Tascam US-16x08 – USB Audio/MIDI Interface (16 in/8 out)

Product Information

we've put together a comprehensive guide to help you choose from the best 8 channel audio interfaces on the market, to find the optimum solution for your studio. The I/O section is placed in the rear with two combo XLR/TRS inputs for the XMAX preamps, Main L/R outs, Headphone Out, Power Button, and USB connection. The MIDI connection is great, just like it would be on more high-end interfaces, zero hassle to set it up and get it going. With solid conversion at this price point, we really have no complaints about it. What we really liked about the interface was the inclusion of the on-board DSP. The real benefit is to let the unit run self standing with minimal latency, you can add a few effects while you record as well. We adjusted channels on the DAW side and had a latency free solid output. While Tascam doesn’t really route the DSP like some other budget interfaces (e.g. Audiobox w/ VSL through the monitor) it is still a value added addition.

This is a top-of-the-line interface for any studio, bar none. Top-tier AD/DA, excellent preamps, and more inputs and outputs than many have used are some of the reasons why. When choosing a 16 channel audio interface, you want to consider the number of Inputs vs. Outputs, as well as how many of them you want to be XLR and whether they have to be DC coupled or not. You also want to ensure that the preamps and converters on your interface are of good quality and that the manufacturer has a good reputation for drivers. There are also additional options such as onboard DSPs and Bluetooth ability that add more functionality, should you need it. The XLR inputs, which include pre-amps, are designed to receive signals from microphones. Yet, some audio interfaces create a combo channel by combining the line level and mic level channels. There were some problems with the drivers in the past, with reports of crashing, high CPU usage, and audio interruption. These problems have been reported less frequently since the new Version 4.00 of Settings Panel for Windows was released. The Crystal microphone preamps need a bit of help on the gain front, but despite this deliver the goods with low noise.The front panel of the mixer is relatively simpler. It features 12 Line/Mic Inputs and a Push button on top of each input. Right next to these inputs is a headphone output and a mute all button right above is used for muting the input channels. Finally, we have the knob for volume control as well as LED indicators for Play, Record, Control, and Power. While we’re hands-down in love with this interface, we did encounter a slight issue with the smart-gain feature. The gain basically just glitched out as we were testing it. However, it could’ve easily been a coincidence or a random happening. The interface loses settings when powered off. So our settings were getting reset, but then we went into the EVO app and it showed in realtime all the changes we were making. That’s where we stored the mixer settings and once the preferences were set up the interface would power on and the saved settings would remain! This is a bit of a process, but it’s good to know that there is a workaround. Secondly, there are no MIDI ports. But that’s not a problem either if you have USB MIDI controllers

The Fireface is a top of the line interface with professional quality, loads of features and is capable of up to 94 simultaneous channels. But it’s expensive. Still, with all these improvements, I would like to have them give this interface more gain in the headphone amp to drive my higher-impedance headphones a bit louder. XLR inputs are usually accompanied by a preamp to handle microphones. Combo XLR/TRS inputs usually have preamps embedded, so they are mic-ready. Some units have versatile line level and instrument level switching for specific ports. Line level vs instrument level is an important distinction that some musicians know little about.The XR18 has 16 flexible analog inputs and preamps built in to the device, and serves as a mixer as well as an interface, but the quality is middle of the road. If your interface has multiple ADAT connections, you may need multiple AD/DA converters to utilize all the channels available on that interface. When 16 Channels Are Useful Nothing quite captures the true spirit of a band better than everyone playing together. With plenty of inputs, outputs and options for recording even complex lineups, the UR816C lets you capture this unique magic. High-end D-PRE microphone preamps will capture your vocals and acoustic instruments in stunning detail, while Hi-Z, line, digital and MIDI inputs, as well as DSP effects, ensure every instrument makes an impact. With latency-free monitoring, robust build quality and seamless compatibility with Macintosh/Windows computers and iOS devices, the UR816C is a band’s best friend. Behringer X32 digital mixer/audio interface.This digital console upset the market when it was first announced a couple of years ago, particularly because of the number of features on offer for the price. Although it's intended mainly for live use, its Midas-designed preamps should make it easily capable of producing quality studio recordings, while its built-in effects and motorised faders also help to make it suitable for mixing. Preamps have tons of SNR and dynamic range. This makes them great for gain staging and with negligible noise.

