Can the Ren exist with another audio interface?

Questions have been asked whether the MPC Ren and its built in USB audio interface can safely co-exist on the same computer. A common belief is that two audio devices can't work on the same system.

I would like to dispel this myth. I have successfully been able to use a Firewire audio interface with a USB audio interface on the same computer. In doing so, I can record directly from one software program that utilized the USB interface into another software program that utilized the Firewire interface. I accomplished this fete on a Mac Mini as follows:

1. Connect both the Firewire and USB audio interfaces to a Mac Mini
2. Connect the USB interface's outputs to the Firewire interface's inputs
3. Open two pro audio software programs such as a software synth and DAW
4. Select the USB interface as the audio device for the software synth
5. Select the Firewire interface as the audio device of the DAW
6. Set the DAW to start recording
7. Play the software synth

Results - the DAW perfectly captures the audio from the software synth. A useful application of this set-up is to capture the sonic characteristics of your audio device such as the Ren's Vintage Mode.

When I mixed outside the box, I used a similar method using one audio interface and my 02R. I used to send all my DAW's tracks to multiple channels of my external mixer. I adjusted the levels and applied effects/dynamics from my mixer. I routed all my mixer channels to a stereo buss. I used this stereo buss to route audio back into my DAW. This allowed me to play multi-tracks of my DAW and at the same time, record a stereo mix down within the same DAW. This allowed me to capture the sound of my mixer.

You should be able to use this technique with the Ren/Studio, Maschine, Spark, or your favorite hybrid hardware/software system.

impossible when both interfaces use asio. asio can only address one audio app at the same time.

but since the ren doesn´t feature low-latency asio drivers it´s all good...

Well, I have done the impossible! This technique works even with two ASIO devices on the same computer.

I currently (as I type this) have two audio applications running on my PC (Win 7, 64 Bit). I have two USB audio devices that both have ASIO drivers. App1 uses Audio device/ASIO driver A; and App2 uses Audio device/ASIO driver B. The outputs of Audio Device A is connected to the inputs of Audio Device B.

Now using this set-up, I can record from App1 into App2 flawlessly.

I should win some type of technical award if I am the first person to achieve this.

JAH wrote:I should win some type of technical award if I am the first person to achieve this.

You're not.

It's officially supported on Macs via CoreAudio and even creating aggregate devices is well known on OSX, so it was no real feat on OSX. As for Windows it can be a bit tricky but many have had success doing this using their manufacturer's provided drivers or ASIO4ALL , though success is driver dependent apparently. There seems to be lots of caveats and gotchas, like increased latency in particular cases and so on, so it's trial and error and again driver dependent. It especially seems problematic on Windows to try using two different interfaces in a single application in unison unless the software is written to do so. It will depend upon Akai's drivers, your other interface's driver and other variables like whether you plan to attempt to utilize the interfaces with two disparate applications instead of with one. Non of this is actually very technical, it's moreover just at the whim of driver combinations.

You probably shouldn't take my word for it though. So here's an old article from 2006 that was posted on another forum where I remembered Windows users discussing it not too long ago. I didn't read the article by the way because I don't use Windows for audio.

JAH wrote:Well, I have done the impossible! This technique works even with two ASIO devices on the same computer.

I currently (as I type this) have two audio applications running on my PC (Win 7, 64 Bit). I have two USB audio devices that both have ASIO drivers. App1 uses Audio device/ASIO driver A; and App2 uses Audio device/ASIO driver B. The outputs of Audio Device A is connected to the inputs of Audio Device B.

Now using this set-up, I can record from App1 into App2 flawlessly.

I should win some type of technical award if I am the first person to achieve this.

THX! I wanted to know this as ill be tracking into my digi 003 using the same computer and i wanna take advantage of the so called "3000 outputs" I hope this thread doesnt turn into the one on gearslutz HAHAHAHA.LOCK IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JAH wrote:Well, I have done the impossible! This technique works even with two ASIO devices on the same computer.

I currently (as I type this) have two audio applications running on my PC (Win 7, 64 Bit). I have two USB audio devices that both have ASIO drivers. App1 uses Audio device/ASIO driver A; and App2 uses Audio device/ASIO driver B. The outputs of Audio Device A is connected to the inputs of Audio Device B.

Now using this set-up, I can record from App1 into App2 flawlessly.

I should win some type of technical award if I am the first person to achieve this.

