80$ vs 300$ Audio Interface: Recording Drum Machines + Synths - CHEAP vs EXPENSIVE
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- Опубліковано 17 тра 2024
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In this video we take a look at three popular mid to entry level audio interfaces for bedroom producers. Will they give you different results when recording drum machines and synthesizers? The answer might shock you ;) As always none of our gear is sponsored, we bought everything with our own money.
Featured drum patterns - transcriptions available on Patreon:
Childish Gambino - Sweatpants
Skinny Puppy - Dig It
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock
The Winstons - Amen Brother (The Amen Break)
Gear used:
Audient iD14 MKII
MOTU M2
Behringer U-Phoria UMC204HD (We accidentally called it UMC202HD in the video. The verdict is still the same though - the only difference between the two is MIDI and additional connectivity on the 204HD, which we paid 80€ for at the time)
acidlab Drumatix
Behringer TD-3
Behringer RD-8
Korg Minilogue XD
Roland TR-6S
► Instagram / captainpikant
#audiointerface #synthesizer #drummachines #bedroomproducers #motu #behringer #behringertd3 #audient #comparison #recording
0:00 Introduction
0:31 The Contenders
0:49 Test Conditions
1:04 Behringer TD-3 Clean
1:18 Behringer TD-3 Distorted
1:32 acidlab Drumatix
1:43 Korg Minilogue XD
2:13 Noise Floor
2:38 Uncompressed WAV Files
2:58 Worth Mentioning
4:06 Electric Guitar DI
4:28 Our Opinion
6:30 The Verdict
Produced by Jean-Claude Dirckx and Sophie Hoppstädter
Here are the uncompressed WAV files mentioned in the video:
www.patreon.com/posts/drum-machines-75587874
Update on the MOTU M2:
The problems described in the video were indeed most likely caused by the USB bus not being able to provide enough power. A few months later we bought a MOTU M6 which can also be powered via an external power supply and we haven't had any problems with it!
Update on the Audient iD14 MKII:
1. After a recent firmware update the levels resetting on startup is fixed (thanks aseeon!)
2. At the bottom of the popup window there's a tiny "do not show window again" checkbox which somehow eluded me (thanks filmhaltig!)
For the USB power issue, you may want to use an external USB hub with its own power supply, or shuffle your USB devices so that they don't end up all on the same USB bus. There is indeed a max power limit for each USB bus (which varies a lot in function of which USB type it is, the more recent the better) and if you connect several USB devices which draw more current than that ceiling, then they will end up malfunctionning randomly because they all share the same power source. Devices like a keyboard or a mouse don't use up much power, but a USB hard drive or an audio interface are usually more power hungry. However if you plug them in a USB-3 or USB-C port, you should be mostly fine as these can handle a lot more power.
Audio quality is not the issue, drivers/long term support is, and I’ll gladly pick RME over everything else in that regard.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present the smartest person in the room.
Agree 100%! Went from UMC1820 over the ID4 MKII to the M4 and ended up with an RME Fireface 802... The Behringer really wasn't the best sounding one tbh but the Audient and Motu were both fantastic in terms of sound. But it's really driver and stability that matters, when it matters! Couldn't run any one of those reliably through a thunderbolt dock, with the RME no issue at all.
Yep, got my Babyface second-hand eight years ago for 300 euros, it's still working perfectly, it's still supported and gets new drivers and new firmware for every new OS. On top of that, it also has WAY lower latency, sounds better and has a lower noise floor than any of the devices in this comparison video.
All of this might be true, but moot if affordability is important. I could replace a UMC1820 5 times before the fireface 802 becomes more cost effective. My last interface was an mbox3 pro, my current is a Scarlett, My next interface is likely the fireface, my brother uses the UMC1820. We’ve recorded with them all and had great results (6 million streams of vocals tracked through the mbox). Whatever gets you making music is what matters most.
Yeah, can confirm. I used to have an EMU audio interface that I had to swap because they didn't have drivers past windows 7... Now I have a Stienberg whose drivers are EXTREAMLY obnoxious to install(frick e licenser), but after that it works.
I own the Behringer 202 and the 404, both of them have been giving me trouble free use for over five years. They don't take up much USB power, but the 404 can be powered by a seperate power supply, but I don't need to use that .
I have the MOTU M4, love it. You really can see the lower noise floor in higher quality ADCs.
