OT: why so many outputs and so few inputs?

Never understood why most audio interfaces come loaded with analog outputs and only a few inputs.

As synthesists, what do you do with all the extra outputs in your interface? Wouldn't you rather have as many inputs as possible for your synths and only 2 outputs [monitors] when recording? In what way is a mixing board more flexible than direct synths-->interface connections?

I would appreciate it if you come shed some light:)

looks like you need one of these:

Awesome piece of equipment, Unfed:love:

But even that one: why does it have all those outputs? What do recordists use more than 2 outputs for?

Thanks:)

I use mine to route stuff through external equipment. Others probably use them for multiple monitors and stuff, or mix in surround.

Thanks Carl,

Could you elaborate a little more on that? What external equipment and for what purpose exactly?

So I have outputs 1 and 2 running to my monitors. Then I have outputs 3&4 which I route as a stereo send to my Evolver's audio input. Then I route output 5 as a mono send through my Sherman Filterbank or different guitar pedals. Does that make sense? I have more outputs but don't really have any more external gear for them yet

this is a subject that has annoyed the ever-loving {censored} out of me since as long as i can remember.

typical bedroom musician scenario:

dude has a bunch of synths, samplers, guitars etc

he wants them all connected to his DAW at once so that he can record any one of them, at any time, DIRECT, so that he can make music.

dude can't because his sound card has 24 outs and a single stereo pair in.

this = suck.

i can't tell you how many times i've seen people with multiple $80 Behringer mixers all chained together to accommodate their gear, using an effects send to record out to their 2 input $1000 sound card. "oop, i need to record another track. lemme crank down those sends and pray for no signal bleed." that, or they spend half their day plugging and unplugging that same stereo pair into and out of all the {censored} in the room. lame.

most hobbyists (bulk of the DAW user base) are not interested in mixing in hardware. they couldn't give a {censored}. they want to make use of all the fun automation and effects in their DAW. they want to be able to plug in all their staple gear, leave it plugged in, and mix in the box.

lol Gus, what choice do you have when you only record synths?

Hmmm, so all those outputs are mostly used for live performance purposes. I was referring to recording in the studio.

Thanks for the explanation.

So I have outputs 1 and 2 running to my monitors. Then I have outputs 3&4 which I route as a stereo send to my Evolver's audio input. Then I route output 5 as a mono send through my Sherman Filterbank or different guitar pedals. Does that make sense? I have more outputs but don't really have any more external gear for them yet

Thanks Carl,

But don't those used outputs have to eventually go back to some inputs to be recorded? [assuming you record your music]

Man, I'm glad you posted that, tjwett. I no longer feel alone in the boat of confusion. Like you, I always wanted to go DIRECT. Used a Behringer mixer in the past and my recordings no only sucked [mixer = noise addition], everything became so much more complicated that I stopped composing out of frustration:cry:

I also never found an interface that would accomodate my 4 synths for my budget. They all had tons of outputs and a pair of inputs at the most. Again, it's recording that I do, no live shows.

I'm on Long Guyland. We should meet up one day and figure out how to build our own audio interface, lol:facepalm:

*scratches head* What about those of us who play live and want to send channels out to a mixer for control?

oh i'm on the island too! anyway yeah, if i'm gonna fork out money for an interface with great A/D and preamps then i wanna go direct dammit! people have all the EQ and effects they need in the software. hardware mixer has it's place, for jamming and live work. but for composition in the modern home studio it's a hindrance and another source of unwanted hiss. my 2 pence.

believe it or not, this thing is actually friggin awesome from a design, features and conceptual standpoint. it doesn't sound too gross either. ya got yer hands-on mixer, audio interface (18 concurrent INS, all to the computer at once), MIDI control, DAW control and a metric {censored}load of inputs all rolled into one. i know someone with it and every time i see it i want one. they were just blowing them out at MusciansFriend for way less than half price too. must be an update coming at NAMM? the pre's are obviously the weak spot here and i probably wouldn't use it for recording samples that are destined to be for sale, but for composition and everyday use it's pretty sweet.

True, NewSc2. But the same thing applies to those of us who don't play live and want to send their synths direct to DAW for recording:)

well totally for live as i said. but the OP was talking as a synthesist for recording.

Exactly my point:thu:

The only time I HAD to use a hardware mixer was when I had this as "audio interface" lol

I think that's why you have a Mackie mixer mate.

Yes sorry I wasn't clear, I have an interface with 8 ins and 8 outs

I really don't know what all these 2 in / 10 out interfaces are all about

I guess they don't care as much about the keyboard-only project studio. Multiple outputs allows for separate monitoring; for instance, your basic four output interface would allow you to easily separate the control room mix from the mix fed to the headphones of the vocalist.

I guess the assumption is that most project studios will have a mixer. It would be nice to see more inputs, but in a lot of studios these inputs would have to be the XLR type with gain trimpots and phantom power -- obviously more expensive than a simple line out. Sad that nobody makes a keyboard-only interface with all line ins...

Even in my project studio, I do actually use my outputs -- two for an external FX loop, two for headphone monitoring for vocals, and the digital out for the main monitor. I partially mix using the interface (8 ins, its a Fireface) but a lot of the items go into a submixer.

There are mixers out there that send the master output over USB or Firewire -- perhaps something like this is what you want?

When I read the title of this thread, I thought it was going to be about women.

You guys should probably shoot for a mixer/soundcard combo unit. There's a few out there.

I can think of at least one output that's bi-directional.

I see your point... Audio interfaces comparable to musical gang-bangs.

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