I need an audio interface with at least 8 inputs (drum machines and synths). The plan is to jam live in to ableton and use Ableton as a recorder and for fx. I’m on Mac. Budget is currently less than 500 euros. Suggestions? I currently have an NI audio 6 and a motu M4 - both work well but are lacking the inputs.
This is exactly how I came up with the idea of buying a used RME Fireface 802 over a brand new RME FF UCX 2. In my head this unit makes more sense for the price ( I can buy it for half the price of the ucx2)
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I’m in the market for a new interface, as I’m in the familiar situation of owning a Focusrite Sapphire pro 40 and the drivers are not available on silicon macs, which I’ll be moving to imminently.
I’ve considered quite a few that have been discussed here already, Scarlett, Audient etc. But I think I’ve decided to just stump up the cash, and go down the RME route. I love their long term support.
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Within that price range, I think there’s not much besides the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 and the Audient Evo 16. Did a bit of research on the topic for my brother recently, who is not into music production, but is streaming on Twitch and wanted something with a few more inputs. If space is not an issue, you could also consider the Soundcraft Signature 12 MTK mixer.
Edit: As you own a Motu M4 (which I also own and love): If I were in your situation, I’d maybe consider stretching the budget a bit and going for an Ultralite Mk5 given how much I personally like the M4.
I wonder if anyone could help me with a quick question. I currently use a small headphone USB dac/amp with a line out on the back for my monitors. I have a Peace and EQ APO profile for my headphones, which I toggle on or off on my PC depending on which I am using.
I am looking at buying a MOTU M4. I haven’t had a separate audio interface before, and I am struggling with the manual trying to understand whether the headphone output is an addressable output from within Live distinct from the other outputs, and whether I could use a parametric EQ in Live to only affect the master out of Live to the headphone out, leaving the monitors uncoloured.
Any assistance or pointers to relevant reading material would be much appreciated.
I just had a squiz at the manual, and it looks like for the M4 the headphones output only mirrors the main 1&2 monitor outputs.
So you might be able to have your monitors connected to the 3&4 outputs instead and route your output in Live to that, and have your EQ on 1&2.
But tbh I’m not 100% sure that will work how you’re wanting.
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Thanks, that gives me somewhere to start.
Why not having eq on your main/master in live when working with headphones, and switch eq off when switching to monitors?
I use sonarworks on my main when working with headphones, when switching to monitors i just bypass plugin when on monitors, since they have another sonarworks eq tuning.
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True, that would work just as well really, I was just wondering if there was a set and forget solution that wouldn’t lead to me inevitably working on my monitors with EQ active by accident at some point.
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Yeah, it can happen. But that’s fine, as long as you remember to bypass it when exporting a file 
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I ended up ordering one of these on sale.
I think what clinched it in the end was the full version of Studio One it comes with. I’ve never been that keen to spend money on a DAW other than a Reaper licence, but I’ve had a long urge to give S1 a proper go. I remember gelling with it when it first came out - was the very first version free or something maybe?
Anyway, as much as I like the ethos of Reaper, it always felt like a chore getting things done. After having another look at S1 the GUI tonme looks inviting and seems like it works closer to how I think.
But yeah, once you factor in the price of S1 Pro 7 on its own, the HD2 essentially gives me the io and form factor I want at half the price of say the Audient id24.