This is some real quality reporting. Good job!
I got the MOTU M4 with its extra in/output options. It also has the ability to dial between input (e.g. how loud the guitar you have in your hands that you are recording) and playback (e.g. how loud the drums and bass you recorded earlier that you are playing along to) . That makes it more pleasent for me to use. Cost more than i ment to spend but have loved it. Only had a breif go of a 45V condenser mic with no issues but Mr Captain Pikant knows more sound stuff than me.
Think the Behringer (also with input/playback dial) + SM58 + cool second hand guitar pedal + drinking money, for the same cash might be better for many people though.
You pay a lot more for just a little better
I've been using a Roland Octa capture interface for some years, and love it. There are many good ones out there, with good value for money
Lovely Dig It drum pattern at the end! :) New subscriber, really enjoying your videos, thank you!
I picked up the M4 while traveling.
That thing sounds nearly as good as the UAD Apollo in my studio.
I'd recommend that you don't really get a feel for how an audio interface sounds by just listening to various clips.
It's when you are adding EQ and compression to things that you start to notice the problems.
When I had my old MOTU 828 MKII I always found the upper mids very annoying on everything I recorded with it.
Which had the effect that I cut the upper mids on everything!
Likewise I had a Behringer ADA8000 for a while. Hoping to get more inputs to record with, but vainly hoping they might be better?
They were worse inputs. They seemed fine when recording. Lights came on when things got louder etc.
But the results just sounded thin and brittle. I tried compression and EQ but you can only polish a sows ear so much.
So I was surprised the MOTU was so good.
It also comes with an LE version of Digital Performer and something else I didnt use like Ableton or Frooty Loops LE.
Not a bunch of garbage plugins trying to add value (cough... Akai).
And its pretty much class compliant too. So no driver is required.
Downside, I wish there were other things the color OLED could meter. Phase meter would be awesome. Sample rate and digital stats? Or adjustable metering so we can focus on a reference like -14dBfs.
Audient is pretty well known for having solid analogue designs. They build recording studio mixers after all.
Behringer is not well known. Infamous is a better word. People will defend their products for the simple reason that they are the most affordable. So they have the stink of low income on them.
That is nothing to be ashamed of. I'd rather have one decent piece of music gear from an honest company than 8 noisy approximations from a shady company.
This is a great video. Very helpful for people. It's easy to get caught up in the "you need a high end audio interface for good quality" argument, and for most people it's really not needed, especially depending on how often you're changing settings, the durability of the controls may or may not matter. I used to have a Yamaha 03D digital mixer connected to an RME Hammerfall 9652 PCI card via ADAT. That was way more than I needed. I now use a Presonus AudioBox iTwo I got used for the equivalent of $65 USD probably back in 2019 I think, and that came bundled with Presonus headphones and a Presonus large diaphragm condenser mic or some sort, I think it was a bundle. Anyway it works fine, it's midi ports handle sysex messages to old synths, and it works just as well on a modern Mac as on an iPad or anything else. It 'does the job'. But the biggest take away for people I think is even if you can notice a slight quality difference with the guitar input on the Behringer, will a listener to your completed song listen to it and think "the guitar tone is a bit thin, he must've used a Behringer audio interface?" No, of course not :) What is noticed in the creation stage is well hidden by the end. Anyway, subscribed - found your channel via the Bad Gear Roast :)
My dad got a cheapo Behringer UM2 during the first wave of lockdowns a couple years back to track guitars and vocals and as soon as I could get my hands on it I was very impressed. I was very impressed by how quiet the pres were, -100dB ish was about the average noisefloor without cranking them. Even when cranked up they were very quiet. For comparison, my UR44 sits at about -120dB ish, in all honestly when you're dealing with line level signals or hot mic inputs noise won't be a concern. The UR's pres are just a tad smoother, the UM2 is slightly harsher on the mids. But in all honesty the Behringer was outdoing itself. It was up against an interface that was about 8 times more expensive, and while it's not a direct comparison, the cheapest UR interface is still about 3 times more expensive. I was pleasantly surprised, especially because I've had Behringer mixers as interfaces in the past and they were just borderline unusable as such. That said, the UM2 has a generic ASIO driver, the UR has a very robust Yamaha/Steinberg ASIO driver. I've been running it for longer than I can remember at 96KHz/32 samples, it offloads the CPU very well. The minimum I managed to push the UM2 on the same computer was around 128 samples and she was not very happy, but all in all I'd say Behringer interfaces pack a very good punch if you're looking for something without bells and whistles. Also, I was very impressed with its robustness. Very sturdy for €40.-!
