25 Nov
2016
25 Nov
'16
1:15 p.m.
Hi,
I'm looking for a replacement of my RME HDSPe AIO, since it's not
really supported for Linux, only 2 out of 8 ADAT channels are
accessible, xruns, even with too much latency, Ardour ALSA, without
jack doesn't work.
In addition this device must work with an iPad 2 and newer, too, so I
read
http://audio-mastering-studio.blogspot.de/2014/05/ios-compatible-audio-inte…
and found the following device, in a price range cheaper than a
RME Babyface.
The device needs to provide ADAT and MIDI. I already read old Linux
related posts, however, has anybody used one of the following devices
with Linux?
Arturia Audiofuse 599 €
Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 349 €
Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 489 €
PreSonus AudioBox 1818VSL 399 €
Could somebody recommend another device providing ADAT and MIDI less
expensive than a RME Babyface? I suspect Behringer devices at least
suffer from short durability.
Regards,
Ralf
25 Nov
25 Nov
1:42 p.m.
On Fri, 25 Nov 2016 13:14:49 +0100
Ralf Mardorf <ralf.mardorf(a)alice-dsl.net> wrote:
[...]
The device needs to provide ADAT and MIDI. I already read old Linux
related posts, however, has anybody used one of the following devices
with Linux?
Arturia Audiofuse 599 €
Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 349 €
I use that one. It is USB Audio Class compliant, except for the mixer
part. There was a patch to the ALSA mixer code a while ago introducing
some device-specific "quirks", and it works out of the box on
3.something and newer kernels.
The ADAT port is input only. I haven't used it yet. It has in&out MIDI
DIN ports which I have tried and they work normally with ALSA.
I have managed to run it with JACK at 64 samples, 2 buffers @ 44100 Hz,
with an RT patched 4.x kernel. That's a bit flaky though, 128 samples
is more reliable. There is a "second gen" version available now which
promises even lower latency, but I don't know whether that is a change
in hardware or just a Windows/Mac driver thing.
The naming scheme is a bit... misleading. Actually it has 8 analog
inputs (4 with mic preamp, 4 line-in, all balanced) and 6 analog
outputs (balanced "Monitor" line-level left&right, and 2 stereo
headphone outs). There's one stereo SPDIF out. You can get 8 more inputs
with ADAT.
Overall, I'm pretty happy with it.
2:28 p.m.
On Fri, 25 Nov 2016 13:42:04 +0100, Johannes Kroll wrote:
On Fri, 25 Nov 2016 13:14:49 +0100 Ralf Mardorf wrote:
Thank you,
IIUC it has got a build in mixer, but even if it shouldn't work with
the patch, it could be used with ALSA mixer, without build in special
mixer features, right?
Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 349 €
I use that one. It is USB Audio Class compliant, except for the mixer
part. The ADAT port is input only.
That's a pitty. More important to me would be ADAT out, since I want
to use it for the iPad, too. IOW when using it with the iPad, I would
use another ADAT device for my Linux PC, to record virtual synth from
the iPad. OTOH I could use analog outputs, too and at least at 44100, 2
channles S/PDIF might do the job, too.
I have managed to run it with JACK at 64 samples, 2
buffers @ 44100 Hz,
with an RT patched 4.x kernel. That's a bit flaky though, 128 samples
is more reliable.
128, 2, 44100 = 5.8 ms would be perfect.
Excepted of the missing ADAT outputs, it seems to be perfect for me.
Anyway, it still is interesting for me. Did you experience any
durability issues, IOW how long and how much did you use it?
I ogled with the soundcraft signature series (no ADAT and no MIDI, but
a mixing console), but fear durability issues.
FWIW in parallel I ask for iPad 2 compatibility at
http://www.xewton.com/musicstudio/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7498 .
Regards,
Ralf
3:43 p.m.
On Fri, 25 Nov 2016 14:28:13 +0100
Ralf Mardorf <ralf.mardorf(a)alice-dsl.net> wrote:
I have it since January 2014. I used it almost daily for half a year or
so. I lugged it around to a rehearsal room and to a few performances.
It has a solid thick aluminium case which is very rugged - I could
probably stand on it without problems. :) The plastic knobs are OK.
I've recently noticed some scratching noises on one of the pots. I hope
it can be replaced.
On Fri, 25 Nov 2016 13:42:04 +0100, Johannes Kroll
wrote:
The patch exposed the internal mixer matrix as normal ALSA mixer
controls. It is in mainline kernel since some 3.x version, I don't
remember exactly which. So you can use the mixer matrix with any
alsamixer app. I use qasmixer, which handles the high number of
controls better than other UIs. Next time I am in the audio room, I
want to try AlsaJsonMixer, which has a specific UI for the Scarlett:
https://github.com/fulup-bzh/AlsaJsonMixer
One thing that isn't exposed in the mainline kernel anymore is the
"save state to hardware" feature, which allows the device to be used
stand-alone, without a computer. But it seems to store the last values
anyway - maybe the values are saved by default by the driver at some
point, I'm not sure.
On Fri, 25 Nov 2016 13:14:49 +0100 Ralf Mardorf
wrote:
Thank you,
IIUC it has got a build in mixer, but even if it shouldn't work with
the patch, it could be used with ALSA mixer, without build in special
mixer features, right? Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 349 €
I use that one. It is USB Audio Class compliant, except for the mixer
part. I have managed
to run it with JACK at 64 samples, 2 buffers @ 44100 Hz,
with an RT patched 4.x kernel. That's a bit flaky though, 128 samples
is more reliable.
128, 2, 44100 = 5.8 ms would be perfect.
Excepted of the missing ADAT outputs, it seems to be perfect for me.
Anyway, it still is interesting for me. Did you experience any
durability issues, IOW how long and how much did you use it? I ogled with the soundcraft signature series (no ADAT
and no MIDI, but
a mixing console), but fear durability issues.
FWIW in parallel I ask for iPad 2 compatibility at
http://www.xewton.com/musicstudio/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7498 .
I don't have an iPad so I don't know.
10:48 p.m.
Thank you Johannes,
I've seen the 18i8 1. generation for 240,- €. Assuming the 18i20 2. generation should
work with Linux, too, it might be what I'll buy. OTOH I read claims that it should be
unable to hold a candle to RME audio quality and I don't know how much the difference
is. Maybe it's unimportant for my needs.
Regards,
Ralf
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