Hi,

I'm looking for a new interface.
Originally I was looking at just a PCI card so that I could just connect my mixer via spdif.

But, another consideration is to buy a USB 2 unit - like the Focusrite scarlet or NI Audio 6 which also has spdif but may offer a bit more convenience and flexibility for direct recording the odd mic. guitar or keyboard track without the need to fiddle about mixer sends etc.

One thing I wonder though - can I use a USB interface without the PC turned on. So for example, when I'm not recording and dont have cubase open on the PC, will the line outputs of the interface still send sound to connected speakers. Or do the outputs only work when a DAW is controlling the monitoring?

Also - same question for the headphone socket. Could I just leave a keyboard plugged into the inputs of the USB interface and just have headphones constantly connected to the interface's headphone monitor. Or will I only hear anything if the DAW is up and running.

I know the MOTU equivalents can act as a mixer too and dont need the computer running to function. But these are quite a bit more expensive than my budget.

Thanks.

Hi Benksia!

Whether or not you can use a USB audio interface when your PC is turned off depends entirely on the particular design. Many are bus-powered from their USB connection and would therefore go totally off-line when the PC was powered down.

It could be possible with those that have their own dedicated PSU, but I can’t offhand think of any that offer this feature.

Similarly with the headphone output - it’s possible that the occasional USB audio interface with its own PSU would leave that headphone output available for use without the computer, but this won’t be a selling point to all those who rely on their computers, so I can’t see many manufacturers adopting this approach.

Anyone got a USB interface that offers standalone features?


Martin

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YewTreeMagic

Quote Martin Walker:

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Anyone got a USB interface that offers standalone features?

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RME range provides some pretty advanced standalone features: Fireface (Check "DURec™ - Direct USB Recording")

Ah! Benskia,
I know for certain that the M-A Fast track pro will run as a stand alone mic/line amp to SPDIF out.
What I do not know is if it will operate as a mic/line pre amp with headphone monitoring as well.

Give me a couple of hours and I shall tell thee.

Dave.

Yes,
Easier to do than I thought! The box works just as a pre amp with headphone output.

You have 2 mics with phantom power, 2 line ins or 2 high Z guitar inputs. The jack line outs function fine to feed monitors. You need the "mix" control fully anti-clockwise.

You will need a 9volt power supply, 500mA centre pos. I would suggets a 9-10V SMPSU at about an amp. Take the interface with you to buy the PSU since the co-ax power plug needed is of the rarer variety with a thicker than usual centre pin.

Anything else you need to know just shout!
this...http://www.maplin.co.uk/ac-dc-fixed-voltage-6w-power-supplies-512208
would seem ideal, the L67 BQ.

Dave.

Edited by ef37a (25/04/12 07:07 AM)

Thanks for those options guys!


Martin

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YewTreeMagic

I have an ancient Roland ua-100 which runs on XPsp3 which keeps getting un-retired when I come up against MIDI/audio timing issues or situations like this.

probably about 10p on Ebay.

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Ohm's Law states, "Your PA isn't as powerful as you think it is".

Quote shufflebeat:

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probably about 10p on Ebay.

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Ok, maybe not:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ROLAND-UA-100-AUDIO-CANVAS-USB-AUDIO-MIDI-INTERF ACE-/180860026413?pt=Midi_Controllers&hash=item2a1c18fe2d

(ouch!)

--------------------
Ohm's Law states, "Your PA isn't as powerful as you think it is".

Quote shufflebeat:

---

Ok, maybe not:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ROLAND-UA-100-AUDIO-CANVAS-USB-AUDIO-MIDI-INTERF ACE-/180860026413?pt=Midi_Controllers&hash=item2a1c18fe2d

(ouch!)




or maybe yes...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Roland-UA-100-Audio-Midi-Interface-/300691535430 ?pt=Midi_Controllers&hash=item46029cb646

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"The tech gets better, the user error remains the same.." Roberts Plant

Hi,

I "think" that some of the Tascam USB 2.0 have a "stand alone option (check the US-600 or US-800) they both have AC power as well.

Their unit that came out at Winter NAMM which works with iOS devices/Mac/Windows Devices and (has two XLR ins)
as well as Inst inputs, outputs for monitors and is bus powered (stand alone not sure and I have not used the above

I (just) bought a Lexicon I-O 42 USB 2.0 (not the Ionix Series) they added a on/off switch, a software app, and the specs for Operating systems improved, AC powered (required) I read reviews when it was the Ionix series that people used the unit as a stand alone as well as a audio interface

it has S/PDIF in/out 4 XLR 1/4 combo dbx preamp ins, 2 hi-z ins, 2 headphone outs and 2 1/4 outs as well as MIDI in/out

Will let You know how it goes
I had a Tascam US122 but the driver support ends with OSX 10.5.x (but if You manually install Rosetta from the Snow Leopard Operating System disk (the Mac Universal Binary drivers work,) not sure about Windows (some people used a powered USB hub (its USB 1.1 so its a tad slow

I bought and returned a T.C. Electronics Impact Twin (FW 400) and also a Focusrite Scarlett I816 USB 2.0 with external power (long story on both)

Best

Read the fine print too ...re return policies ...(not that You would not)

ambienttales

U.S.A.





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ambienttales

Roland Octacapture. 8 in 8 outs usb and monitor mode etc.

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Success is round the corner. It's also round the bend.

Quote tex:

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Roland Octacapture. 8 in 8 outs usb and monitor mode etc.

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+1

I've got the Octa-Capture. It's got 8 mic pres, reverb, compression, a mixer with four independent sub mixes, and that's before it's plugged into a computer.

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www.thediplomatz.com

Hi everyone,

Sorry for not replying to my original post sooner.
Thanks for the information.
There's some good recommendations there that I will look into further.
Also, I'm interested in the focusrite and native instruments interfaces which both appear to have a 9v power socket on the back. So with any luck they may offer this feature too.

Well, I'll research it further and let you know how it goes.

All the best.