Was the "sound of muzak" guitar reference intentional? I love it! Just found your channel an hour ago and I haven't stopped watching yet. Been a musician since I was 6 and 20 Just started my journey with drum machines and synths. Very excited to learn from you. I may even start a patreon at some point 😊
Sure, it's one of my favourite riffs to play on guitar :)
I've been using the M2 for the last two years with zero problems...great unit!
I have 2 x MOTU 16A’s which I started with, and then bought an Apollo x8 for the Unison preamps. The difference in sound quality from the output converters was startling, especially at the high end.
The Motu is worth paying a little more for if you need super low latency - like if you're Chris Liebing using Ableton for DJ FX. Otherwise I'd get a cheaper Behringer or Arturia interface. The Arturia interfaces have a built-in hub with one or two USB ports which can be very convenient in some situations.
True, except it didn't work in his gaming situation at all.
Loved hearing Dig It at the end.
I've been using a Behringer UMC404 HD for two or three years with no complaints. It functions as my computer's audio and MIDI interface. Audio comes in from my very, very old Mackie 1202 and MIDI passes through my equally ancient Digital Music Corp MX-8 MIDI Patch Bay. I run everything from Mains power. I've never encountered latency or noise issues.
you use the MX-8 too!? I have not seen anyone else mention this amazing piece of kit. I have even begun designing a modern 8 in 8 out Midi device to replicate the features without the need of a computer
@@NikoNoxious When I was first getting into keyboards circa 1989 the music shop where I got all my gear gave me the MX-8 when I purchased a used copy of Cakewalk 2.0. I've used it as my main interface/patch-bay ever since. I had a scare about three years ago when it wouldn't power-on and when it did, the screen was gibberish. A quick battery change and a wee bit of dusting and the thing is as good as new.
I've looked for similar units for the last 20 years but nothing is similar. I guess it's a pretty niche bit of gear. I'd love to see your contemporary take on it.
@@lo-firobotboy7112 Fascinating. I was lucky to find the MX8 when I was researching MIDI gear to build my studio. I found Roland made a similar device, the A880, with no screen and less features. I have seen some modern takes on the idea, but they all require a computer to set-up or change.
i have too, its great!
Ya they're fine. I did like the preamps better when I was borrowing a better card, but the difference was barely noticable. Personal preference probably.
Check out the Universal Audio Volt 276. It has tube emulation circuitry and an 1176 style compressor. It doesn't pop when you power cycle it unlike those "red" interfaces.
I’ve heard nothing but love for MOTU across the board ..Wish I had enough faith to give em another shot, but I had such a terrible experience with audio glitches on my MK4 Ultralite that I just now bit the bullet on an RME. I’d have preferred the extra I/O of an MK5 over my Babyface, if only I could have trusted that it’d be reliable. Nothing breaks me out of music making mood quicker than malfunctioning audio-so the extra money for RME is worth it for peace of mind alone.
Well done. Good content and production values. I think that the Audient is preferable. The converters are better, as are the pre amplifiers and the headphone amplifier.
The UMC204HD has the least distortion I've ever seen in an interface, and IMHO, sounds AMAZING. What it does t have versus some other interfaces is DSP. What it DOES have are 4 balanced outputs, 2 monitor paths, and good MIDI. Bus powered, Class USB with no driver necessary is a HUGE plus. I own one and will likely buy at least one more. Great comparison! I love this kind of content. Thank you for making and for sharing. Cheers!
+1 for USB compliant devices that don’t require drivers. I sold something nice from a company who makes good gear, but drag their heels every year on drivers. Never again! Really enjoying my new(ish) Arturia interface that doesn’t require a driver.
What it also has is a high noise floor :/
@@ejmikk These people are deaf. Even the guy running this channel said he wanted the best sound but went for function only. The meh beh has less and ugly low end. Listen to the first stab of the synth.
I know it’d be impossible to feature every small audio interface under the sun, but an Arturia MiniFuse could have been a nice choice. I’ve been so impressed with my AudioFuse 8Pre, that a MiniFuse is at the top of my list for a secondary portable interface. Great video, as always!
