Key Largo - Combining Interfaces?

[Durdeldurt]

Been using the Key Largo live for a while, love it. I've been trying to crack this problem for a while though: can you use the KL with another USB interface for live use?

I'm trying to run a vocoder VST plugin (mda talkbox), which requires having a mic input hit the laptop (Windows) to modulate the synth plugin before piping out as a complete sound (Radio Ga Ga, Daft Punk, etc.) In order to pull this off, I have to run a separate interface (old Scarlett 2i2) into the laptop, take the mic in there, and come out the interface's 1/4" outs into a channel of the KL.

I really want to open up that channel I' m burning for this, and utilize the USB channel of the KL. What I'm trying to do is use the separate interface for the mic, since I can't do a mic input through the KL without also running raw mic into the keys mix. However, I can't seem to get any other interfaces (scarlett, MBox, onboard sound card, USB-XLR cable) to 'play nice' with the KL at the same time. Using ASIO4ALL lets me select the multiple inputs/outputs, but the best result I get is between 30-60 seconds of clean audio before it becomes a mess (crackle/pop/garble/crashed program). I think the problem may be related to the devices not synchronizing to a common clock, but none of the pieces here have ADAT or S/PDIF I/O to connect to a word clock or anything like that. Might just need to tweak some settings, but I don't really know where to start there.

Has anyone had any luck combining the KL with another interface using ASIO4ALL? Should I look into other drivers? Am I S.O.L. here?

[MarkJames]

Have you looked at the KL-8? Would give you more channels.

[Mr_-G-]

For the price of the KL-8 you can get a zoom L-20 with digital recording. Or better, a zoom L-12 and still got extra for a small synth.

[DJKeys]

I don't think it is possible for any Windows software to recognize two different USB interfaces without having some sort of custom driver written. ASIO does not support more than one interface at a time, you cannot create an aggregate interface like you can on a Mac:

https://iconnectivity.supportbee.io/53- ... on-windows

So the other solutions from Mark and Mr G will probably be your best bet-

-dj

[MarkJames]

For the price of the KL-8 you can get a zoom L-20 with digital recording. Or better, a zoom L-12 and still got extra for a small synth.

True, but I challenge you to compress those Zooms into one rack space or a small tabletop interface.

The L-20R looks nice though - if my X-Air XR18 blows up I’ll give it a look.

[Durdeldurt]

Notes, thoughts, conclusions:

*KL-8 looks great, but would run into the same input problem (dedicated USB channel going unused). Still, if I ever start to need a LOT more boards live, that'll be one of the first things I look at down the road

*not looking at expanding gear load, just want to be able to use all of what I have, with as little addition as possible

*tried routing with voicemeeter, also with vb-hifi virtual cable/ASIO bridge: mic input from focusrite to VM virtual bus, that taken as input for ASIO4ALL in vst host, A4A output back to VM, VM main bus out to KL USB; with virtual cable, focusrite ASIO to cable, used as input in A4A for host, A4A out to KL.

Both yielded similar results: either unstable audio, similar to running both interfaces directly with A4A, or unusable latency addition. Guess that makes sense, I'm wrapping up wrappers here...

*All signs point to this being a pretty much fruitless pursuit, looks like there's just no way to make this combination, barring done crazy modding (i.e. adding a mic input to the KL, but one that only runs straight to the USB), or a custom driver (is that a thing?)...

*Not entirely fruitless though: new options for routing to look at later. End of the day, I guess I wasn't ever really using that 3rd channel for much else. Burning the channel opens up possibilities for live mic effects, the focusrite ASIO hums along just fine by itself at very low latency (definitely outperforms the KL driver).

*If I can give up the need for mic input, my host will gladly work with the KL via A4A, and I can reclaim Channel 3 and the USB channel no problem

*Wishlist: device aggregation in windows, custom driver for aggregate, better driver from radial for KL, mod for mic input to USB for KL, budget for all the above...

[Schorsch]

If all input channels of the KeyLargo are in use and therefore none of them is available to feed the Scarlett 2i2 into one of them, and you don't use the effects send&receive, you can also feed the Scarlett into the effects return jack which is a stereo 1/4" TRS jack. Volume can be controlled separately by the EFX return pot, it will work as a 4th input channel in that way. You would just need a 2x TS male to 1x TRS male cable (or an adapter 2x TS female to 1x TRS male)