I can't see how they would do it on PC without some kind of unified audio standard. Every motherboard has a different chip on it, the driver bloat would be huge.

I just sold my Macbook but I've got a couple of video jobs and there is NO way to route multiple ASIO channels into a single video recording application.

It's the one area I found Mac to still be King, but not enough for me to keep a £2k Macbook laying around to do one single task every couple of weeks. My PC workaround works perfectly well and takes an extra 5 mins per job.

___________________
Soundcloud

But that's my point. Why the fuck hasn't microsoft, which has been doing this for 40 years, not been able to come up with a system, like apple did a decade ago, to allow unification of audio devices. Shit, call it unified asio. You can do the asio for all trick if you don't care about latency, but I don't know why windows as an OS haven't fixed this given that nearly all the big pro audio names lobbied M$ hard just prior to W10, and it seems M$ although met with them and talked a good game, failed to implement anything.

Aggregate +/ soundflower = godsend for multiple devices.

It must be the multiple chipset issue. They'd have to pour resources into continued updates as more chips are released and people whined about technical issues.

'Windows is about to update your audio drivers, downloading 1 of 612'

___________________
Soundcloud

Lol true, but the issue is that they've never got to the core (sorry) issue of why the OS doesn't have a unified way of dealing with the audio chipset, like mac does. The only reason you need drivers is they've never dealt with it on an OS level. So dumb, it;s just M$ palming it off on manufacturers.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN Lol true, but the issue is that they've never got to the core (sorry) issue of why the OS doesn't have a unified way of dealing with the audio chipset, like mac does. The only reason you need drivers is they've never dealt with it on an OS level. So dumb, it;s just M$ palming it off on manufacturers.

I would imagine there's a market for an agreed specification motherboard that audio professionals can use on the PC. If that happened, it would almost negate the advantage OSX has overnight.

Even if it was twice the price of a normal mobo, I'd be in.

___________________
Soundcloud

quote:

Originally posted by tehlord I would imagine there's a market for an agreed specification motherboard that audio professionals can use on the PC. If that happened, it would almost negate the advantage OSX has overnight. Even if it was twice the price of a normal mobo, I'd be in.

Completely agreed. I actually think they should develop something like an audio bus which doesn't involve any on board dac chips, purely just a dedicated data bus that has a set platform protocol which means any interface can use it, and then Windows isn't having to be all things to all people and audio standard would be unified etc.

It'll never happen though. M$ has never really given a shit about audio guys tbh - if gamers needed it (they don't) then it would already be in there.

quote:

Originally posted by Zak McKracken im really indecisive here. i want both the -08 and the -09 purely for Rebirth nostalgia but the usb/asio issue and no 6mm jacks kinda puts me off. thinking about the new elektron octatrack mk2 and just load 808/909 samples into it, however 3x the price lol

Aren't you on mac? The usb thing isn't an issue for you if so.

And as for the mini jacks, I really wouldn't stress; the original 808 was 1/4" jacks that were unbalanced so there's literally no difference between them and a 3.5mm in terms of sound.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN Completely agreed. I actually think they should develop something like an audio bus which doesn't involve any on board dac chips, purely just a dedicated data bus that has a set platform protocol which means any interface can use it, and then Windows isn't having to be all things to all people and audio standard would be unified etc. It'll never happen though. M$ has never really given a shit about audio guys tbh - if gamers needed it (they don't) then it would already be in there.

Given the vast market for game streaming these days, you might find that gamers can be convinced.

Right now they either use crappy onboard sound, or those that use an ASIO for voice are forced to use a 3rd party solution like Voicemeeter (which does the job excellently) to merge multiple ASIO audio streams into a format that streaming or capture software can handle (none of them will see ASIO properly). The downside to this is that you're left with a summed stereo signal, no separation of system and voice audio.

If these gamers could be sold the idea of a more 'pro' setup, it could also benefit us ratty old audio guys too.

quote:

Originally posted by Zak McKracken im really indecisive here. i want both the -08 and the -09 purely for Rebirth nostalgia but the usb/asio issue and no 6mm jacks kinda puts me off. thinking about the new elektron octatrack mk2 and just load 808/909 samples into it, however 3x the price lol

I actually think a basic sampler with multiple physical outputs would do very well. I don't understand what's so difficult about it. Something like a new electribe, but unshit.

___________________
Soundcloud

quote:

Originally posted by Zak McKracken my mac days was over in 2012 around when jobs died I believe, I had enough with it balanced or not is one thing but L/R combined in a small plug is another imo. connecting ipods/PCs (and minidisc!) using minijack to RCAs on stereos have been a weak link since beginning of time for me, they wear quick and crackles and shit. I guess I just need to try it to get a feeling of its robustness. Thinks tend to be plastic these days. Elektrons seems of still quality, Im very happy with the machinedrum. edit: lol at that video, saw it. so cool, no words.

Good points. Tbh, my macs are all 2012 or earlier which is why i probably have a decent opinion of them.

As for the combined 3.5mm output, I'm not too worried; that's not you main audio output to record - you have the USB which is 10 outputs without DAC so you're reslly just using the 3.5mm output for monitoring, and give then original was unbalanced, it's not a huge deal. Crackle yes, simple becuase they're smaller and more susceptible to dirt and have less surface area for connection but in terms of audio quality there's really no difference.

I have this made up as 3.5mm Jack to 2 x 1/4" jacks:

http://www.vdctrading.com/shop/van-...blue-per-metre/

Honestly there's no difference using it and separate jacks.

I'm not sure how robust it's going to be, it's an 808 with USB for $350. Buy another one if it breaks after a couple of years.