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Aggregate devices on Mac, who does?

My new setup will be based around 2 machines, PC for the main/software DAW and the Macbook will take care of the hardware setup.

I want to be able to use the Fireface 400 for midi (as it's the tightest midi I've ever used outside a hardware sequencer) but also fancy the idea of using a ZEDR16 or Midas F16-32 for all the hardware as well.

Do any of you guys use aggregate devices on your Mac setups, and does it work successfully? I'd love to be able to use a multi channel desk and the Fireface at the same time.

No I just want to use more than one audio interface on the Mac.

You can't do it on PC but you can with iOS

So for example I use the Fireface 400 as an interface, I use a FW capable mixing desk as another interface and I use the TR8 (which also has to be used as an interface to get multi channel audio over USB) at the same time.

That's different because they use the same driver, Windows saw them as one device. Windows will not see several different ASIO drivers though.

You can apparently do a workaround using ASIO4all, but you know. No.

i do.

easy to do, i found it kinda buggy.

However, mac should allow you to use audio from one and midi from another. So you don't really need to use that function

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney easy to do, i found it kinda buggy. However, mac should allow you to use audio from one and midi from another. So you don't really need to use that function

I'd still want to use the FF400 inputs as well anyway, plus that dumbass AIRA audio over USB.

I've heard it works better in Yosamite, but I'm still using Mavericks because it works just fine for me.

pretty sure it has been more buggy since leapard. You could use the Fireface in standalone mode and just route the audio to the mixer using the adat out. in fact you can still run totalmix from mac so scrap the standalone mod.

I use an apogee symphony for my 2 mac towers, 2 UCX which are hooked up to a pc and an imac, and then the pc has an pciex lightpipe with 32+ stereo in out.

I've got no idea why these things aren't easier.

Those new MOTU's might be an option with the remote interfaces sending multi channel over ethernet.

Aggregating devices works, but it comes at a small performance cost to create a virtual sync.

Aggregate devices work fine in OSX. Not sure what the issue is. I needed a couple more outputs on one project (just for reference, not audio crucial) so I added the built in audio on my imac to Audfiofire. Took all of 10 seconds to create the aggregate audio device and all was well with the world.

The only thing where it gets fucking is when the devices have markedly different performance and you should really make sure the buffers are all the same.

Let me know if you need a step by step Geoff?

its buggy meaning it fucks up enough to make it just not worth the time. Try using 2 devices instead of the built in one. Things just don't work well enough for me to consider it an option.

clock issues. added latency and clicks and pops.

So you could print tracks out on your daw that had been routed out a USB interface, and mixed with a desk interface? is that the goal like a proper hands on mixing solution? just trying to see why

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN Aggregate devices work fine in OSX. Not sure what the issue is. I needed a couple more outputs on one project (just for reference, not audio crucial) so I added the built in audio on my imac to Audfiofire. Took all of 10 seconds to create the aggregate audio device and all was well with the world. The only thing where it gets fucking is when the devices have markedly different performance and you should really make sure the buffers are all the same. Let me know if you need a step by step Geoff?

Actually that's a good call on the buffer settings, I hadn't thought of that. Do you set each device individually? I suppose you'd have to as it's driver dependent.

quote:

Originally posted by Kthought So you could print tracks out on your daw that had been routed out a USB interface, and mixed with a desk interface? is that the goal like a proper hands on mixing solution? just trying to see why

Two main reasons really. First of all it allows me to have multiple inputs without the need for a patch bay, secondly I can do mixdowns on the mixer as you stated.

Also the stupid AIRA products from Roland (mainly the TR8) require you to select it as an interface to send multiple channels of audio over USB meaning that on a PC you have to remove your main audio interface and can't run them both at the same time, resulting in you not being able to monitor the audio you're recording!

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney its buggy meaning it fucks up enough to make it just not worth the time. Try using 2 devices instead of the built in one. Things just don't work well enough for me to consider it an option. clock issues. added latency and clicks and pops.

Sure, but you're probably trying to use an Ensemble with a Synth's built in soundcard or soemthing like that.

Essentially the aggregate device system is intercepting the routing digitally and passing it through a universal diver in OSX to comp the I/O together.

Certain devices don't play well together. You;re basically fucked if you try to use any of the Digidesign/Avid interfaces with another brand as an aggregate device (digi's boxes always had shitty clocking anyway).

However, if the devices support core audio, then they should work OK. The problem comes when you're trying to use really high end interfaces such as Apogee or Metric halo, with much cheaper interfaces.

I do however know several people who used multiple instances of high end interfaces and got perfect results (for instance 4 metric halo interfaces).

One thing to try is to use core audio for all the interfaces involved. Sure it's going to be a step down from the manufacturer's driver but at least you shouldn't get the clicks and drop outs.

There's also the discussion of the resample option when using core audio but let's not get in to that now (unless someone needs to?).

i still don't see why he can't use the USB aira as the main audio, then route that to fireface in standalone. Using the midi of the fireface and Both audio. I don't really see why you have to use an added layer of abstraction.

i suspect he'll get a unique processing signature going this route?

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