The modern DAW is a very flexible and powerful recording tool, but sometimes not the most stable. In this article, we are going to investigate and demonstrate some of the latest audio interface hardware that not only integrates with a DAW but can also record directly to a multitrack format without the use of a Windows or Mac computer.
Old School Multitrack Recording Hardware
The first recording studio I ever worked in, well, hung around in, was based around two Akai DR-16 5u hardware recorders. We thought we were the “real deal” as we could record 16 channels simultaneously. Yes, we had 32 channels of playback but the DR-16 only had 8 A-D converters. The DR-16 solution was great and it never failed us. However, I went off to university and was introduced to Digidesign’s Sound Designer, which later became a Session 8 machine and then Pro Tools. From that point on hardware was dead to me. With powerful non-linear editing and a built-in mixer, the DAW had taken a bite into my creativity and no dedicated recording hardware with its tape-like work-flow could win me back. That is until now.
Rack Mounted Audio Interfaces
In this article, we are going to looking at two 1U rack-mounted audio interfaces that also offer multitrack recording directly to an internal or detachable storage medium.
The Lynx Aurora (N) has a tiny slot in the front panel under the Phones 1 socket for a micro SD card. The Aurora (N) has a maximum of 32 channels of I/O so the system allows you to record up to 32 channels of audio at up to 192kHz to a micro SD card.
The Aurora (N) unit we have on test is fitted with 24 channels of analogue line-level I/O over D-Sub and 4 built-in mic pres. It’s connectivity to the computer is over Avid’s Mini DigiLink format to a Pro Tools HDX card so we will be recording to both the internal card and Pro Tools Ultimate at the same time.
The second unit we have on test is the RME Fireface UFX+, which features a USB-A port in the front, which you can connect a USB hard drive or high specification USB key or thumb drive. The UFX+ can be configured for recording directly from the front panel however, I found it much easier when hooked up to a PC or Mac using theRME Totalmix software as shown below.
Personally I find the minimal button and encoder approach that RME take to be a little confusing. This is not just the UFX+ we have here but in all their hardware. It’s solid, looks great and sound amazing, but it can be tricky to navigate.
The Aurora (N) on the other hand is much more tactile. The main green and red transport buttons, though not in the normal configuration are simple to use and hard to miss when you are in a hurry in the dark.
Recording Media
Neither RME or Lynx specify any particular brand, type or specification of SD card or USB stick in their manual. However, good practice would advise you not to use one of the cheaper non-branded SD cards or sticks. We have always had good results with the SanDisk Ultra range of SD and Micro SD cards. The theory here is that if the data rate is high enough for 4K video is should be more than fine for 24 channels of 192k audio. SanDisk’s Cruzer range of USB keys are also a go-to but any well-known branded USB stick should be fine. Just remember to have enough free space for the data you are going to be recording. No point in having a back-up plan if that back-plan is also going to fail.
What To Do With The Recorded Media
Recording 16, 24 or 32 streams for lack of a better term, and keeping them in perfect sync is actually quite challenging so what many devices do is save their media as a multi-wav. This means if you were to just disconnect your media from the recorder and plug it into your computer and take a peek you are going to get a shock when you only see a single file for each time you have pressed record. And yes, this is enough to make you panic more than a little bit wondering where has all that lovely audio gone? Fear not, as there is a very good reason why interfaces do this and it all comes down to a law in the creation of .wav files that they can not be any bigger than 2Gb.
Depending on the device that created the multi-wav you might need a special piece of software to convert these poly-wavs into 16, 24 or 32 single mono wav files, however, some DAW applications, such as Pro Tools can do this for you. RME offer you a free download of their Multichannel WAV File Batch Processor software just in case your DAW does not handle your multi-wavs correctly.
Audio Examples
In the audio examples below, we set both the Lynx Aurora (N) and the RME Fireface UFX+ to a sample rate of 48K. Sadly we are not able to record to both units at the same time, however, what you will hear are two 12 channel drum recordings. The first is recorded through the units primary computer connectivity format. In the case of the RME this is Thunderbolt and with the Lynx it is Pro Tools HDX. The second recording you will hear will be the direct recording format (USB Key or micro SD card) and the third will be a sum and difference (null test) of the two recordings. As stated before, each device has had to be recorded separately but the computer recording and the internal recording are from the same take.