Thanks! Yes the MiniFuse 4 would have been great to have in the video as well. But if I remember correctly it wasn't available when we decided on the interfaces we wanted to order for the video.
I have a mini fuse 2, it has been impressive, never let me down. Although, to my ears there is a slight change in the low frequency presentation on A B’ing…preamps seem very quiet. Still the first usb soundcard in over 2 decades, I’d recommend for the price!
I literally have that setup, arturia 8pre for my drum room, minifuse for my office.
@@apparently_sonam Thanks! Sounds good. I really like the balance Arturia strike between price and quality.
Last year I got a 3rd gen Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 (4 ins, 4 outs, MIDI, USB-c), and I'm very happy with it on my Macbook. MRP is more than I wanted to spend, but Focusrite sell much cheaper "refurbished" ones directly via their website, and the quality is just as if it was new. Worth considering if you want to save $$$... I'm not sure if other vendors do this as well.
I would think these would be more or less the same, except the MOTU does have a lower noise floor - though that’s more at a technical level and not a practical one. That said, this application does not stress the interfaces, it’s just testing pre-amps, and since they can be used in many more applications than just a 1 to 1 DI input, I think that’s where the right choice will either help or hinder your end result.
not that you mentioned it, but I definitely have low-level crosstalk between channels on my scarlett 18i8, which is disappointing for the price. I also noticed some crosstalk on some of my low-end Mackie mixers, which is hard to forgive. Must we forever record one track at a time?
thank you for the test. i would love to see also the yamaha ag03/06 usb interfaces (:
I have a Mackie onyx artist 1-2 and couldn't be happier with it. Heard good things about motu though
This is some high quality content!
Also id love to see a video about the minilogue xd
One of the main things bothering me too. great video💪👌
wondering whether in the sub-$300 range you might be getting similar guts, will different build quality, UI etc (that display will add a fair chunk to the cost). If you were to compare to a for example a Focusrite Clarett, which claims to have posh converters, whether you'd notice a difference. writing this despite never noticing a difference between the £100 presonus i bought when I was 16, and the clarett 8pre I've had for a few years.
My first go-round I dropped over $300 on a Focusrite, which was overkill for what I use it for. Now I'm looking to add an interface to another machine, but I'm not looking to spend that kind of money again. Your video and tests have me thinking the Behringer is the way to go for my needs. Thanks!
May also be good to include the Arturia MiniFuse on your list. I do like that the video kind of proved in 2022 there’s lots of good options. :)
@@MarcEdwards -- Will do! Thanks, brother.
UAD Apollo has some really nice converters that you'll hear a difference on compared to less expensive interfaces
Each interface has their own advantages. Usually not everyone can hear difference, most people listen with their eyes. Everyone uses what they can afford and with options what interface offers. Recently, for portability reasons and amount of channels, I have got myself behringer umc 1820. Plenty of outputs and inputs, decent quality with every source what I recorded. Before that I used motu 8 channel interface, cant remember model. In one of studios PCs I have ESI 1010, which is still in use, with ancient drivers and it's fine. I know one sound engineer who makes all of his recordings using old mac and behringer x32 producer, everyone slags off preamps, but results speak for themselves. Clients don't care unless it is good quality, other mixing and mastering engineers never complained. Main thing is not the gear, important is the man behind that gear. People are just too much talking about hearing difference between preamps\converters on each interface example, but never showed their work, just talking about what they read on the forums or Facebook groups. I, for example, don't care what other people are using, I see my tasks and decide what I need to complete that tasks.
Personally never really noticed any major differences until you hit the 1k plus price range
Love the thought of you using a $400 Di with a $80 interface. Great video as always!
Thanks! 😂 That's true! It's more like 300$ though. But if you don't have a DI box and want to play guitar directly into the interface, I'd advise against the Behringer.
@@CaptainPikant Yeah I was looking at what they cost here in Norway 😅 I have a Focusrite 18i20 and a couple diy DI boxes so Im probably good, but I am really looking into getting a RME interface since I've used some in live applications and love the software!
I must admit I chuckled when I saw a Neve DI going into the Behringer interface.
i have been having fun with the ssl2+, not as portable as its chunky and plugs in the back, midi in and out, the "4K" switches add a little something to a drum machine signal, metering is nice with a slight hold so you can see clip when it happens, has loopback recording, line/inst/48v buttons are not great (flimsy and can't tell if they are pressed or not), and inputs are a little noisey, vocal strip and drum strip plugins included are cool.
yea porcupine tree riff!
the solo in 7 in that song (comes right after) is one of my all time favorites
Mine too!!
