I respectfully disagree. The setup I am aiming for will simplify my life.
The ‘mixer’ in this case is not a traditional mixer with faders and lots of knobs. It is just a way to directly connect the inputs to the outputs so I can come home from work, power on my hardware, and start jamming immediately without having to open a DAW to route the audio.
Here’s the CueMixDSP ‘mixer’ for my MOTU Audio Express. I don’t need to play with any faders or knobs. It just works. Simple. When I want to bring my DAW into the setup, I just mute the hardware inputs in CueMixDSP, and route the audio in the DAW.
Keep in mind that this configuration will work only if you use always the same drumkit on sampler, same preset in your synths etc: whatever the tweaking on instruments, then you have to reconnnect computer to fix the mixing. Also you won’t have any control on the rest, in details: no eq on channels, no compressor insert, no pan, no fx send / return, no mute/solo, no separate busses…. what you hear is just the raw signal from gear.
I’m trying to give you an idea of the scenario you’ll be facing, but ok, if that’s what you are looking for, problem solved then.
I appreciate your input, but you seem to think I am a beginner. I’ve been making music for close to 30 years. Yeah, I’m an old guy tinkering away on my toys.
That’s the plan. After work I just want to jam on my Akai Force and my Model:Cycles and not worry about all those details. If I come up with a good idea, I’ll fire up the DAW.
Zoom R8/R16/R24 has eight inputs, works as an audio-interface and a mixer, plus you get a portable multi-track recorder and a Mackie control surface as a bonus. Runs on batteries as an option.
For mainly audio-interface use, it annoyingly asks which mode to use on each boot when connected to a computer.
Ok, but I do not really understand the interface character of your approach. Do you need the interface or do you only need to sum your hardware for jamming?
So what about a 1010music Bluebox? Tiny as hell, you don’t need to power your computer and you can set a default preset routing inputs to the three stereo outputs. So you could use the first output for your monitors, and the other two will route your hardware to the 4 mono inputs of your interface by default. This way you will have your signals in the DAW by default.
And also, at least recently, on Black Friday sale.
Tho if size matters, then price won’t change anything, perhaps.
I also use the bluebox. It’s a fantastic kit, though challenging in the USB department. Requires adpaters and stuff to stream audio over USB, only streams master stereo out and remains in beta still.
But yes, as dawless mixing and recording go, it’s a great option, though I wouldn’t go for it as an audio interface option.
Roland MX-1 is a good option… it often goes under the radar but there’s nothing else like it really… it does a ton for not much money… and fits the OP criteria (as long as you don’t need mic pres).
I really like it and it definitely punches above its weight but:
1: It’s especially great if you already have a lot of Roland gear because of AIRA link, otherwise you’ll only have 4 mono + 1 stereo inputs (and sure… sp/dif)
2: It might be too big for OP. It’s basically TR-8 sized.
The Tascam and Soundcraft mixers (and Keith McMillen K-Mix) with multi-channel audio interfaces sound ideal for a slightly larger studio setup. I believe the Tascam Model 12 is the only one of its kind with MIDI I/O? I remember Behringer made one too, in red? May have been Firewire.
Now I have my mind set on a Focusrite 8i6 (6 analog inputs/4 analog outputs). It should be just-right with my ultra-minimal setup with the Akai Force and laptop with Live Suite.
While it’s definitely not in your price range, I’ll add this for completeness for other folks finding this thread later — the Ferrofish A32 Pro Dante (and regular) should be getting a user-installable DSP upgrade option to turn it into a standalone digital mixer Real Soon Now. It’s interesting for larger setups because you get 32x32 analog in 1U, plus 4x4 ADAT, 2x MADI, and Dante. Unclear any the details re: mixing, but given the existing software, I’m guessing it’s going to offer full midi remote control (already supported for it’s existing routing etc. features, over local TRS and USB or MADI), and I’m hoping that it’ll at least match the RMEs for full EQ, HPF, gate/limiter/compressor, and a basic delay and reverb. Ideally, we’ll add mixable inserts and sidechain comps/gates. Hoping to upgrade to it…
Behringer Flow 8 seems like a reasonable option right? By default standalone. And there’s a phone app to tweak the routing/mixing etc as needed. And it’s affordable vs some of the other options.
Bluebox and Boss Gigcaster 8 seem great too, but they cost more.
To save creating a new thread (sorry to hijack) what’s the best way to get soft synths out of my Mac/Logic/audio interface to sample into a KO II which is also in my daw project as an audio track and transport synced without creating a feedback loop? Hope that makes sense or someone can explain why it doesn’t lol.