Both recordings will use the 4 inbuilt microphone preamps of the respective units along with 8 channels of input from my Audient ASP 880, which will be connected via the D-Sub output to the analogue inputs of the 2 units. We are using the ASP 880 as neither the RME or the Lynx have enough mic pres built in to record an entire drum kit.
The audio examples will be played back totally naked with no processing what so ever, so you may need to turn them up a little. Do also remember to listen on your studio monitors or high-quality headphones to really get the best from this test.
RME Fireface UFX+
Lynx Aurora (N)
We have included the Null Test audio files so you can hear for yourself that the internally recorded audio and the Pro Tools (DAW) audio are exactly the same. This is what we hoped and expected would be the case but it is good to know that the internal option is not some tacked-on last-minute addition to the audio stream. It is also interesting to know that neither the HDX or Thunderbolt connectivity changes the audio in any way. The 1s and 0s that come out of the converters are the same 1s and 0s that get captured which ever system you are using, DAW or internal recorder. It does not matter if you are using HDX, Thunderbolt or USB. We hope you will also agree that the recordings from both the units sound excellent. These are both high-end recording platforms with a very handy party trick that could really get you out of trouble the next time your DAW crashes… Not that this would ever happen on a high-pressure session!
Other Options For Redundancy When Recording
There is nothing worse than finding an issue with the session you have recorded or that you have a drive error and that your precious recordings have gone. We have all been there and it’s not a nice thing to have to go through. Units like the RME Fireface UFX+ and the Lynx Aurora N are designed first and foremost to be used alongside a Mac or PC running a DAW. However, there are other options.
Dedicated Hardware Recorders
So what can you do if you don’t have an interface with the ability to record to an internal drive or SD card? A dedicated hardware recorder like the Tascam DA-6400 is a great addition to your rig. It can act like a tape machine or be controlled alongside you’re DAW. The model we reviewed back in September 2018 is the DA-6400dp with added Dante ports. This allows you to tap into the Dante audio network and record exactly what you with no signal loss. It’s like splitting the audio signal without actually splitting the audio signal.
Analogue & Digital Mixers
It’s not just audio interfaces that can play the self-recording game. I have been using the Mackie DL32R iPad controlled digital mixer for over 4 years for live shows with my band and recorded many of them to a hard drive connected to the USB drive port on the back. The DL32R can also act as an audio interface and be connected to a Mac or PC running a DAW but it is just as happy recording all 32 inputs to an attached storage device.
I recently reviewed the new Tascam Model 24 which is, to all intents and purposes a 24 channel analogue mixer but it has an SD Card slot built-in with 24 channel recording functionality. Yet again a device that can perform multiple takes with ease. This is a great sounding front of house desk for small to medium-sized bands that allows you to record the show and mix it later, either played out through the Model 24, for what has now become known as the “Virtual Soundcheck” or take the card and dump the audio into your DAW.
If you want the full shot of live mixer and studio interface integration you need to check out the Presonus StudioLive range of consoles, all of which allow you to multitrack record either to an attached computer running a DAW or to an internal SD card which can be slotted in the back of the desk. These units are now on their third revision and it’s safe to safe they are rock solid, stable and sound great. You can also check out the video produced by Presonus about using the StudioLive64S to track a band in real-time at Strongroom Studios, London.
it is also worth noting that while the hardware mixer approach is very flexible and offers a great deal of easy to reach features they are normally limited to recording at sample rates of 44.1kHz or 48kHz.
Not Just A Studio Music Thing
The more we dig into standalone recorders the more we have found and it turns out that those of us in a music recording environment are a little late to the party. The Field Recorder as it is known has been around for quite some time. These tend to be limited to 8 channels but their quality is excellent and they can often record not only to 192kHz but also up to super high-resolution 384kHz. Some great examples of this include the Sound Devices 888 Scorpion and the Nagra VI which are both stunning units but more than a little on the costly side to say the very least. For a more real-world affordable unit take a look at the Tascam HS-P82 or the Zoom F8, which Mike has reviewed.
In this article, we have taken a look at two very neat solutions for recording simultaneously recording to your DAW and to an internal disk or stick of some type. We have also taken a look at some of the other options you have if you want to create a redundant recording option in your studio or live recording environment. This article is not meant to be an exhaustive list, rather a look at 2 different units and exploration of other products that offer internal recording.
What hardware do you use for internal recording, as well as, or instead of using a DAW? Do share your experiences in the comments section below.