The ADAT ports let you expand the total number of inputs and outputs by 16 (20 x in, 24 x out, hence 44) but part of us wishes there was more onboard analogue I/O. Still, at least there’s the provision for sizable expansion.

HDSPe AIO Pro

A 16 channel interface is not common in most home studios. Most offerings on the market range from 2 to 6 channels, and some 8 channels. The options really narrow down for anything higher, but there are still offerings that are better than using alternate options such as ADAT. Outputs: 2 x XLR, 8 x 1/4", 1 x XLR (AES/EBU), 2 x Optical Toslink (ADAT, S/MUX, S/PDIF - ADAT2), 1 x BNC (MADI), 1 x SC Duplex connector (MADI) Choosing between a 4-input or 8-channel audio interface can be a perplexing task, often accompanied by features overlapping or excluding each other from various models. The Audient EVO 16 is a 16-channel (24-in/24-out) USB 2.0 (USB-C) audio interface with a maximum bit depth of 24 bits and a sample rate up to 96 kHz. The interface has a USB 2.0 connection and is designed to be compatible with all major DAWs. The unit comes with EVO’s extensive bundled professional software and services as well as a manufacturer’s warranty of three years.

The Behringer Xenyx X1222USB premium is a professional audio interface that offers the same high quality of sound that you will get from professional recording studios. This audio interface utilizes the latest techniques for connecting to a computer via USB. There are 16-channel sound cards that can be connected to your computer. Most professional recording studios use this particular type of interface when they are using multiple input channels and more than two outputs. If you find yourself recording entire groups together, or recording live performances, its not too farfetched to think you might need 16 channels ( or more). It's similar in appearance and function to the 18i20, but the big difference is all under the hood. The eight Clarett+ mic preamps boast huge amounts of headroom and an ultra-low noise floor. The magic Air feature is also available on these, adding in a model of the transformer-based ISA mic preamp to add an extra sheen to your recordings. As with the Scarlett, it appears this function is only accessible via the software controller.Like every flagship product we’ve introduced, Symphony I/O Mk II benefits from on-going expertise that constitutes the Apogee Engineering Advantage, once again pushing forward the state-of-the-art. The 16A is no different. With a self-noise level of -110dB THD+N and a dynamic range of 123dB (A-weighted, 20Hz-20kHz), the 16A’s 16-channel analogue I/O provides some of the cleanest audio available, and an extra 16 channels of digital I/O through ADAT optical ports brings your total channel count to 32 x 32. MOTU supplied the 16A ultra-fast Thunderbolt connectivity (in addition to USB 2.0) to go with this remarkable array of high-quality I/O, so you get epically low system latency as well. With 4 mic preamps, 4 line inputs, S/PDIF, MIDI I/O, and an ADAT In, it carries the potential to provide 18 total inputs when you connect an 8 channel preamp like the Focusrite Scarlett Octopre (or the cheaper Behringer ADA8200) into the 18i8. Clarett+ has improved independent A-D and D-A converters, slightly better noise figures throughout, and improved dynamic range. The mic inputs are silky smooth and have plenty of headroom, and the outputs are crystal clear and suitably noise-free. If you want to add some life to your input, the Air option does just that. Also excellent are the two JFET instrument inputs, substantially better than a regular instrument input. All units in the range have received physical and technical upgrades, with improved preamps (now up to 56dB gain), balanced connectivity throughout, and the inclusion of Focusrite’s ISA transformer preamp emulation option (Air). On the bus-powered Scarlett 4i4, you get two mic/line/instrument inputs with gain, two line-level TRS inputs, and four TRS outputs.