Best way to run multiple external instruments through Maschine

Hi

So I have recently purchased a Komplete audio 6 interface so that I can run more than a single external device into maschine to play simultaneously. However I dont feel like I've really gained much. I now have an SH01A and TR8 going in via the 2 stereo ins on the KA, but also have a TB3 and a volca Keys that I have to keep swapping out and would really like to have them all playing in concurrently so I can really work on layering parts from different devices before recording them in.

The KA has the digital in, but not sure how I can really utilise that.

What is my best option to increase the number of instruments I can play simultaneously? A mixer? Could someone reccomend some specific solutions that wont break the bank?

 

Depends if you want to use what you've got (aside from some cables you might not have) or actually upgrade your I/O.

SH01A: While the audio output looks to be on a stereo mini-jack, dies it actually do anything stereo? If not, just use one KA6 input for that.
Same for the Volca.
And possibly the TB3 too.

As for the TR8, if you don't use panning on it, you could just use the mono output of that too.

Et voilà.

Or you could feed the TB3 and/or Volca through the SH01A to use just one input for two synths. Or similar with the TR8.

If you're on OS X, you could create an aggregate device from the KA6 and TR8 interfaces.

Buying a bigger interface (i.e., one with more analog inputs) is the obvious option (a mixer won't allow you to see and manipulate the external instruments separately in MASCHINE). On a budget, I can recommend the Behringer UMC1820. There are loads of options though, so you'll need to be more specific in your wants and desires for more recommendations.

 

Tha is for the advice. I am very new to production, so what I think I want and what I actually need might be very different, but I think I want to be able to have all 4 instruments jamming and then be able to assign them individually to groups as incoming audio in Maschine to be able to record them individually.

I hadnt really considered the stereo / mono thing, but would also like to be able to assign kick and snare out from TR8 to seperate channel and have the option to pan the other drums.

That's it really, 5 inputs total based on current gear set up, all routing to seperate Ins on Maschine.

 

So your options are...

 

Question whether you really need all your audio going into separate tracks. Or whether a small mixer and single stereo input would work. Bouncing down to audio doesnt have to happen all at once. In Maschine you are pretty much forced to do it one pattern at a time anyway. I bought an 8 input audio interface thinking it would make things much easier, but over time i found it suits my workflow to have a mixer and i only use single stereo input pair (that covers 2 synths, a guitar, and a mic). Multiple inputs are only necessary if you want to record multiple tracks all at the same time, so ask yourself whether that's actually essential for you.

 

Not only. Also necessary for the critical (for some) capacity to mix and apply effects to each external source separately without having to sample/resample first.

 

Sure. But not everyone needs that - i certainly don't. I guess my point was just that it's easy to think you need an interface with a bazillion inputs. And if you really do, that's fine - you just have to pay up for the more expensive hardware - but often it's not the case.