Surround /mixing and monitoring audio interface

Dear forum,
I am searching for an audio interface to use with MBP or G5 for mixing and monitoring of four to 6 outputs channels into PMC active speakers. I am using a Lavry DA 11 DAC for stereo monitoring. I do not require an interface with inputs for recording music as all my recording is done away from my macs, it just the outputs i need to monitor audio I have loaded to computer via CF card. All the interfaces I see have loads of inputs I don't require. Is there an interface available without inputs?
Or I am looking at the wrong sort of device?
regards
David

dr mishadog wrote:
Dear forum,
I am searching for an audio interface to use with MBP or G5 for mixing and monitoring of four to 6 outputs channels into PMC active speakers. I am using a Lavry DA 11 DAC for stereo monitoring. I do not require an interface with inputs for recording music as all my recording is done away from my macs, it just the outputs i need to monitor audio I have loaded to computer via CF card. All the interfaces I see have loads of inputs I don't require. Is there an interface available without inputs?
Or I am looking at the wrong sort of device?
regards
David
You need an interface that has 8 outputs. Most of these include 8 or more inputs as well. The inputs will not be a problem when mixing, you can ignore them.
I have yet to see an interface that is only outputs.
Cheers

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Also please have some sympathy for the Apple programmers.
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Hi
Is there a list of supported audio interfaces that work with GB 09?
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Strange that Logic sees it but not GB.
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I just bought MBP C2D, hi everyone Scratch Live users!
Anyway, I tested for 3 days and no USB dropout was found. I just noticed a little freezing on the virtual decks, when I change the songs (the audio was still running).
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I know there are tons of question out there who are quite similar to mine, but yet none of 'em seem to be able to solve my question.
The main question I'm asking is: what's the difference between a mixer (either w/ or w/o built in audio interface) and an external audio interface?
But the answers to this exact question weren't sufficient because I ran into a practical problem, wich is as follows:
A friend of mine uses his Behringer XenyX 802 mixer as a way to input the signals his mic's send into GarageBand/Logic (kind of DAW is irrelevant). Now i've been wanting to set up my own little home studio myself and basically every tutorial/video out there says: "in order to record multiple instruments into your Mac, you need an audio interface." Now I don't get exactly why, because i've seen someone do it with a mixer. I assume that the mixer in question has a built in audio interface (since it has, amongst other features, phantom power), so it's not neccesary to have an audio interface, or is it?
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Thanks

Cyclone13 wrote:
Thank you for your response, it helped quite a lot. Just to make sure if I understand correctly:
You can only record 2 instruments simultaneously at max using a mixer (on their own track, because I have seen it done before), but you would be able to record, say, 6 mic's at the same time if you had the proper interface (an interface with at least 6 inputs and outputs that is). Now the M-Audio has only two inputs I believe, and therefor I take it has a stereo output as well, so the maximum simultaneous recording for the fast track is 2, just as that of the Behringer?
Regarding the Mixer... The Behringer you posted is just a standard Mixer, it doesn't have USB output, in which case you have to use the Mac's audio system (the Line-Input) and run a cable from the Mixer's main or monitor outs into the Mac's Line input. Computers use inexpensive audio chips that do not provide the greatest sound.
I thought you were talking about this Behringer:
http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-Xenyx-Q802USB-Audio-Mixer/dp/B008O517IC
It is a mixer and an audio interface rolled intro one.
The M-Audio is a true separate Audio Interface that provides it's own Inputs and Outputs, (Like the USB Behringer).
Regardless, all three, the Behringer stand alone mixer that uses the mac's audio, The Behringer with the built-in stereo USB audio interface and the M-Audio with USB interface are all stereo units. The USB audio interface will only show two inputs and a stereo out. The most you can record separately on either is 2 instruments.
Here is one step up:
http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/audio-express
The MOTU unit has 4 analog inputs as well as a stereo digital input.
The next step is an interface like this with 8 Mic inputs. It would show up in Logic as 4 stereo pairs or 8 individual inputs. You could use 4 mics on a set of drums, 1 for guitar, bass direct, stereo input for keys and record everyone playing at the same time on 8 separate audio tracks giving you full control (in Logic) of the final mix. http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/8pre

Surround /mixing and monitoring audio interface

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