eliya wrote:Focusrite also has audio-over-IP interfaces, if you're looking for other options of that variety.Yeah I considered these (for price if no other reason), but it's their own proprietary protocol. AVB and MADI may end up in the same boat if they don't get adoption outside one or two companies, but at least they're trying to be more universally applicable.I considered UAD too, especially after some raves about them here and in TapeOp, but the high price + no MIDI makes it kinda janky for my usage.eliya wrote:a couple of older MOTUsI'm using a 1st gen Ultralite now; I suppose I could sell it to fund a newer revision, then network that with a 16A for massive I/O. Thanks for the suggestion!

PRF - I have acquired a MacBook Air and wondered what a reasonable interface would be for around 200? Ideally I d like 4 xlr inputs. I used to do a lot of recording but haven t done any in years so am unsure what s good and what isn t, technology wise. Thanks!

I've got nothin but good things to say about the Focusrite Scarlett series. Mine has been a rock, preamps sound legit, and you can get a 4xlr one for $350 I think.

JasonSwanson wrote:Apologies if this question has been asked before, I searched but couldn't find anything.I've been recording to tape for a few decades now, but a few years ago started working with a band in a different state that records at a Pro Tools studio local to them, then the engineer sends me WAV files from the sessions and I do overdubs and mix in Reaper. I bought a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 eight channel pre that's been working fine up until now, but with the new record we're working on I'm going to need more than eight channels.I have a bunch of nice analog pres, Syteks, APIs, some others, that I'd love to use. Is there a simple way to use these pres with my computer?Thanks for any help you can give!I'm no expert, but isn't this where you usually get away from interfaces and into multichannel AD/DA converters?

Thanks FM Riff Magnum. I ve read pretty consistently good things about those so may well dump my hard earned on one. Vive le PRF!

brephophagist wrote:is there another possibility I'm missing?I'm also super skeptical of the networked audio protocols, so if anyone has experience with them, I'd love to hear about it.Currently working with a setup similar to what you're after, using the "3D" upgrades of the Metric Halo interfaces (note, software in beta still but hardware is final). I've got a 2882 connected at the desk (and wired up fully to monitors and patchbay), with a ULN-2 available to move around, or take out on its own with a laptop. Connections to computer and each interface are over ethernet. No problems I've run into yet... but if you're using Windows, the drivers aren't ready yet. All well on Mac though, and it's pretty sweet for my purposes... I ran a discreetly-placed 50m CAT5e cable to the next room, and that's the only wire needed to connect back to the desk. All in/out is routable anywhere in the software. MIDI and other digital I/O expansion cards available, too.Overall, not necessarily an immediate solution for what you need (depending on what you run computer-wise), but it's getting there, and something to consider. I've used a ULN-2 for over 10 years now, and just added the 2882 and upgraded both of them when their "public beta" opened. Really pleased with all their hardware and software, and the flexibility I have now (home or away) is exactly what I needed.