What's the point in having a large number of outputs in a recording interface?

[DrewPeterson7]

short version - I have an older Apogee Ensemble that I've been very happy with, and in particular their customer support has been exceptional so I've become somewhat brand loyal. However, while it still works flawlessly with my Mac, my dad is about to upgrade from his PC to a Mac as well and I always told him that when he did I'd be happy to give him this Ensemble to replace the (also hand-me-down) M-Audio Profire2626 he's been using.

Then, I started pricing out options and got a bit of stickler shock. Symphonies got a lot more expensive than I remember them being!

But one of the things that struck me is that while the Symphony Studio line is a bit more reasonable, they prioritize outputs over inputs. They offer three models, 2x8, 8x8, and 8x16, and I'd been hoping that, as I've got six channels of really killer outboard preamps, anything I bought would support additional line ins above and beyond any integrated preamps so I could get up to atheoretical max of at least 16 inputs (note that I currently have no NEED for this many, but if I'm spending at least several grand I kind of wanted to future proof a little, in case I ever decided I wanted to track a live drummer or something).

But, it got me wondering, if you have 8 inout channels, what;s the point in having 16 outputs, rather than 8 or 16 additional line level inputs? IS this an in-demand feature for surroubd sound work, or because it's common to want to send line outputs to a stand-alone board to mix out of the box? I work almost entirely ITB once I've tracked, so I only really need a handful of outputs - my mains, a couple headphones, and at least one additional to feed a reamping box.

Just curious if I;m missing something here!

 

[rob aylestone]

reamping, individual phones mixes, clean feeds, ins and outs to old analogue outboard. different recorders - even web streaming. My 2 outputs is now regularly 6 now.

 

[TAE]

Guess it depends on what you're using the interface for, your goals and limitations.

For sure Apogee makes great stuff...too expensive for my blood but then again consumerism is subjective. One man's ceiling is another man's floor.

I have 3 different Behringer "interfaces" / Mixers The XR18 sits on a shelf waiting for when I might be tracking more than myself recording single tracks.
I use a Behringer 1202-2 USB for my main interface because it's just ne sending either solo tracks to the Daw to a live stream stereo track of me playing and singing

I recently purchased a Flow 8 that I am using for just for live performances.

Thinking of buying a 2nd flow 8 to use for the DAW and selling the 1202-2 USB and the xr18 ....simple stupid

The flow 8 is a beast of a toy for $200...I'd recommend it for having the most powerful mixer interface at this price point today.

The Behringer FLOW 8

1. Physical Analog Outputs (5 Total)​

• Main Out (2 XLR): These are balanced, gold-plated XLR jacks. This is your "Main Mix" usually going to your PA or studio monitors.
• Monitor Send (2 TRS): Two 1/4" balanced jacks. These are independent of the Main Mix, perfect for sending a specific "more me" mix to a floor wedge or a separate recording device.
• Phones (1 TRS): A high-output 1/4" stereo headphone jack with its own volume control.

2. Digital USB Outputs (The "Multitrack" Power)​

This is where the FLOW 8 beats almost any other small mixer. Most budget mixers only send the "Main Stereo Mix" to the computer. The FLOW 8 is a 10-out / 2-in or 10-out / 4-in interface depending on the mode:

• Recording Mode (10 Outputs to DAW): * Channels 1-8: Each physical input is sent to its own separate track in Logic Pro.
  • Channels 9-10: These send the Main Stereo Mix as a "safety" or reference track.
• Streaming Mode (2 Outputs to PC): This simplifies everything down to just the Main Stereo Mix, which is what you'd use for a Zoom call or a simple stereo livestream.

 

[DrewPeterson7]

reamping, individual phones mixes, clean feeds, ins and outs to old analogue outboard. different recorders - even web streaming. My 2 outputs is now regularly 6 now.

Yeah, I'm currently using the mains, plus a pair for a headphone amp for when I need more than the two front-panel headphone outputs, and a third for a Radial Reamp box. Feels like six, including the mains, would be a floor here, for me... but, why 8 in and 16 out? I don't get it, I'd much rather the reverse.

@TAE - I'm currently running an older Apogee Ensemble Thunderbolt, which still has driver support, but my dad's about to replace his recording computer and will need a new interface when he does. Their conversion is exceptional, and while these days I don't really use the preamps much any more, they WERE very clean, and at I think 72db had plenty of juice. That coupled with exceptional customer support, probably the best I've run into in the music/recording world, and I feel like they're worth the money.