@@CaptainPikant the phrasing is soo damn gooood!
Hi Captain, just wanted to add that with a recent firmware update they fixed the issue of levels resetting for heaphones/speakers on the Audient iD14.
Oh really? How recent is this update?
@@gheedough not sure of the date, it was firmware version 1.0.9 (I think it's still the most recent one) and the bullet point in the release notes goes like this "Fixed startup volume state". And for me and my id14 it fixed the issue completely.
Oh wow, only five days ago! Glad they fixed it :)
@@aseeon thanks, I'll see if it's for the Mki as well - that would be awesome!
I bought an interface to test pedals a few months ago. The audient only goes to 96KHz and the beringer is actually quite a bit noisier than the motu. I ended up with an M4 and had no issues with it so far. Julian Krause has an excellent channel that tests audio interfaces.
Just picked up an Apollo Twin DUO CORE QUAD.
would be interesting to test those relatively cheap interfaces to more high level ones like RME or the Carlett series from Focusrite. My Fireface UCX is just unbeatable
I have that Behringer interface. I have been using it with synths and drum machines for over a year. I have been really happy with it. I currently use it with a 24 channel Mackie console. I have the main mix out going to the inputs on the interface. The outputs of the interface go into a stereo channel on the console. For the price it's hard to beat. I also have the $40 Behringer interface. I wish I gotten the $80 version to begin with. So don't bother with the cheaper one and just get the $80 version.
What do you think about the Zoom UAC 2? In my opinion a very nice option for the price. Good coverters.
From presented audio interfaces I got Audient iD14 but first revision and used to get price down. So far no issues noted.
I loathe paying 40% of the cost of an interface on the Mic pres I will never use. The manufacturers are well aware of this to but persist in denying electronic musos a wide choice of line-level interfaces.
also don't forget if you still have firewire you can have something nice, like an used rme Fireface for around 300 or a used apogee or maybe even a metric halo, lots of used quality interfaces for sale.
Behringer make a clear winner, maybe the 404Hd would do even better for you feature wise :) Great vid
QC is always an issue with the cheaper units, so I'm not surprised at issues with the Behringer, but also I'm not surprised that DACs are pretty much a done deal in everything. My personal choice are Steinberg interfaces, you pay a little more for a better noise floor and better I/O options but having said that, they *are* quirky too. But I've never had to worry about the sound.
Japanese and German engineering is guaranteed to be quirky. For me it's the dspMixFX companion app/virtual mixer/whatever. I just don't understand how they go above and beyond creating such utterly sturdy and absolutely dependable pieces of hardware and just to then miss out on critical quality of life features such as input monitor switches on the interface itself rather than under an application. Real life case, jamming with hardware synths but having left an input muted - I then have to boot up the computer and launch the app just to unmute that input. A major design flaw IMO
@@jonytube This is a strange thing to say. Both Roland (japanese) and RME (german) only have rave feedbacks for their semi pro (Roland OctaCapture and higher) and pro audio interfaces. You seem to be using a Steinberg interface, which I personnally don't like very much, but then it's a cheaper interface that's designed to a price point. Entry level interfaces more or less all have roughly the same feature sets. If you want better features, like the possibility to use the interface without a PC, you'll have to pay more, at least double the price of budget interfaces.
Great ❤ video. I’ve subscribed.
Given what you were after the Evo 4 might have been a better choice than iD4? Mine was found used for like 75 quid.
I see a fellow porcupine tree fan! Great review man
Thanks Mr. Hands.
Using the UAD volt I actually did hear more separation of the instruments
When recording line signals only the AD conversion matters and these days even cheap interfaces have good conversion. But UA-cam will most certainly trash the differences with the compression. But beyond sound quality you also have to take into account the quality of the drivers and other features (loopback, headphones amp, virtual routing, etc).
Didn't expect much of a difference but surprised to see it's almost nonexistent and mainly comes down to user interface and features.
better to save the money for mic/speakers/gear where it'll matter.
I upgraded from an older Mackie Analog 12 channel without USB which went into a Scarlett 2i2 and now I upgraded to a Yamaha MG16XU and all my midi is in a Miditech 16x16.
