DAW - External Pre's/Audio Interface Routing

[EtherealEntity]

There's many ways. RME Multiface II would be a good idea, that gives 8 ins on TRS without preamps.
You could also do a digital interface if your preamps have digital out but I know nothing about that.
Though you didn't mention if you're planning to use PT or PTHD. HD is quite different.
In any DAW it will simply detect the interface and offer each input in a dropdown menu for each track.

[EtherealEntity]

Worth mentioning, there's nothing wrong with buying an interface with preamps even if you don't need them, providing it works out cheaper/gives you what you want. Most interfaces use combo jacks which have XLR on the outside for mic and jack in the middle for Line.

[Sir Chris]

I think it depends on your budget.

On the cheap I would say look at a Focusrite 2i2 = $150 retail, or PreSonus Firestudio Mobile = $250 retail. Both have 2 XLR/TRS inputs with pre's in front. Firestudio however has another 6 Line In TRS inputs in the back where you could hook up your 2 external pre's. Firestudio hooks up via Firewire cable in Comp. Focusrite hooks up via USB 2.0

On the high end like $1,000 + you may want to look at an Apogee Ensemble (Mac only I believe) or RME Fireface 800, or even the 400 which is 2 XLR/TRS inputs with pre's in front and TRS 6 inputs in back.

[Sir Chris]

Also there's plenty of Tutorials on Youtube that explain how you would assign each track to each individual input on your interface. I'm on Cubase so idk how to off the top of my head. It's not hard though, I know that for sure.

[Frackadelic]

Excellent stuff, thank you guys! I will be just using PT (not HD), so still curious how it works with the audio interface. Do you have to select the make/model of the interface within PT so it knows how to route the inputs?


EDIT-I'm sure I will be living on youtube when I actually get all this crap

[EtherealEntity]

Make sure you get PT10 then, only 9 and 10 can use any interface.
You just have to go to setup and choose the interfaces Driver instead of the built in soundcard Driver, then all your inputs will show up

I would avoid Presonus from personal experience and many reviews. RME Multiface II would be great if you can afford it (and the separate RME PCIe card that slots inside your computer). That would be about £1300 for the lot including Protools.

Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 would be a cheaper option, which uses Firewire. You'll also have 8 inputs then, so you could run yours into 5 6 7 8 lines and have 1 2 3 4 Saffire preamps free (which includes 2 instrument inputs)

[Frackadelic]

Awesome - thank you!!

[Syncamorea]

The most trivial interface I've used in terms of setting up I/O, is the Steinberg 816. Basically, the extensions files that are installed along with the device drivers, give you a multitrack template. You can also add tracks easily by adding a new track to your DAW project, highlighting it with the mouse, then touching the channel assignment button on the interface - then the track is assigned - presto!

Be forewarned that the GS null crowd will turn their nose up at you for owning such a non-transparent converter.

If you have the budget and are on a Mac, take a look at the UA Apollo. It has 4 mic pres plus 4 line ins (8 channels of D/A). It also has 10 digital ins - 8 from ADAT, two SPDIF. The console app has nice I/O setup features. Windows drivers are supposedly due any day now.