people feed their mixers with these? Is the idea you get one of these then some sort of ADAT expander? Are there interfaces better suited to this than others? Preferred expansions? What are people’s experience with USB class-compliance and >8 channels of output? Pretty solid, or do these interfaces require custom drivers to deal with multi-channel output?

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Why do you need Class Compliant?

18i20 would fit the bill with an ADAT expansion, and, yes, that’s the idea, you can expand them if you need to.

Or go for something like the Motu 16a if you don’t need CC… 1u to cover it all.

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As I say, the point would be to plug it into the Regen, and the Regen requires a class-compliant interface.

:+1: Any advice on expansions? The OctaWave looks the simplest to do what I need, but I’m not certain how to judge these things.

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I haven’t used the Octawave… I bought a Ferrofish Pulse 16 a few years ago, that’s been superb every time I’ve needed more ins/outs over ADAT.
Its converters are way better than the 18i20s, so I used it for a while as the sole audio I/O and word clock master, then used the 18i20s physical inputs when I needed them. That’s a good system.

(Edit- I got an RME Fireface UCX II last year that is fantastic… I’ve kept the Ferrofish for when I need to expand the RME, which I haven’t had to yet… the RME is Class Compliant too I believe. If you can afford that, it’s highly recommended and worth the price.)

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Super helpful, thanks!

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I-connectivity had an audio interface with 10 or 12 outputs, think discontinued now and replaced with a 19inch version with xlr outputs.

Not sure if they meet all your needs but these were the first things that came to mind when you said how many outputs you were after.

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The Arturia 16rig looks pretty awesome and you can always expand it with adat. it’s just a bit pricey.

Personally, i am using a Motu Ultralight MK5, because its nicely portable and has lots of ins and outs. And i can use the behringer ada8200 as an adat expander at home for more ins and outs.

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Iirc, it requires something that’s both class-compliant and not a composite device —so, for instance, you likely need to make sure it doesn’t also have midi outputs. Whatever you get, I’d get it from somewhere where returning is easy unless you see reports that someone has tested that specific piece of hardware with the Regen.

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