I'm still using a Mackie Onyx 1220i. It's FireWire! And I've got a FireWire card in my PC with a TI chipset. When Apple stopped using FireWire... So many Apple users were shedding perfectly good interfaces for dirt cheap! Hell I have a Mackie Onyx 820i in the closet as backup, and a Mackie 1620i on my desk at work.
I would like to point out something for anyone out there in the Eurorack world though. I'm fairly certain that most (if not ALL) Motu audio interfaces are DC Coupled. This includes the M2. So if you use VCV Rack, or FL Studio, and have some Eurorack gear, even just a skiff... Get the Motu!
If you have the money go for RME Babyface. That's a no compromise interface. If you don't have money, you can find the original "blue babyface" secondhand version for the same money as the audient or motu, but it will be a far better choice overall.
I have a little Behringer 4 channel mixer, and I've noticed the same right-biased imbalance at low volumes
Still using an old Alesis iO2 Express out and about. Tempted by the Behrbie though.
One extra benefit of the Motu is that is is DC coupled for all the eurorack nerds out there!
Motu M4 reporting in, love the little thing. I use it for audio as well as gaming, but I'm powering it from a motherboard USB-C port.
Yeah I really wish my computers already had those, but I'm still on USB3 - otherwise it would have been a perfect fit!
I love my behringer uphoria404hd, I don't see why I would need anything better right now. Been working for years now too.
Behringer seemed to lack a bit of high end in the guitar example. Depends on what you use it for. If you need good quality mic pre-amps for good quality microphones I would instinctively avoid the Behringer. Even Focusrites lower budget options lack some high-end and you might find the noise level a bit too high in certain cases. But if all you're doing is recording some drum machines and synth then I guess having a cheaper one will do.
thanks again
With my past experience with Behringer products, they sound good and offer a quick access starting off and saving money, but it's a question of not IF but when WHEN it will start crapping out on you. I've owned a lot of Behringer stuff like two PEQ2200 (the first had two freq eq die), the 1204 ( one channel died) and 1622 (power issues) mixer, unrealible. So I would save a few buck and maybe something other than Behringer.
I have problems with my motu 2 as well. Specifically audio artifacts I hear while recording. Just weird static and feedback noises I get when playing guitar.
Hey Capitan, short Tipp for the annoying Audient Software PopUp: at the bottom of the popup window there‘s a tiny „do not show window again“ checkbox. Found it recently while setting up my ID4. At least after checking the box, It never showed up again.
Thanks! I searched for that option but somehow couldn't find it :D
Yeah, it seems like they took a lot of care in hiding it well ^^
I bought the 202hd as a big behringer fan and the device itself is nice but the software is trash and they stopped updating it years ago.. I was using it as my audio out for my pc and when windows 11 came out it just has given me issues, eventually I had to reinstall my old tascam interface, maybe they make a more updated 202hd now but for me it was causing so many issues that I had to switch and will have to save up for something new
Hi, it looks like you may have mislabeled the Behringer interface, the video label says 202HD but you are reviewing the 204HD, there is a price difference the 204HD has midi in/out and the 202HD does not, great video otherwise, you have a high production value which I appreciate, keep up the good work! 😊
Hi riprean, that's indeed an error on our side... Must have happened sometime during post-production and then slipped through undetected 🤦 The audio quality of both units should be the same though. We adjusted the title and description. Thanks for letting us know!
Do you have a video on cheap but kind of awesome drum machines? I want one for fun, but not sure where to start.
What's a good interface for a lot of hardware synths with a lot of recording channels?
Well, you've missed a Steinberg mk ur interface, check this out, it's great!
YES my behringer didnt suck XD love it
(but i have to say the clipping visual isnt great)
thx for the great video
I still just record into an HD multitrack (Zoom RD-8) and use an old rack compressor (DBX 166xl)
+1 for the Behringer interfaces. They are amazingly quiet and it has midi in/out. I got the 4 channel and it’s served me well across all projects.
I've been using an M-AUDIO AIR 192/6 and to be honest, I don't know if there's a problem with this particular model or my laptop. After sometime of talking on dc/other media the mic become so quiet, like -15dB. Also, I've found a new problem with it popping in fl studio. I'm really starting to question the quality of it :((
Stay away from M-Audio.
