Home Page › Forums › Cymatic Audio Forum › uTrack 24 › UTRACK 24’s handling of simultaneous I/O
- This topic has 8 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 5 months ago by
Branko Zorman.
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- 18th April 2018 at 22:12 #29665
Branko Zorman
ParticipantHi
I’m looking at UTRACK 24 for installation at the gallery with where we will deal with two configurations:
setup 1:
– UTRACK 24 audio playback on up to 9 channels (at the moment)
– up to 8 audio Inputs from various sources (contact + condenser mics plus additional stereo player) – but without recording – just “pass through” and possibly merging those inputs with above mentioned playback mode on the same or different channelssetup 2:
– audio outs from computer (UTRACK 24 as an audio interface) running either Logic X Pro 10 or Cubase PRO 9
– up to 8 audio Inputs from various sources (contact + condenser mics plus additional stereo player) – but without recording – just “pass through” and possibly merging those inputs with above mentioned playback mode on the same or different channelsMy question concern is if UTRACK 24 can run these two or maybe ever all three tasks simultaneously adn can internal device mixer addresses my setup requests.
Kind regards
Brane20th April 2018 at 15:39 #29676Branko Zorman
ParticipantHi everyone,
Would really appreciate any reply on my request as I have to make decision on what to buy and how to configure my installation till mid of next week.
Thank you in advance.
Brane
PS I have send my questions to tech support but no reply after three days, that is why I am buzzing here.21st April 2018 at 18:47 #29684Marc Trainor
ParticipantI’m one of the members but I do have a couple of U-tracks. I’m being very careful what I say here, because the last thing I’d want to do is influence you in the wrong way, and have it be a problem for you, so this is just something to consider, but it might work.
It sounds pretty complex what your doing, but if I’m not mistaken a big part of this is you being able to play back 9 channels at the same time, which would be doable on the U-track. Of course you could mix the 9 channels on the Utrack and run them out stereo, but you could also, with the right snake, run them individually out of the corresponding DB25 output on the back. I’m not sure where or how your running them to, but the signals could be sent out. Now, since your wanting to run microphones and a stereo player and whatever else along with it, the big question seems to be: Can you run these units as a “pass thru” into the Utrack and play them simultaneously with the 9 playback channels. I’m not sure, if you can or not. I’d look at the manual and check it out, or your probably gong to have to wait till Cymatic replies to you. However, I’m thinking of another possibility. It’s my understanding that you can only run U-track as an interface or straight recorder or player, but not both at the same time. If that’s the case, what you might have to do is have a multi-channel mixer and run the 9 outputs from the U-track playback into the mixer as well as running all your mikes, stereo recorder, etc. into the mixer and then output those signals wherever you need to. That way you could control each signal or track and send them however you wanted to. I hope this helps, and good luck, because you said your on a time frame. Marc Trainor.
21st April 2018 at 22:15 #29686Branko Zorman
ParticipantDear Marc,
I really appreciate your kind and informative reply with some reservations I do understand.
I have also already learned that Utrack24 can work in Play, Record and USB (sound card) mode. I have read the manual, well maybe not in detail enough, but couldn’t find if the unit is capable to handle simultaneous I/O’s for one of mine scenarios.
If this is the case then I am also thinking about your suggestion to use mixer with at least 4 groups, where I will be able to mix and match all inputs (from Utrack playback, live mics and other sources) and then send out audio channels to 8 active speakers spread around in the gallery. This is for me the least ideal situation as some extra space will be needed and more cables will be involved, but it can be done bulletproof.
Since I do not know how the internal Utrack mixer works may I ask if it can internally route audio sources to particular audio outputs like?
That leads to another option – to use Utrack as an USB audio card where audio sources can be routed internally in Cubase or Logic (or any other DAW in that respect). But then computer needs to be on all the time looping sound installation files and passing through live mics sources.
Have to do some sketching and see what happens if i get two Utrack24.
Thank you again for your reply.
