Interface question

[p12bassnut]

Here’s what I need to do and looking for an interface solution:

Play Bass as an input
Play an MP3 as an input
(Together at same time)
Mix these two (as separate tracks)
and output to a DAW on an iPad or Mac
Be able to monitor this mix with either headphones or separate amp.

Will the focusrite unit handle this or would something else be better ?

Thanks

 

[Supadope]

I think this is one of the best new audio interfaces out there right now (just looking at the specs). 10 in, 2 out of your computer + Bluetooth. Nice mixing options. And relatively cheap.

Behringer FLOW 8 8-input Digital Mixer with Bluetooth | Sweetwater

 

[bholder]

Here’s what I need to do and looking for an interface solution:

Play Bass as an input
Play an MP3 as an input
(Together at same time)
Mix these two (as separate tracks)
and output to a DAW on an iPad or Mac
Be able to monitor this mix with either headphones or separate amp.

Will the focusrite unit handle this or would something else be better ?

Thanks

Which Focusrite box are you thinking of? Most of them, all but the most basic, will do everything you need.

 

[p12bassnut]

Well was looking at either the Scarlett Solo or the 2i2

 

[DirtDog]

Here’s what I need to do and looking for an interface solution:

Play Bass as an input
Play an MP3 as an input
(Together at same time)
Mix these two (as separate tracks)
and output to a DAW on an iPad or Mac
Be able to monitor this mix with either headphones or separate amp.

Will the focusrite unit handle this or would something else be better ?

Thanks

Are you intending to play the mp3 on your computer or on another device?

 

[bholder]

Well was looking at either the Scarlett Solo or the 2i2

I don't think the Solo will get you 2 channels, but the 2i2 will.

 

[smeet]

Either the solo or the 2i2 will do bass and a mono MP3 at the same time. The solo has 2 channels, 1 has a mic pre and the other doesn’t, so you need an adaptor for one channel. Or you could record the stereo MP3 first, then record your bass while playing back the MP3 tracks you just recorded. That’s what I recommend.

If you want to record a stereo MP3 and bass at the same time you’ll need 3 channels. So you’d need a 4 channel interface /there are no3 channel models).

 

[p12bassnut]

Are you intending to play the mp3 on your computer or on another device?

Probably from either iphone or ipad.

 

[p12bassnut]

Or you could record the stereo MP3 first, then record your bass while playing back the MP3 tracks you just recorded. That’s what I recommend.

I'm leaning toward doing this method.
A) would allow me to use the 2i2
B) Have separate tracks / 1 for mp3 and 1 for Bass.

smeet, why do you recommend this method ?

 

[Aloe]

Play an MP3 as an input

you don't need to play it as input. you just drag the MP3 to your DAW and it creates a track for it.
your DAW will play your MP3 while you're recording bass on a separate track.

 

[BAG]

you don't need to play it as input. you just drag the MP3 to your DAW and it creates a track for it.
your DAW will play your MP3 while you're recording bass on a separate track.

Exactly what I was thinking. If you're playing along with an mp3 it'll be easier to have it as a track in your DAW anyway.

 

[WarwickE36]

Yes but the way to do the MP3 is with your DAW not as an input into the focusrite

 

[DirtDog]

Probably from either iphone or ipad.

So, you'll need an interface with minimum two inputs and two outputs. The Focusrite 2i2 will do that for you. You'll also need an adapter to get you to 1/4" input on the Focusrite unit.

But like @Aloe says, you're probably better off importing the mp3 as a track in your DAW. When you're recording, etc. you only have one control to worry about instead of two. That's what I do.

Either way, you have one track for your bass, one track for your mp3.

 

[Alik]

If you choose a Focusrite unit, stay away from 1st generation stuff. Much better sound in 2nd, 3rd generation, imho.

 

[Alik]

If you choose a Focusrite unit, stay away from 1st generation stuff. Much better sound in 2nd, 3rd generation, imho.

 

[p12bassnut]

Great info ! Thank you
I broke out my older iRig pro to see if I could work with it.
Using Reaper (on iMac desktop computer) I can drag and drop an mp3 (as suggested) and then start a new track with my bass using the iRig as an interface. It’s working quite well right now.
It works with my iPad pro as well. I use Multitrack DAW by Harmonicdog and can import an audio file as a track.
I guess I’ll just use this iRig for now until I discover I need a better solution.

 

[smeet]

I'm leaning toward doing this method.
A) would allow me to use the 2i2
B) Have separate tracks / 1 for mp3 and 1 for Bass.

smeet, why do you recommend this method ?

It would be for the reasons you give. But as others have pointed out, there’s no reason to re-record the MP3 file, just put it in the DAW. I missed that one.

 

[BAG]

Great info ! Thank you
I broke out my older iRig pro to see if I could work with it.
Using Reaper (on iMac desktop computer) I can drag and drop an mp3 (as suggested) and then start a new track with my bass using the iRig as an interface. It’s working quite well right now.
It works with my iPad pro as well. I use Multitrack DAW by Harmonicdog and can import an audio file as a track.
I guess I’ll just use this iRig for now until I discover I need a better solution.

Good result.... you got things working and didn't need to spend any extra money. I don't own any i-things so I don't have a clue as to how good the monitoring will be with the iRig. If it's not good enough then any of the Focusrite interfaces will take you to the next level of recording.

 

[brianrost]

Some interfaces now have "loopback" channels that podcasters find useful. My MOTU M2 has this, 2 normal audio inputs, but two loopback channels for running your mp3s on the computer from any media player application out to the interface which loops it back in to the DAW. That way you don't need extra inputs just to record mp3s along with your bass.

 

[Matty Koff]

Probably from either iphone or ipad.

Bro you can load an Mp3 file as a track directly into your project within a DAW and listen it through your interface, which should have adequate speaker and headphone outs.. if there's an interface lacking such basic I/O it deserves to fail.

on a mac or PC it's drag and drop. Can't speak for tablet daws.

For external sources, you just need appropriate cables and to make sure you have the inputs you need.