It’s interesting….I can always hear some amount of tonal difference between devices (especially cheaper ones), buuut.. I can never imagine it making that big of a difference in a mix. The only real concern that really throws me is the Behringer’s noise floor. Static builds up when recording across multiple tracks…but still, it was +60db before you really could tell a difference.
That said, I do have a Focusrite id44 + ASP 800 setup, I am clearly drinking the coolaid 😅
I will say, having owned a couple behringer’s at different points, they seem to act up more than the Audients do on my Mac. But that could just be me.
I am curious if you’ve tried the Audient evo 4. Even smaller, sounds good buuuut.. Even more annoying software interface.
Hi Jae! Yeah that's true, 60 dB is an insane amount that's not relevant in the real world. I've always wanted to try the ASP 800, how do you like the HMX and IRON options? Haven't tried the evo 4 yet, but it looks interesting :)
I recently bought an Evo4, I really liked it but because of the low system gain it could not handle my SM57 for a livestream setup.
If anyone wants to use a low-sensitive dynamic mic directly with discord I can highly recommend the audient ID4. It was only 25€ more expensive than the Evo while being in a totally different league in terms of build quality. And the mic levels are also much more usable without boosting in post.
@@CaptainPikant I love those things. I definitely prefer to try to get tone before the signal gets into the DAC if I can. I actually have my Jupter-XM permanently attached to those two inputs and I spent a little time working out a sound that I really like. It’s my main synth so…yeah. I don’t know if I’d say they are a deal maker or anything, but they have been useful.
Help please: my M-Audio Air 192|4 interface's rear combo input is connected via TRS-TRS cable to my digital piano's 'OUTPUT' (for "amplified speakers" according to the manual). Even with the Air's input gain & main output levels turned right up full nothing above the -20dB LED indicates (the volume of the piano from its own speakers & headphones is loud). When I record the output from the Air (USB to DAW, 44.1kHz, 16, 24 or 32bit on PC & DAW) the waveform looks flat and I have to normalize/amplify to hear it (noise still remains low) but it sounds really tinny unlike the rich sound from the piano's speakers or headphones. My Win10/64 device & DAW recording levels both at 100%. Same issue in Audacity. What am I doing wrong?
Check that there isn't any pad (like -10 dB) activated. Next try using a mono cable. Could be that the polarity is faulty and it sums to near zero. Had that on a drum machine once.
@@CaptainPikant 🙏 Tried with new mono cable but same result. Must be audio interface 😥Is it possible to use EQ to get a bad tinny piano recording to sound rich and full? How?
Try going into the front instrument input with the mono cable to see if that helps. If not, you could try using the headphone signal of the piano.
@@CaptainPikant Sry, should have said I tried those options too but didn't work.
Audiophiles are actually scientists fcking with music instead of chemicals.
The audient Guitar win's instantly, the behringer noise floor shows it's quality
Ich sample momentan meinen RD-9 mit dem UMC404HD, es klingt sehr gut. Es gibt nur leider sehr viele Kombinationen die man samplen kann 😀
I am very surprised. The Behringer sounded best to me. Fun fact: I have two Behringer interfaces, one with 2 inputs that's even cheaper than the 204 on my main PC and the 8 input channel model in the studio. I think I made the right choice(s).
On what make of headphones or speakers, to be specific.
@@sceptikalmedia Kali LP-6 monitors. Also a bargain :-D
That Daftpunk Acid Bass aaaaaaaa
add the new ua volt in the review? :)
spicy topic
As I effect drum machines live . Lower latency re the M4 helps
I’ve had a two interfaces, some cheap tascam and the ID14 mk1
The Audient was an absolute game changer. Recording guitars, synths, or even dj mixes I’d say were a solid 25% better sounding. I’m always curious to high end mastering grade interfaces vs something like the Audient or ssl entry level boxes.
Motu. You can’t go wrong. One of the originals
There is so much audiophile nonsense about audio interfaces. The mic preamps may be different, but the AD and DA are all single chip solutions, and it would not surprise me if they all use the exact same chip for that.
Are you ... Saying an 80 euro converter is the same component as a 5000 euro one? That its a .. scam? :D
@@machineagevoodoo2106 He is talking about the examples here I guess, not in general
nope. the secret in very expensive converters is the DA. most of the available consumer interfaces are all terrible.