Brane22nd April 2018 at 20:23 #29688Marc Trainor
ParticipantOk, again, I’m doing my best to not give you any wrong information on any of this. I’m only going on what I know or what I think I know on how mixers work, etc. As far as I know, I don’t think you can route or mix channels to different output channels within the U-track. In my understanding, you either send each channel out through the 3 D-sub outs with the appropriate snakes with the appropriate ends on the snakes for whatever input your using, as in a mixer or whatever, or you can mix everything in the U-track to a stereo out. It sounds to me like your really needing or wanting to mix multiple outs from the U-track as well as other microphones, cd players, or whatever. Now, I know you can send individual channels from the U-track into your DAW and mix things there, but if your wanting to also plug in other mikes to the U-track inputs and send the playback as well as run the mikes through at the same time, I honestly don’t know. I don’t think you can, but I’d definitely get a solid answer from Cymatic on that. If you could do that, you wouldn’t need a mixer, except then you need to send everything from your DAW live out to those 8 speakers, if I’m not mistaken. Whewwww.. this is getting tricky, because I just don’t know if this would all work like I’m talking about, but I’m thinking it probably wouldn’t. Now, depending on what’s on those 9 or more channels your talking about, especially if it’s 9 different tracks with a mixture of things, the U-track would be great for that. You could look at some of the other recorders out there like the Zoom 8 track, but you’d probably only have 8 channels on that unless you bought 2 zoom R24’s and hooked them together, but then that would cost more than the U-track, so, so far the U-track looks pretty good to me for what your trying to do. If you need to run outputs to each active speaker, I think you’ll need 8 auxiliary outs or sub-mix outs, or possibly a combination of the two. You can pick up used analogue mixers at a pretty good price now on Ebay. I would think about going that route, so remember of course, you’ll need a mixer with enough outputs for all your speakers, and enough inputs to run your U-track outputs, plus your mikes, and any other stuff into. I hope that helps, but I would definitely get a second or 3rd opinion on all of this, so you can make an informed decision about it. Marc.
23rd April 2018 at 11:31 #29692Branko Zorman
ParticipantHi Marc,
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and doubts on various options for this installation.
According to you what you have wrote and what I am planning to do best option would be to use UTRACK24 as a USB DAW interface where I would get all sources in, mix and send them to whatever channel I want and route them to 8 speakers + 1 sub.
I am hoping of course that in USB mode all 24 Ins and 24 Outs are available at the same time – I assume they are.What I find really nice with UTRACK24 is the number of audio channels it can handle to either playback or record and that it can serve as multichannel audio card.
I will go with one unit first, check all possible scenarios and save some money for adding 4 sub groups analogue mixer or maybe a patchbay too. Since UTRACK24 is quite cheap I can afford to get more stuff even if space I have is limited.Hope Cymatic come around this post and answer my request on UTRACK 24’s handling of simultaneous I/O in USB and in standalone PLAY and RECORD mode.
Brane
23rd April 2018 at 12:34 #29693Chetan
ParticipantHi Brane,
You are correct about the fact that in USB interface mode all the 24 ins and outs are available at the same time. As you mentioned, the computer doing the looping would work with uTrack24.
The other limitations which will help you decide:
1. At any given time, the uTrack24 can either be used as a USB interface, or as a player or as a recorder.
2. Direct pass through from inputs to outputs is not possible.
3. There is only one mixer in the uTrack24.
a. When playing back, the mixer gives you a stereo mix of the various tracks within a song.
b. When recording, the mixer gives you a stereo mix of the inputs.Hope this clarifies some of the doubts.
23rd April 2018 at 12:34 #29694Chetan
ParticipantHi Brane,
You are correct about the fact that in USB interface mode all the 24 ins and outs are available at the same time. As you mentioned, the computer doing the looping would work with uTrack24.
The other limitations which will help you decide:
1. At any given time, the uTrack24 can either be used as a USB interface, or as a player or as a recorder.
2. Direct pass through from inputs to outputs is not possible.
3. There is only one mixer in the uTrack24.
a. When playing back, the mixer gives you a stereo mix of the various tracks within a song.
b. When recording, the mixer gives you a stereo mix of the inputs.Hope this clarifies some of the doubts.
23rd April 2018 at 14:26 #29695Branko Zorman
ParticipantTHANK YOU SO MUCH!
Yes! Your informative reply clarifies my thoughts on installing UTRACK24 in our sound gallery environment.
I am going to get one unit with corresponding cable I/O breakout adaptors. I am also happy to find your company and I hope I will use your product in following projects.
All Best,
Brane - AuthorPosts
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