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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 259
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I've been using an iConnectivity Audio4+ interface for several years now with my Windows systems. I like everything about it except that I haven't been able to get its output to stream to Facebook Live, YouTube, or even OBS Studio. There seems to be something specific to my device, as it has failed to work on two computers, and the iConnectivity rep has used my config and gotten his supposedly identical device to work. So I'm giving up on some of the cool features - like being able to connect to both an iPad and PC at the same time (routing audio between them) that I rarely use, since I want to do more live streaming with high quality audio.
So I'm looking for recommendations that fit the following "specs":
- 4 analog mic/instrument inputs
- 2 analog outputs are enough, but 4 would be fine
- A USB MIDI port in addition to the standard MIDI in/out, and in addition to the USB-to-PC port.
Thanks!
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,192
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Joined: Apr 2017
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I've been using an iConnectivity Audio4+ interface for several years now with my Windows systems. I like everything about it except that I haven't been able to get its output to stream to Facebook Live, YouTube, or even OBS Studio. There seems to be something specific to my device, as it has failed to work on two computers, and the iConnectivity rep has used my config and gotten his supposedly identical device to work. So I'm giving up on some of the cool features - like being able to connect to both an iPad and PC at the same time (routing audio between them) that I rarely use, since I want to do more live streaming with high quality audio.
So I'm looking for recommendations that fit the following "specs":
- 4 analog mic/instrument inputs
- 2 analog outputs are enough, but 4 would be fine
- A USB MIDI port in addition to the standard MIDI in/out, and in addition to the USB-to-PC port.
Thanks! No one's going to have a USB MIDI input. You do that directly to your PC or through a hub, not the interface. Interfaces with MIDI have DIN5 connectors. iConnectivity uses an app for routing—some get it working; others do not. Otherwise, any of the current Fast USB 2 interfaces with MIDI and enough inputs and outputs over USB should work. None of the interfaces "support streaming" = All the interfaces support streaming. It's not an issue because it's your app(s) that support streaming if properly set up. Zoom is twitchy but you need to use the Zoom Audio Driver. Zoom has instructions, FAQs, help videos etc. If you have a paid account, there's additional tech support—except for unlimited time, the paid accounts have very little additional functionality. Otherwise, Edgar Rothermich has an excellent free book download and video. Watch the video first so you know what parts of the book you need to read. Music Tech Explained Zoom Once you've grappled with Zoom, you'll understand how to integrate your interface with anything. I use the M-Audio Air 192|14 because it has 4 Mic/Instrument preamps + 2 Instrument DIs + 2 Line Inputs + MIDI. Each input has its own output over USB— 8 out total. The 192|14 also has 2 headphone amplifiers. Other M-Audio Air units have fewer inputs and only 2 or 4 outs over USB and one 'phone amp. The output of my iPad Pro feeds 2 of the Mic/Inst and my Yamaha piano feeds the two DIs and 2 mics feed the other Mic/Inst channels. Not bad for $329 street (Reverb has new from $299 and used from $250). It doesn't have to be an M-Audio. Focusrite Scarlett Gen 3, PreSonus and others have what you want. Nearly all are using the same DAC so shop the features you need and want.
BIAB 2023 Audiophile, 24/60 Core M2 Mac Studio Ultra/8TB/192GB Sonoma, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer 11, LogicPro
Finale27.4, Dorico5, Encore5, SmartScorePro64, Notion6, Overture5
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 259
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OP
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Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 259 |
No one's going to have a USB MIDI input. You do that directly to your PC or through a hub, not the interface. Interfaces with MIDI have DIN5 connectors.
iConnectivity uses an app for routing—some get it working; others do not.
Actually the Audio4+ has a "host" USB port that does allow me to use a controller that only supports MIDI via USB (a Yamaha P125 digital piano, which has the action and sound I like and is extremely light), so I'm able to move my laptop based studio from place to place pretty easily without needing a USB hub. I've found one other device so far that has a similar port - the Presonus AudioBox iTwo - but it's pretty old so I thought perhaps someone else might know of another device without my checking specs for the plethora of devices that are out there. (The Audio4+ also has standard MIDI in/out and two USB device ports for computer and/or iOS devices - so it's been fun to actually be able to route audio digitally between the PC and iPad. iConnectivity discontinued the Audio4+ six months or so ago, and I'm reluctant to try the replacement that just came out a few days ago- the Audio4C.) The only streaming app we've gotten my Audio4+ to work with is Zoom, but that appeared to be (months ago) because Zoom was expecting a mono input, and the web apps I mentioned - Facebook Live, YouTube, Streamyard - expect a stereo input. I have yet to hear high quality audio in a Zoom session, even with all of the audio optimization switches turned on. As you said, with iConnectivity devices, some people get them to work and some don't, and I've had one of their tech folks get stumped by it so far, so just deciding to cut my losses. So was just hoping to find some input on positive streaming experiences with various interfaces. I want to share the audio feed from my DAW (including mic and effects) and have the best quality possible.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,192
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Joined: Apr 2017
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The Audio4+ isn’t working for you and you’re asking abut current interfaces. Unfortunately, Windows and its multiple audio drivers are part of the problem. If I can find some better resources, I’ll post them. Core Audio on the MacOS does make this a whole lot easier.
