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If you're handy with a soldering iron, one of these can be built for a few bucks in parts - including enclosure and a pair of XLR jacks, you're looking at under 20 bucks in parts. I designed my own circuit which provides up to 36db of gain, though of course if you don't know how to design your own circuit there are a few schematics for "inline mic boosters" out there on the interwebs, often found in ribbon mic forums.
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If you're handy with a soldering iron, one of these can be built for a few bucks in parts - including enclosure and a pair of XLR jacks, you're looking at under 20 bucks in parts. I designed my own circuit which provides up to 36db of gain, though of course if you don't know how to design your own circuit there are a few schematics for "inline mic boosters" out there on the interwebs, often found in ribbon mic forums. Yep. Cheap and easy to build. I have a Cloudlifter CL-Z but it's no cleaner than a DIY. The M-Audio Air interfaces I use these days have a weird gain structure but there's enough to run any of my ribbon mics, even my Shure 315 (best upright bass mic ever), Shure SM7b or EV RE20 without a signal booster. The Air 192|14 has 4 mic pres, 2 DIs and 2 Line Inputs, each with its own out over USB making it 8x8 (not 8x4) + 2 headphone amps. Not bad for $330 but I've seen them for less. Fewer Ins/Outs cost less, of course. AIR 192|14
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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Simon.
hey care to share the diy schematic ? lol.
you useing jfets ?
best
oldmuso
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If you're handy with a soldering iron, one of these can be built for a few bucks in parts - including enclosure and a pair of XLR jacks, you're looking at under 20 bucks in parts. I designed my own circuit which provides up to 36db of gain, though of course if you don't know how to design your own circuit there are a few schematics for "inline mic boosters" out there on the interwebs, often found in ribbon mic forums. Yep. Cheap and easy to build. I have a Cloudlifter CL-Z but it's no cleaner than a DIY. The M-Audio Air interfaces I use these days have a weird gain structure but there's enough to run any of my ribbon mics, even my Shure 315 (best upright bass mic ever), Shure SM7b or EV RE20 without a signal booster. The Air 192|14 has 4 mic pres, 2 DIs and 2 Line Inputs, each with its own out over USB making it 8x8 (not 8x4) + 2 headphone amps. Not bad for $330 but I've seen them for less. Fewer Ins/Outs cost less, of course. AIR 192|14 Mike, Can that interface be output over USB to 8 separate tracks in your DAW? Regards, Bob
Last edited by 90 dB; 07/07/21 05:45 AM.
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Yep. Cheap and easy to build. I have a Cloudlifter CL-Z but it's no cleaner than a DIY. Choice of Jfet makes a big difference in how clean they are. Commonly available J112's are a little noisy, but a low noise LSK170 is great (for the price they'd better be lol). Simon.
hey care to share the diy schematic ? lol.
you useing jfets ?
best
oldmuso Can't share it yet, I've still got bugs to work out. I've built some with BJT's and some with Mosfets - Jfets are nice, but we don't need or want the high input impedance for most mics. I built one with a variable impedance from 50Ω to 50kΩ which can be helpful for some mics (SM7B and SM57 for sure).
I work here
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90db not mike , but i suggest the devils in the details re 8x8 and higher interfaces. as the supplier market is always changeing. as follows... 1. work out your needs ie..max no of traks playing back with max no of plug ins while also recording 8 new traks. can your pc rig handle the load ? 2. i urge you to rent first to gauge real in studio performance of any 8x8 interface you choose. cant beat hands on tests imho. 3. i would talk to suppliers who supply larger recording studios and are used to all the issues that might arise. eg one of many check... out the interfaces list at . (i got nuthin to do with them just see them mentioned lots on gearspace.) https://www.adkproaudio.com/pro-audio-studio-gear/audio-interfaces4. frankly if were me i would carefully look at RME as the industry rates their drivers and the company so highly. 5. i would think very carefully about my computer config. such issues as useing 2 ssd's. one for win and one to record to. as well as leaving the usb bus free of other devices.. this is the safe approach when useing a fancy usb interface. look for multi client also. in conclusion there are many considerations db includeing if pursuing high trak and plug in overall counts what impacts this will have on your pc resource needs eg processor. i would also do lots of research on gearspace.com and recording.org where lots of users of 8x8 and higher hang out also. i would also check out other than the normal vendors of interfaces audio mixers with usb interfaces. eg allan and heath and soundcraft etc etc. and see what they say. overall doing ones research is very important due to the products always changeing.\ if were me i would look carefully (if your pc is slow or old) a slamming hp z series refurbished or lenovo xeons workstation series around 600 bukkies slammed full of ram and ssd's. OR if your wealthy a custom built studio pc like the big boys have built that is turnkey with all installed ready to go with 8x8 interface. but probably a few grand. (check out scan.co.uk/purrfectaudio/silentpc/adk pro audio and many others listed on gearspace.) just trying to help//ymmv etc etc. oldmuso.
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 07/07/21 01:10 PM.
