2 Channel Audio Interface

[Elwanda Menhennett]

Veryinteresting (had something similar in my mind that is missing on the market, telepathy?). Some sort of pro replacement for TC blender. Unfortunately no price tag yet. Seems to be a new company. The name will promise more ? I will keep my fingers crossed ?

From scanning the thread at sequencer.de: the developer has specifically the iPad / AUM in mind, therefore the mini jacks. Class compliant, no preamps. To keep costs down he plans to sandwich two circuit boards instead of a proper case. Will present at SuperBooth.

Hello, I'm pleased to see that my audio interface project is attracting a lot of interest. Yes, a first prototype should be ready for the SB 24. The PCB design is in the final stages and should go to the manufacturer next week. I expect to receive the first units in mid to late April and hope they work as expected.

For me, this is a project I initially started for myself as I was always looking for a lightweight and easily transportable interface to use at live gigs. My setup fits in a backpack so I can get to any downtown venue on public transportation, but the audio interface I usually use is pretty bulky. And all hardware mixers are way too big to be transported this way. Since I couldn't find anything on the market, the idea was born to develop such an interface myself to connect some hardware synthesizers and outboard effects and mix all analog and virtually generated signals together. Pre-listening independently of the main output was also very important to me. Together with an application like Audiobus or AUM (or even Loopy pro, Dramboo and all others that can control multiple audio IO streams) and a hardware controller, you can build your own modular audio mixing setup with exactly the controls and effects components you need. It is also called "modular" because it is designed to be expandable. By adding a third board between the two boards, you can expand the system to 32 input channels and 16 output channels. Also, different upper boards with different connectors and specifications are possible, e.g. for DC-coupled Eurorack signals or larger mono jack sockets. The design would also fit into a metal housing without having to redesign the circuit boards. But that's all still up in the air. I have decided to start with the simplest, but also - at least for my application - the most suitable version of the platform.

@Marf said:

Hello, I'm pleased to see that my audio interface project is attracting a lot of interest. Yes, a first prototype should be ready for the SB 24. The PCB design is in the final stages and should go to the manufacturer next week. I expect to receive the first units in mid to late April and hope they work as expected.

@RetroNewb I just tested running a modified firmware using 32 in and 16 out channels. Works flawlessly. There seems not to be a limitation on the current iOS (tested with the latest version on an iPad Air M1). But the maximum sample rate will drop to 48kHz as the USB 2.0 bandwidth isn't large enough for 96kHz

@Marf said:

@RetroNewb I just tested running a modified firmware using 32 in and 16 out channels. Works flawlessly. There seems not to be a limitation on the current iOS (tested with the latest version on an iPad Air M1). But the maximum sample rate will drop to 48kHz as the USB 2.0 bandwidth isn't large enough for 96kHz

Basically, the device (like any audio interface) always sends and receives audio data, even if nothing is connected. There is no difference between sending zeros and receiving background noise. The other aspect is whether the host system can handle the amount of data, e.g. record all 32 tracks simultaneously. In my case, I'm using an iPad Air with M1 processor (the main target for this device) and just tested recording all 32 channels in parallel with AUM and mixed them all together in one stereo sum. The stereo mix was also sent out to the 16 output channels in parallel. OK, the amount of recorded data is quite large, about 280MB per minute, but it works without any problems, the DSP is only utilized with about 5%.

Mark me down as interested! For my situation, I likely won't be able to justify paying more than $400 maximum. For my use case, I would not need 16 channels, 8 would be plenty. If you needed to price above $400, I would likely hold out for a more budget friendly 8 channel option.

The AI-Micro is an ultra-compact dual-channel interface for recording high-quality audio to a mobile device or computer. Featuring two auto-sensing inputs for connecting virtually any microphone with a 3.5mm output, headphone monitoring, a universal USB output for use with smartphones, tablets and computers, and compatibility with RDE apps for supercharged sound, the AI-Micro allows you to record without limits.

High-quality microphone preamps and high-resolution (24-bit/48kHz) recording ensure crystal-clear audio capture on any device, with a headphone output for echo-free audio monitoring and playback. Whether you're interviewing, podcasting, presenting, or livestreaming, record incredible audio anywhere with the AI-Micro.

The AI-Micro can connect seamlessly to all your devices via its universal USB output. It is supplied with USB-A, USB-C and Lightning cables, so you can get recording instantly, and is plug-and-play compatible with Mac, Windows, iOS and Android devices. Portable recording has never been easier.

Weighing less than 20 grams, the AI-Micro is extremely compact and lightweight. Just add two lavalier microphones and you have a complete, studio-quality recording setup that fits in your pocket. Perfect for interviewing in the field, on-the-go podcasting, and making video calls or livestreaming at home.

The AI-Micro User Guide explains everything you need to know about using your AI-Micro. This comprehensive guide covers everything from getting started through to updating device firmware and how to access expanded features and functionality with the RDE app suite, including RDE Connect, RDE Reporter and RDE Central.

The AI-Micro can be used with iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, and Mac and Windows computers, as long as the device has a USB-A, USB-C or Lightning connector. OS requirements: macOS Big Sur and higher, Windows 10 (Build 19041) and higher, iOS 14 and higher, Android 9.0 and higher.

You can plug virtually any microphone that has a 3.5mm output into the AI-Micro. This includes RDE VideoMics, lavaliers, wireless systems like the Wireless GO, and stereo microphones that do not require plug-in power. The AI-Micro's microphone inputs are TRS/TRRS auto-sensing, meaning they automatically detect whether a TRS or TRRS microphone is connected and adapt to accommodate either connection type.

While similar in design and concept to the SC6-L, the AI-Micro has a few key updates that make it far more versatile, including a universal USB output for use with Android smartphones and tablets (and iOS devices with a Lightning port like the SC6-L), as well as computers. It has also enhanced inputs for use with a wider range of microphones and is compatible with the RDE app suite for accessing advanced features, on-the-go configuration, and broadcast-quality recording on any device.

We recommend using the included cables to connect the AI-Micro to your device. If you require a longer cable, there is a selection of different cable types available from the RDE accessory range. To connect the AI-Micro to an iOS device with a Lightning port, you need either the included SC21 cable, or the RDE SC15 or SC19.

The input gain for each of the AI-Micro's microphone channels can be adjusted in RDE Connect, RDE Central and RDE Reporter. You can also adjust the input gain using the level control in third-party audio or video apps if they have this feature. If you are using an app without a level control and would like to adjust the input gain, use RDE Central, as any changes made to the levels in RDE Connect or RDE Reporter will not be retained when using another app.

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