Arturia Audiofuse X8 In and X8 Out Review

[@EncounterCaneCorso]

Appreciate this Barry. Looking to add 8 more channels to my Apollo X8 for synths. This looks like the right move. 👍🏿

[@Monsieur_PropreBXL]

Hi Barry, I actually was looking for a simple and inexpensive solution to expand I/O for a summing mixer, and this looks exactly like what I needed! I will buy it from Thomann, and use your affiliate link of course :) Keep em coming!

[@BarryJohns]

🙏

[@Tvaroh]

Hey Barry, check out Julian Krause's review of those products. The Out one has a seemingly huge issue of low-end distortion. Curious what's your opinion on that.

[@paulvogel6303]

correct

[@slyman2521]

Arturia has issued a firmware update to correct this issue. All good now.

[@XanderEwald]

Not really huge to begin with and apparently fixed now.

[@paulvogel6303]

@@XanderEwaldI saw that, might get it sometime

[@JBrm]

Thanks for the review! I am a bit sensible to quality of conversion since I switched from Focusrite Clarett (1st gen) to RME and found there was a pretty big difference when directly comparing them. Currently I'm trying to decide whether I expand my IOs via ADAT or upgrade my interface to a MADI capable one first. If I go the ADAT route, I'll give the Arturias a try!

[@Judasz696]

Cool channel. How could you compare it to ferrofish pulse 16?

[@ZndBornMixedIt]

🔥🔥

[@bagoodale]

I have a Focusrite Clarett 8pre and the Clarett Octopre. They are the older version (not the +). I also built 6 capi 500 series preamps and have a pair of Vintec 573 pres. Would it be worth selling the adat octopre and getting one of these 8 input models? Focusrite says that you cannot completely bypass the preamps on the 8pre or octopre but because the preamps are very (transparent 😂) they do not add any color to the outboard preamps with the input gain know set to 0 (yeah right🙄). Also I’m not sure if it would help any since my interface would still have 8 year old technology in it. I’m basically just starting out with hardware gear and have been trying to hold out from buying a new computer which would not be thunderbolt therefore having to also buy a new interface. I kind of jumped the gun in my purchases, I know🤷. Thanks for all your great videos!

[@BarryJohns]

If you’re not utilizing the mic preamps on the octopus, yes, I would absolutely sell that and add these to it. Also, since you’re already incorporating outboard gear, I would also sell it for that reason alone and go with something like this you’re likely to see a pretty significant increase in conversion compared to your current interface.

[@bagoodale]

@@BarryJohns that’s what I thought but didn’t want to make a goofy decision again😂. I can’t believe that Focusrite with their updated 8pre+ didn’t add a second set of adat in and outs? I like the idea of the Arturia audiofuse 16 rig that you demonstrated but I’m a little Leary on future driver support and that they are so new to that game. The 16ins would be great, since I’m loving building these capi preamps and don’t plan on stopping at 6.

[@BarryJohns]

If you upgrade your interface to one with two sets of IO things will open up you can always add 8 now, later when funds are right, upgrade your interface.

[@bagoodale]

@@BarryJohns thank you so much

[@kylecalandrelle7209]

I have the same setup. I kinda jumped the gun getting the clarets. Built a beautiful rack for them and everything and I’ve hardly used them. I’m moving so I’m going to start using them but I know I’m gonna end up wanting something different down the road

[@cocoloco71]

Cranborne?

[@marvsowell684]

How’s does the D/A on the Audient compare to RME, and some of the other interfaces you have owned and/or experienced?

[@BarryJohns]

I’ve used better for sure, as to my RME I could not notice any difference, seemed on par to my ears.

[@reverendcarter]

reminds me of the old Alesis expansion boxes. I'm sure the converters are a lot nicer lol. I think ART made some for a while too.

[@ASH-ou4cg]

You mentioned that you are NOT using Word Clock and relying on ADAT for the clock? This means you are using the Arturia as the master? ADAT clocking only works in the direction the data is travelling and cannot work backwards from that. Since the X8 IN 'outputs' to your interface, it means ADAT is being sent FROM the X8 and into your Interface, making it the master. Depending on how the Arturia handles clocks, this may be inferior to what your interface offers. I am interested to know how all this is wired up to your interface. I do the INT light is lit up on your X8 IN, which validates what I mentioned above.

[@BarryJohns]

That’s is incorrect. The master clock is the recording interface. It has always been the main way any Adat expansion has worked. You can set the X8 to be master if you want, but I would not recommend it. Now in the I video, the ADAT connections are not connected. You can see the way it’s connected in the video where I wire it all up that is down in the description. Hope that makes sense.

[@ASH-ou4cg]

@@BarryJohns Thank you. I will look into the video on how you have it connected, as I did not yet preview this. I am still unsure how you can have the interface as the master (which is how it should be, even as just stated by you) and have the X8 set to receive ADAT clock. My understanding has always been to have the interface as Master and the ADAT as 'slave' which would mean it would need to receive a clock from the Master, which is via word clock. Perhaps because you have an X8 OUT and an X8 IN this changes. I only have an X8 in and it is not getting along well with my setup at all.

[@BarryJohns]

I recommend downloading their manual. It’s covered there.

[@ASH-ou4cg]

@@BarryJohns Have already done so and it is very basic and rudimentary (which is how it should be - this is supposed to be a set and forget type of connection). I will update my personal findings in another message. Thanks for your time and patience in this.

[@BarryJohns]

No problem Ken but keep in mind the manuals are different for each unit.

[@Rhuggins]

Barry, thanks for this video. I know you run an RME setup. I know you spoke to it - but how do you feel about the conversion vs RME (for a pro setup). The idea of flexibility at this price is attractive but I’m an RME guy and trust those converters, even for mastering application.

[@Rhuggins]

I actually purchased a Audient EVO 16 and returned it because the conversion was cloudy to me compared to my RMEs

[@BarryJohns]

Remember these are for expansion only and are not an interface. That said,!between the two. As you’d expect I’d go RME.

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

I REALLY wish that Audient provided a MADI version. :-(

[@BarryJohns]

Me too!

[@ITSYABOYDONTE]

I have a RME Fireface UCX II interface and I already have a cranborne 500adat which uses up my adat ports. Is there a way o could still use this in my setup or would I need to explore other expansion options?

[@BarryJohns]

Are you recording at 96K? Then that would max out the eight out available I/O that you have using the Cranborne. If you’re at 44.1 or 48, you could add one X8 and one X8 out using the second eight at port on your UFX II.

[@ITSYABOYDONTE]

@BarryJohns thank you. I have the UCX which only has the one set of adat. I wish it had two. Because it has only one that's why I was asking. I know I have an additional set on the cranborne but I don't think it will work that way. I do have a free set on my rme adi 2 pro fs but I lose the ability to use total mix that way. I've put some thought into before, was just hoping you may know something I don't or see something I'm missing in my setup. Thanks for your reply.

[@marilubarrera3582]

Do you ever make music, can we hear some of your work?

[@odmusicman]

It is just about the only question he didn't answer. I would like to know as well. I tried to get that info out of Scott from Scott's synth stuff as well and no response either. It sure makes me wonder.

[@BarryJohns]

I’ve addressed this probably 100 times over the last several years. Watch this video and you’ll get your answer. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXivh32lqK6oj7csi=VavUaIsj8Jr8-c1S

[@PierreBaudinat]

Thank you. Unfortunalety there is no out/thru wordclock and you'll have to buy a WC external clock if your soundcard has only one OUT WC (most of them). No way.