Searching for an audio Interface - an update from 50 years ago

[RetroStereo]

Fifty years ago I had a mic preamp mixer (long gone) that met my needs perfectly. It had as follows:
- 4 mic preamps (2 of which could be switched for instruments, although, I never did) w/ level controls
- 2 line level inputs w/ level controls
- pan potentiometers to assign each of the 6 input proportionally to 2 output channels
- a pair of line outputs w/ level controls to my recorder (stereo L&R)
- a pair of outputs w/ level controls to an amp for monitors (stereo L&R)
- a headphone output w/ level a control
- a single pair of VU meters that could be switched to any of the I/O channels independently (not ideal, but it worked)
I do not remember the brand and it may or may not have had a few other features I never used.
I seem to remember that it cost me something close to $500 (back in the mid-'70's, which was a fair amount of change).

I'm searching for an audio interface with similar functionality but with the addition of a computer connection such that I can record digitally AT THE SAME TIME as I record to my open reel recorder. I'm essentially overwhelmed with all the various audio interfaces and totally at a loss as to how to translate their features and specs into what I'm looking for.

I understand the basic concept of a DAW, but never having seen or used one in person, I don't see how that helps me feed signal (that I want to REMAIN completely analog) into my recorder. In other words, I want a completely analog signal path (with flexibility) to the recorder and a digital path to the computer.

Does such a beast exist? Or is my best choice chasing down a current analog mixing box and adding an ADC to one of its outputs? Or, most likely, is my senile brain missing something entirely?

 

[soundtrane]

today you will need something like the Sound Devices 888...

 

[nerdstrike]

Seems to me that most contemporary kit with this many inputs is doing digital mixing, so you'd lose your analogue passthrough. I think you might be right about having to provide your own ADC on an analogue mixer, but it might not be a new one!

 

[soundtrane]

Seems to me that most contemporary kit with this many inputs is doing digital mixing, so you'd lose your analogue passthrough. I think you might be right about having to provide your own ADC on an analogue mixer, but it might not be a new one!

you're absolutely right about this. Analogue Mixers are still possible from Sonosax... and of course they do have high end recorders with excellent converters...

 

[RetroStereo]

So, it looks like I'm not out of my mind. If an audio interface has digital output, it won't have analog throughput. And my initial search for the few and far between new totally analog interfaces similar to the one I had stolen 50 years ago indicates stratospheric prices. If I pursue this, I may be cobbling together more ancient audio history.

 

[RetroStereo]

Does anyone have experience with the Allen & Heath ZED 10 analog mixer?

It's offered in a variety of versions: plain (analog only? + 16/96K USB out?), "ZEDi" (with a 4x4 24/96k ADC) and "ZEDi FX" with built-in digital effects, reverb, etc. There's also an option for faders rather than knobs. I'd be interested in the plain analog only version. Plus, it seems quite inexpensive. I'll probably contact Sweetwater sometime this coming week.

 

[Sjkrabbe]

there is a lot of analog mixers with digital USB output.
One amongs many:

Mackie ProFX12v3

12-Channel Mixer 7 Microphone inputs with 3-band EQ, 4 Inserts and 4 single-knob compressors, Channels 5-10 feature microphone inputs and stereo line inputs, 1x 3.5 mm stereo jack line input, 2x 4 USB interface, Built-in GigFX effects device with...

www.thomann.dk

Look at the schematic - isn´t it what you need?

 

[john61ct]

audio interface with similar functionality but with the addition of a computer connection such that I can record digitally AT THE SAME TIME as I record to my open reel recorder.

First you are describing a mixer.

Most of those are indeed analog only.

An interface is what goes into and out of a computer, usually USB these days.

Some mixers like the ZEDi series are hybrid, and include an interface.

Allen & Heath do have a good rep, for the price

 

[LTig]

Have a look to the Zoom Livetrak series mixers - full digital with single track recording capability. I use the L20. An L6 or L8 might be sufficient for the OPs needs.

 

[RetroStereo]

First you are describing a mixer.

Most of those are indeed analog only.

An interface is what goes into and out of a computer, usually USB these days.

Some mixers like the ZEDi series are hybrid, and include an interface.

Allen & Heath do have a good rep, for the price

Thank you. I called Allen & Heath this morning. Both the non-i 10 and the 60-10FX have a straight through audio path (with the FX features bypassed). The other difference is knobs vs faders. This seems very similar to what I had back in the '70's, so I think I'll spring for the version with the faders.

 

[Sjkrabbe]

Have a look to the Zoom Livetrak series mixers - full digital with single track recording capability. I use the L20. An L6 or L8 might be sufficient for the OPs needs.

but these are digital mixers and thus no analog signal-through. But I´ll give you - they are very good mixers. I have both the L-20 and the L-6Max (and also the podtrak 8) - using them for the different kinds of jobs they are each good at