An interface with memory for settings?

[eyvindwa]

I record bass guitar as well as other instruments at home from time to time, for various semi-professional projects. Often I do something on a given project, and then come back to it some months or more later, in order to fix, change or add something. These days I use my Presonus Studio 68c interface, and it works well, BUT: when I record, I adjust the input using the physical knobs on the interface, and this changes from project to project, and instrument to instrument, obviously. I find it hard to remember, and get back to, the exact same settings that I had when I come back to the project later.

Is there a not overly expensive interface out there that can store presets with such settings on the interface itself? If so, I would love to get some recommendations.

 

[silky smoove]

Many of us that do this professionally just take pictures of settings and save them with the session files.

 

[eyvindwa]

Many of us that do this professionally just take pictures of settings and save them with the session files.

True, I have been doing that, but the knobs at least on my interface are continuous, without any notches and without any markings, so it is hard to get back exactly where I was anyway.

 

[tom-g]

UA interfaces can do that, at least the Apollos (they are unfortunately more expensive). I don‘t think the Volt interfaces can.

 

[claudel]

RME Babyface allows saving settings, along with much other awesomeness, but probably fails the "not overly expensive" part.

 

[Krisfield]

I have the RME UCX II which comes with Totalmix FX which is a DSP based mixer. You can save your TotalMix FX Mixing Sessions with the Snapshots and Workspaces function. Snapshots allows you to store the current mixer settings for recall. With Workspaces you can save all settings as a complete backup, like routing modes, Snapshots or Fader groups. RME make incredible interfaces and converters. Packed with lots of features.

 

[claudel]

I have the RME UCX II which comes with Totalmix FX which is a DSP based mixer. You can save your TotalMix FX Mixing Sessions with the Snapshots and Workspaces function. Snapshots allows you to store the current mixer settings for recall. With Workspaces you can save all settings as a complete backup, like routing modes, Snapshots or Fader groups. RME make incredible interfaces and converters. Packed with lots of features.

I had to kiss a few frogs before I found my Babyface princess...

 

[silky smoove]

Does your current interface have an ADAT input? If so you could buy a preamp that has stepped pots and an ADAT output.

 

[Krisfield]

It took me a while to get to RME. The UCX II will be the last interface I’ll be buying.

I had to kiss a few frogs before I found my Babyface princess...

 

[silky smoove]

Also keep in mind that even if you sort this out on the interface, you still have to record the settings of your bass, recreate the age of the strings on the bass, and the settings of any outboard gear used in the chain, not to mention your playing technique which can change noticeably from day to day.

 

[FunkHead]

Boss GT10000-CORE

 

[basss]

I have a Behringer Flow 8 incoming. I believe it can save settings in the app. It's on deep discount now too.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

Behringer XR18, can save presets, scenes, whatever you want and load it up. Pretty sure the smaller ones do it too, I only have experience with the 18, been using it for years.

 

[Flippy]

just get the signal to a usable level and record. You can adjust the volume afterwards

 

[Ritter667]

just get the signal to a usable level and record. You can adjust the volume afterwards

This!

Match the volume of the different takes in your DAW, after you finished recording.

And also such a thing as feel can be difficult to get exact right from one session to another, so have a listen first to the takes of your older ones for whatever track you are working on and adjust your playing accordingly.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

The Soundcraft Ui24R lets you store an infinite number of presets. These are good for both what you might put through the PA as well as recording to an inserted USB stick and/or a DAW attached via USB connection. If you're doing this for multiple instruments, it's handy to plug each instrument/voice into its own unique port. Simple to change presets for the whole band on a song-by-song basis if that's required. Software is a built in webserver accessed via WiFi and a standard web browser.

 

[brianrost]

What DAW are you using? Logic has a feature that is supported by some interfaces (not mine, sadly) called Audio Device Conrols. Unfortunately the user guide does not define what a “compatible audio device” might be.

As you can see it can control quite a bit if your interface supports it. Then when you save a project, all of these settings are retained. I have no idea if other DAWs have this feature.

 

[silky smoove]

What DAW are you using? Logic has a feature that is supported by some interfaces (not mine, sadly) called Audio Device Conrols. Unfortunately the user guide does not define what a “compatible audio device” might be.

View attachment 7035282

As you can see it can control quite a bit if your interface supports it. Then when you save a project, all of these settings are retained. I have no idea if other DAWs have this feature.

They were implementing this back when I was using Apogee products. The integration never quite worked as well as promised, at least with the Apogee products at the time. I was hoping it would work as it would simplify workflows, but alas it just didn’t. The dual path plugins didn’t work either. It all seemed like good ideas that hadn’t fully matured. That was around 2018, so hopefully they’ve worked out all the kinks.