How to Add Inputs to Your Audio Interface

Want to push your interface inputs to new limits but don‘t know where to start? Sweetwater‘s Mitch Gallagher explains how to do so using simple accessories. Boosting your number of inputs has many benefits — you can record using more microphones, record using more external gear, or even add external preamps that have more color and personality than standard all-purpose audio interface circuitry. Mitch walks you through how to accomplish all this and more with several product recommendations for getting started on expanding your rig. Check it out!

#Sweetwater #FocusRite #OctaPre

00:00 - Intro
01:46 - The Key: Digital I/O
02:26 - Connecting the Focusrite Clarett+ OctoPre
03:15 - Making It Work
04:29 - More Options for Inputs
05:34 - The Wrap Up

[one]

Also, if you are using a Mac, you can plug in multiple USB audio interfaces, create an aggregate device in Audio/Midi prefs and this aggregate device shows up as one main device in your DAW. One device becomes the master and the other slave in terms of clocking. I even did this recently with a really old Motu Firewire device and my Digitone... works great.

[kevinperry]

That's a lot of really good info! And a great video too, thanks for sharing 🤘

[Ibantar]

That Focusrite will probably be my choice, as I already have a panel from my control room to the tracking room with a total of 16 inputs. Thanks for this video!!!! EXTREMELY informative!

[sinewavekings]

That clarett plus is very slick! I was using the inputs of the evo16 and switched to the inputs of the clarett plus and it sounded so much better, especially with the air and. What’s really cool with the unit is the inserts and the split digital output via the dsub outputs that give you 8 channels out.

[DanielC__]

Audient ASP 800 worked for me when connected to my RME UCX II. Just an awesome combo.

[benjaminfrog]

Did I miss it? Don't you also need to configure which one uses the internal clock and which one uses the external clock?

[Spikeypup]

Nice to see you today Mitch! Great tips!

[iainmackenzieUK]

Outstandingly useful!
Thank you Mitch

[StopWars]

Thanks I needed this advice for my next interface and drum mics

[joeyshuster]

Ended up getting a saffire pro 40 to build off of my scarlett😭 Took some work but shes up now!

[ocellatus._]

I love this man. Thanks for the video y'all!

[mallninja]

Step 1: Have an interface that supports additional inputs.
Step 2: Add them 🤣

[joesalyers]

We need manufacture to make a 2 channel spdif mic preamp I can't tell you how many times I have needed to use those 2 extra inputs on an interface yet could not find a solution!!

[chamberfield]

I have the OctoPre, which is great, but be forewarned you can only use all 8 inputs when recording at 44k. At 48k you get 6 inputs, and at 96k you only get 4.

[J-DUB-F]

Early on I went this route when I had a Presonus digimax. It worked great for what it was, but then I started investing in lunchbox pres. Using the Digimax or any other optical out 8ch pre was not ideal at all. I would borrow an old Alesis Ai3 to get the extra 8 inputs. What is today's equivalent to the old Ai3, that doesn't cost $1000-3000 ?

[ShoebMortoza]

Thanks for the video. Question, if I expand X4 with Focusrite 8 channel are these 8 channels going to be available in the appllo console? or just I will find those in the input selection in the DAW? I will have to record from live concert, the engineer will provide me XLR inputs to my interface from his mixer, I have X4, but I need at least 12 inputs (xlrs). Thank you

[KingMoodaStudios]

I bought a Focusrite Scarlett Octopre from Sweetwater to expand my I/O for my drum studio (interface is Tascam Celesonic) and instantly got the sound I was looking for. There's a WIDE variety of preamp, interfaces, channel strips, etc but knowing they all do mostly the same thing helps when deciding major factors like cost. The Octopre was around $400-$450, but most of those others are at least $600 or more (not counting the behringer). Yes you get what you pay for. Just saying to maintain a certain perspective when shopping for gear. The right purchase will always be worth it.

[vocals]

That’s perfect for my Apollo x6 as I want to connect an external effect unit like a lexicon or something

[wilkopiano]

What is unclear many times is how you have to create a mix bus for 4 hardware stereo synths mixed down to one channel in a DaW. Arming separate channels doesn’t work well in ableton when live looping. Keeping a single stereo mix bus armed whilst live switching to record separate loop channel strips for vst instruments is a real faff in a live situation. Have to turn off exclusive arm but then push2 has this crazy 1.5 second delay when arming each track again in a live situation means you miss your queues to come in on the right beat because of the 1.5 second delay. Doesn’t happen when you exclusive arm. So I tend to use outboard mixer to mix down the hardware synths before entering the interface as just a stereo pair.

[KevboKev]

How does this differ from adding a patch bay? I assume because with a patch bay, you are still only limited to the number of inputs that your audio interface has? And by adding an OctoPre, for example, you are getting an additional 8 stereo inputs?