Can anyone recommend me a very good but budget interface with the mono button? I was looking for UAD Volt 276 but its mono function is not coverting the DAW output to mono.
@@Bati_ Actually not.
Back when i was doin live recordings my hardware from a mixer to a usbinter before switching completely dawless computerless i had me one 2pre and one 200 euros cheaper steinberg.
The 2pre was the worst possible. Destroying completely my jams like distorted em and shit like that.with the steinberg my kick was demonic as i wanted it to be!!
a more interesting question would be, are they all using the same THAT corp preamp/line amp IC thats in 99.9999% of all audio interfaces??
Captain Pikant
Which instrument in your opinion was mostly responsible for the dance music explosion at the end of the 80's 😉
Come on, it has to be the TR-909, right? :D
@@CaptainPikant
909 sound is in the top 2, but IMO the NO1 spot goes to the multitimbral sampler. The sampler is the unsung hero of electronic dance music and it's time the hands of the Captain told the story. 😉
Yes, but what about Focusrite, Komplete Audio?
My primary concern with the Behringer would be their historical propensity to use very cheap components which have a high failure rate. For example, this notorious video (ua-cam.com/video/ZilcEagVCdI/v-deo.html) shows 70 capacitors going very, very bad in a UB1202 mixer. Thus I would not personally purchase the Behringer if I was looking for a long-term solution. I *am* surprised you did not consider the most popuar interfaces on the market such as the Focusrite Scarlett or the Presonus Studio, much less offbeat but well regarded stuff like the Tascam US series.
Maybe, but that mixer was built in 2005 and the capaciter plague was from 1999-2007 so it could be just plague caps rather than Behringer at fault.
Capaciter plague - stolen faulty formula (some twat wrote it down wrong!) for capaciter electrolyte. Stolen from Japan (Rubycon) and given to China (Luminous Town Electric) and then later Taiwan.
@@Br00sta There are many other Behringer examples, as I'm sure you know. And while many manufacturers got hit by the capacitor plague, Behringer seems to have been hit far harder than most, likely because of bargain-basement sourcing.
@@seanluke3052 Fair comment, I'd probably have to agree.
I have an XAir18 and after about 6 years of use every channel has a different amount of high frequency rolloff. Not one channel was flat anymore. Channel 2 matched channel 9 so I used it to control the TV for another year or so until the power supply caps gave up and it stopped working altogether. It is fixable by swapping out a few hundred caps, still deciding if it is worth the effort.
Cheap interfaces are very expensive. As I despise audiophile nonsense, I cleverly bought an old Focusrite and patted myself on the back. Until it completely broke down on my new Windows update. No worries, sold it and bought Audient id14, it's super solid and heavy, heaviness is confidence. But it's ergonomics are crap and software is giving me issues. Sold it begrudgingly, bought Motu M4 - what a delightful beautiful device that works occasionally! Sold it, bought RME. It would be much cheaper to just buy RME from the get go
I´m going to be very honest by saying if you are buying into music hardware, a multitrack mixer being small format or larger is a better choice overal than just and interface. in my humble opinion. I put the Soundcraft 12fx against the Audient ID4 and it just wins in I/O and versatlity.
Just recently I got Mackie Onyx 24 and I put it against Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 2nd gen, for a multitracking test (synths + drum machine). Scarlett's recorded sound was flat and lifeless in comparison. I'm really surprised that there's so much difference, especially when the ratio of "price/number of inputs" makes Mackie being cheaper than Scarlett.
Ps. I listened both results on Scarlett
The mixer and an audio interface aren't the same thing at all. The mixer typically has only one DAC - which sits after the mixing -, so you have to do all the mixing BEFORE the digital conversion, and you get all the mics and instruments on a single track. Or you have to record only one mic at a time. On a digital interface, you have a separate DAC for each input, so you can digitize several mics/instruments in one take, and each mic will result into its own track which can then be manipulated separately on the DAW.
Hence a mixer is designed for live music, not for recording, while an audio interface is designed for recording, and is generally inconvenient for live music (except some semi pro/pro mixers that can do both).
What is that external DI box?
That's a Neve RNDI. Admittedly very much overkill considering the price difference between audio interface and DI box, but that's what I had here. Sounds fantastic no matter what interface you plug it into. If you want to play guitar directly into the interface and don't already have a DI box, I would strongly advise against the Behringer.
The Sound Of Muzak!