Hey guys. If nobody is going to say that aggregate devices are awesome, I am probably sticking with the SPDIF way. So, I basically narrowed the specs I need for an interface to be also able to reamp via SPDIF as follows.
Must have:
Nice to have:
Must have:
- 48kHz/24bit
- stable Windows7 drivers
- SPDIF in + SPDIF out known to work simultaneously (to send Dry signal to AxeFx and Wet Signal back)
- 2 analogue inputs mostly for direct monitoring and recording of "reference wet signal".
Since it is only for reference, the inputs do not have to be of very high quality. Therefore, it can be balanced XLR (preferred) or unbalanced TS (satisfying). - 2 balanced analogue outputs (XLR or TRS) to active studio monitors
- stereo direct monitoring (the opportunity to "wire" the input signal directly to outputs)
- 1 headphones out which does not have to push much since I am using low impedance headphones
- separate volume knobs for monitors and headphones, such that I could turn down monitors while tracking in headphones without the need to switch the first ones off physically
- external power to be able to use the interface standalone, without computer, simply with AxeFx and monitors connected.
- Price below 300$
Nice to have:
- on/off physical switch
- physical mix knob / blend control (like the one on 2i4) which allows to adjust the volume of the mix relatively to the guitar input
- physical peak meters for analogue inputs (as opposed to software ones or a single CLIP LED)
- mono switch for direct monitoring (not yet sure what for but certanly could be a nice feature to have)
- some GUI mixer to allow for functions I mentioned but which have no physical controls.