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90db not mike , but i suggest the devils in the details re 8x8 and higher interfaces. as the supplier market is always changeing. as follows... 1. work out your needs ie..max no of traks playing back with max no of plug ins while also recording 8 new traks. can your pc rig handle the load ? 2. i urge you to rent first to gauge real in studio performance of any 8x8 interface you choose. cant beat hands on tests imho. 3. i would talk to suppliers who supply larger recording studios and are used to all the issues that might arise. eg one of many check... out the interfaces list at . (i got nuthin to do with them just see them mentioned lots on gearspace.) https://www.adkproaudio.com/pro-audio-studio-gear/audio-interfaces4. frankly if were me i would carefully look at RME as the industry rates their drivers and the company so highly. 5. i would think very carefully about my computer config. such issues as useing 2 ssd's. one for win and one to record to. as well as leaving the usb bus free of other devices.. this is the safe approach when useing a fancy usb interface. look for multi client also. in conclusion there are many considerations db includeing if pursuing high trak and plug in overall counts what impacts this will have on your pc resource needs eg processor. i would also do lots of research on gearspace.com and recording.org where lots of users of 8x8 and higher hang out also. i would also check out other than the normal vendors of interfaces audio mixers with usb interfaces. eg allan and heath and soundcraft etc etc. and see what they say. overall doing ones research is very important due to the products always changeing.\ if were me i would look carefully (if your pc is slow or old) a slamming hp z series refurbished or lenovo xeons workstation series around 600 bukkies slammed full of ram and ssd's. OR if your wealthy a custom built studio pc like the big boys have built that is turnkey with all installed ready to go with 8x8 interface. but probably a few grand. (check out scan.co.uk/purrfectaudio/silentpc/adk pro audio and many others listed on gearspace.) just trying to help//ymmv etc etc. oldmuso. Jeez....... All I asked was: "Can that interface be output over USB to 8 separate tracks in your DAW?"And from that you assume I'm a novice in dire need of your sage advice. I'm not, and I didn't ask for advice, but thanks for playing.  Regards, Bob
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90db.
wow..apologies !!.
actually i didnt assume you were a novice.
i'm just aware that many different people with many different backgrounds and includeing some people who might be new to setting up a recording rig might be reading these threads as they are public forums.
eg a new user who might have joined today.
i only wish you the best.
oldmuso
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Mike,
Can that interface be output over USB to 8 separate tracks in your DAW?
Regards,
Bob Absolutely, yes. it does. If you are running mono inputs, you select from any one of the 8. I have no idea why M-Audio says 8x4. When I talked to Support, they didn't know it's really 8x8. 1–4 are your mic pres and Combi-Jacks. 5–6 are DIs. 7–8 are Line ins with no trim pots. Most of the new interface Line Ins are -16dBa — same here. Most keyboards will not drive these without a DI — but 1–6 have DIs so not an issue for most. If stereo tracks, there is no pan so 1, 3, 5, 7 are hard panned L while 2, 4, 6, 8 are panned R. This is not an issue with most DAWs since you will only use stereo tracks for stereo instruments. but i suggest the devils in the details re 8x8 and higher interfaces.
as the supplier market is always changeing.
as follows...
1. work out your needs ie..max no of traks playing back with max no of plug ins while also recording 8 new traks.
can your pc rig handle the load ?
2. i urge you to rent first to gauge real in studio performance of any 8x8 interface you choose.
cant beat hands on tests imho.… When you don't know something, why not just ask? There are 8x8 interfaces from Focusrite, Presonus, MOTU and M-Audio. They are all excellent. All use the same chip at the core. I've done tear-downs and field testing. I bought the AIR 192|14 because the mic pres do not need boosters and it was a bargain at $299, the cost at the time. I only need 8x8. I have other interfaces up to 40 x 32 but they're overkill for my current needs. The mic pres in M-Audio boxes have long had a reputation for being able to handle a Shure SM7, a notoriously low output dynamic. All the armchair experts knew this would be different—of course, none of them had actually plugged one in like I did. As I have pointed out in various reviews, the gain structure is weird—the pots don't come alive on dynamic and ribbon mics till you hit about 9.3 on the dial (and you're overdriving around 9.8) and the meters only have 4 segments.
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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"Absolutely, yes. it does."
Thanks.
Regards,
Bob
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I have no idea why M-Audio says 8x4. When I talked to Support, they didn't know it's really 8x8. Interfaces are classified by the amount of inputs vs outputs at the point where it interfaces to the computer. This interface has 8 separate audio streams into the computer and 4 separate audio streams out of the computer. In this particular interface 8x4 also means that the ADC has 8 inputs while the DAC has 4 outputs and that it has 8 physical inputs and 4 physical outputs, but this is not necessarily the case - my RME Fireface 800 is a 28x28 interface (28 separate audio streams input and 28 output), but only 10x10 of that is analog input/output while the other 18x18 is digital IO through ADAT or SPDIF. This means I have to connect more AD/DA converters to get the full 28x28 in analog IO (I'm currently using a MOTU 828mk3 connected via ADAT for an extra 8x8 analog I/O - 18x18 analog is good enough for me).
Last edited by Simon - PG Music; 07/08/21 06:21 AM.
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