What audio interface should I be buying?
February 16, 2024 11:10 PM Subscribe
What audio interface will work for both ProTools and DaVinci Resolve and run 7.1 or 7.1.2 speakers?
I'm trying to figure out what audio interface to buy for a computer that's a film finishing bay. I'm building out a new audio sound mixing suite that will also be used for color grading in DaVinci Resolve. The computer will be a Mac Studio. I want to be able to mix in at least 7.1 surround, possibly 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos. The audio interface needs to work in both ProTools and DaVinci Resolve (and possibly Premiere and Avid Media Composer.)
What suggestions do folks have for an interface that can drive 7.1 or 7.1.2 speakers, and work seamlessly in ProTools and Resolve? Bonus points for what speakers should I be buying? The room is just larger than the spec minimum for Atmos - around a 14' square.
I'm trying to figure out what audio interface to buy for a computer that's a film finishing bay. I'm building out a new audio sound mixing suite that will also be used for color grading in DaVinci Resolve. The computer will be a Mac Studio. I want to be able to mix in at least 7.1 surround, possibly 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos. The audio interface needs to work in both ProTools and DaVinci Resolve (and possibly Premiere and Avid Media Composer.)
What suggestions do folks have for an interface that can drive 7.1 or 7.1.2 speakers, and work seamlessly in ProTools and Resolve? Bonus points for what speakers should I be buying? The room is just larger than the spec minimum for Atmos - around a 14' square.
I have a MOTU UltraLite mk-5 that can do up to 16ch out I think, I've used it before for octaphonic projects. I just got DaVinci Resolve and I think they work together....
posted by daisystomper at 4:43 PM on February 17
posted by daisystomper at 4:43 PM on February 17
You need more than just a card with enough outs, if you're mixing Atmos you need trim and volume control on the card for the different outs, you need to be able to mute and solo individual speakers or groups of speakers, you probably need bass control for the subwoofer. If your Atmos speakers aren't equidistant, you'll need time delay on a per speaker level. It's complicated and you might need to spend thousands on a monitor controller in addition to the interface, depending on what you choose.
If I were buying something tomorrow to do this, I'd get the UA Apollo X16. The Audient Oria was just announced and looks like it will be a good all in one solution when it lands.
If you don't already know what speakers to buy and you're going to be mixing multichannel, get whatever Genelecs you can afford. Spend half your budget on L/R/S and half on everything else.
posted by Jairus at 5:49 AM on February 18
If I were buying something tomorrow to do this, I'd get the UA Apollo X16. The Audient Oria was just announced and looks like it will be a good all in one solution when it lands.
If you don't already know what speakers to buy and you're going to be mixing multichannel, get whatever Genelecs you can afford. Spend half your budget on L/R/S and half on everything else.
posted by Jairus at 5:49 AM on February 18
...or call Genelec and see if they can suggest an Atmos bundle that might use a smaller speaker for everything and be a bit cheaper.
posted by Jairus at 5:56 AM on February 18
posted by Jairus at 5:56 AM on February 18
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Over the past year they've been converting their studio to Atmos, and have also designed their own speakers. They have a ton of videos on the process, as well as specifics about what interfaces they're using. (they've just switched to an Audient Oria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTvU9RxjPYA&)
posted by jonathanhughes at 8:58 AM on February 17