U prolly wont get an award but how bout u make a step by step guide showing how to do this.People are gonna want to know how to do this and you can have it ready NOW! So when the Ren drops,u can release your guide as well,Ahead of the game is key here.Do a video even or publish the guide thru MPC-FORUMS and have em host it! top banner and all.

Undertow wrote:

JAH wrote:
I should win some type of technical award if I am the first person to achieve this.

You're not.

Damn Undertow .

Looks like your only about 6 six years late on this Jah.
Great job figuring out how to do what others have been doing for several years.

**** wrote:impossible when both interfaces use asio. asio can only address one audio app at the same time.

but since the ren doesn´t feature low-latency asio drivers it´s all good...

with ASIO4ALL you can use multiple interfaces at the same time within the same program

Undertow wrote:

JAH wrote:I should win some type of technical award if I am the first person to achieve this.

You're not.

Of course I won't win any awards as I know I am not the first. I was obviously just responding to post(s) that said it couldn't be done. I didn't bother to read the link you posted as I don't need any help doing this simple task.

As far as what I am doing on Windows, it is not tricky at all and it doesn't matter which drivers you use at least not from my tests:

1. Connect both the Firewire and USB audio interfaces to a Mac Mini
2. Connect the USB interface's outputs to the Firewire interface's inputs
3. Open two pro audio software programs such as a software synth and DAW
4. Select the USB interface as the audio device for the software synth
5. Select the Firewire interface as the audio device of the DAW
6. Set the DAW to start recording
7. Play the software synth

I want to make it clear that I am not talking about using two audio devices in one application. I am talking about giving each applicaton its own audio device.

optik415 wrote:THX! I wanted to know this as ill be tracking into my digi 003 using the same computer and i wanna take advantage of the so called "3000 outputs"

In the steps above, replace the "USB interface" and "software synth" with "MPC Ren"...

JAH wrote:I didn't bother to read the link you posted as I don't need any help doing this simple task.

Cool. However, it wasn't for you, Jah. It was for those who may want to know more about this subject from a more reputable or established source. And yes, I know you didn't click the link. I know this because you actually went as far as editing your post just to tell me so.

Anyway, finish telling us about your "tests".

Nothing wrong with that. Then they can return here if that want to know about this subject from reputable and established Ren sources. The 's' in sources makes the term plural.

Edit - And actually, I did just read your link. And it really doesn't have much to do with what I am talking here. That article primarily discusses how to add multiple audio devices to the same system in order to have more inputs and outputs...basically in an attempt to uses multiple devices within a single application.

What I am talking about here is how to record one app into another app. I wrote this to display how you can capture the Ren's infamous 'Vintage" mode or the sonic character of your interface. If this is something you are not interested in, you don't have to go this route. The MPC Ren is a plugin that can record multitrack audio directly into your DAW.

Edit..Edit...

There is also one sure way of combining several completely different interface models from different manufacturers without running into problems, and that's when they are each performing an entirely separate task

This is exactly what I am talking about! By the way....the most 'reputable and established' source can be yourself by validating this works on your system like it does in two of my systems.

JAH wrote:And actually, I did just read your link. And it really doesn't have much to do with what I am talking here.

JAH wrote:

Author from SOS link wrote:There is also one sure way of combining several completely different interface models from different manufacturers without running into problems, and that's when they are each performing an entirely separate task

This is exactly what I am talking about!

…either way, I understand what you're attempting to explain.

By the way....the most 'reputable and established' source can be yourself by validating this works on your system.

Agreed.

It's great tht u can do tht, yes yay. But the point of having a mpc within your computer is so tht u don't have to track everything back into your daw, I think thts pointless, its not advancing anything, because thts what u have to do with a hardware mpc. For me I wanna keep everything in the box, to avoid tracking it back into your daw. When I had to track everything into my daw from my mpc2kxl, it never sounded the way it sounded coming from my mpc, so for me the Ren was supposed to eliminate the problem, I think its pointless running 2 interfaces, I mean let alone the strain it will put on ur computer.

With the Ren you have options:
1. Mix down your tracks using the Ren only; no need to use a DAW

2. Export your Ren tracks as individual audio stems to load into your DAW for mixing

3. Use the Ren as a plugin and mix within your DAW

4. Track the Ren like a traditional MPC

JAH wrote:2. Export your Ren tracks as individual audio stems to load into your DAW for mixing

So if you have 20 tracks the Ren/STudio would create 20 stems in one swipe instead replaying the sequence 20 times. That's actually not a bad feature to have if that's what it does.