I didn’t quite have the space for a P125 and bought a P121 instead. Incredible bang for the buck, IMO. My wife has her degree in piano performance and is as happy with it as I. Ok, not the Bösendorfer 200 in the living room but for the online choirs and bands I work with, more than up to the task. Hopefully, I’ll be able to record singers with the big piano later this year but, for now, the P121 is the online king.
BIAB 2023 Audiophile, 24/60 Core M2 Mac Studio Ultra/8TB/192GB Sonoma, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer 11, LogicPro
Finale27.4, Dorico5, Encore5, SmartScorePro64, Notion6, Overture5
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 259
Apprentice
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OP
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Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 259 |
The Yamaha P digital pianos are fantastic for the money - $500 street price for the P125. I had a Yamaha grand until we downsized a few years ago, but had been mostly playing my P115 for several years, so don't even miss the grand. And at 26 pounds it is much easier to lug around to most of my piano gigs, versus the 50+ pound controllers/synths I used previously. We've been heading to Florida some in the winter, so it's easy to pack that and a couple of other pieces of gear and have a remote studio set up in just a few minutes. I like it so much I got a spare one when I found a good price :-) And I rather like USB MIDI - a single cable for bidirectional MIDI (and the P125 can be an audio interface for output - no mic/line ins.)
I've spent 30+ years as a software engineer, including Windows game development, so I'm no stranger to the driver stacks. The streaming problem has stumped me and the iConnectivity support engineer so far, so just about time to move on.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Apr 2020
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And...my Audio4+ problem has been solved. With all the detailed routing options and discussions with tech support, no one had suggested swapping physical devices, since both device ports handle routing the same way and USB2 is the recommended computer port. But apparently Windows is only seeing the stereo audio out if it's coming from the USB1 device - so swapping where my PC and iPad were plugged into the interface has me working - and saving $300-400!
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 25,861
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It would be nice to have a directory of the specific expertise of some of the users here. Formidable.
BIAB 2024 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6.5 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors
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BTW - not all interfaces support streaming in the ways you might want them to. For example, my interface, a 1st generation Focusrite 18i8, does not have a virtual 'loopback' feature, so streaming to video services like Facebook, YouTube, etc. does NOT work without a physical hardware loop back, if you want to stream more than just a stereo 2 track output. With the 3rd generation of this particular interface, Focusrite built into the hardware and software controls to allow a virtual loop back and doesn't require you to do that through routing a physical hardware out to in (Focusrite recommends using the SPDIF out-->in for the hardware loop back). I kept thinking it was drivers and the particular instance of OBS I was trying to use to accomplish this. Nope, it IS the interface that doesn't allow for it. Here's Focusrite's article on the topic: https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/207546775-Does-the-Scarlett-range-have-loopback-Btw, Mike Halloran - are you the gentleman who used to be a radio DJ in the Detroit market back in the 80's/90's? If so, I have listened to your voice for hours in the past! Thanks for spinning the great tunes! -Scott
Last edited by rockstar_not; 04/26/21 05:54 PM.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,192
Expert
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Expert
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BTW - not all interfaces support streaming in the ways you might want them to.
For example, my interface, a 1st generation Focusrite 18i8, does not have a virtual 'loopback' feature, so streaming to video services like Facebook, YouTube, etc. does NOT work without a physical hardware loop back, if you want to stream more than just a stereo 2 track output. With the 3rd generation of this particular interface, Focusrite built into the hardware and software controls to allow a virtual loop back and doesn't require you to do that through routing a physical hardware out to in (Focusrite recommends using the SPDIF out-->in for the hardware loop back). Yep, that new chip almost everyone is using supports Loopback. All Win machines need drivers to enable it but a few interfaces enable Loopback in MacOS CoreAudio (those that don't Mac have drivers) — the Mackie PROFxv6 comes to mind. Btw, Mike Halloran - are you the gentleman who used to be a radio DJ in the Detroit market back in the 80's/90's? If so, I have listened to your voice for hours in the past! Thanks for spinning the great tunes!
-Scott Hey, Scott, if you said San Francisco Bay Area in the 1970s, I'd plead guilty but not Detroit. That's the Mike Halloran who's spinning drive time in San Diego last we spoke. Here's his FB page. Radio Halloran, San Diego DJ When he gets questions about Martin gut-stringed guitars, Vega Banjos or ASCAP Licensing, he knows those are for me. I'm planning a trip to San Diego when things open up. Grabbing a drink with him is on my list.
BIAB 2023 Audiophile, 24/60 Core M2 Mac Studio Ultra/8TB/192GB Sonoma, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer 11, LogicPro
Finale27.4, Dorico5, Encore5, SmartScorePro64, Notion6, Overture5
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