It's more tricky to check whether or not a new interface that you're thinking of buying already has multi-device drivers. The best advice (as always) is to download the latest drivers for your interface, so that you can read the accompanying Read Me or Help file to see what expansion possibilities there are, before purchasing an additional unit.
They wouldn't be able to differentiate between them and the second interface would be ignored, or (more likely) your PC would crash or fail to boot up at all.įortunately, quite a few manufacturers have developed suitable multi-device drivers that typically support up to four identical interfaces, or a mix of up to four similar models from the same range. Standard drivers that support a single device would be totally confused when presented with two or more identical interfaces. This may indeed be possible, but it requires specially written drivers that can recognise and support multiple interfaces.
So what are the options? Well, some musicians fall at the first hurdle, by assuming that they can buy a second interface identical to their existing one, to double up on features. Lots of musicians are still perfectly happy with the performance and audio quality of units that are a few years old, especially since they cost a lot of money when first bought. After all, while PC technology generally moves forward in huge leaps and bounds, the performance of audio interfaces is a much more measured affair. Of course, you could buy a new interface that provides all the features you need in one neat hardware package, but many musicians are loath to abandon the perfectly good interface they already have, especially since it's probably worth peanuts second-hand. Others are lusting after various recent interfaces that offer high-quality mic preamps and built-in DSP effects.
For instance, those moving from stereo to surround work will need perhaps six outputs instead of two, while those who suddenly find themselves faced with a live band or other ensemble recording may suddenly require another half-dozen mic-input channels for multitrack work. There's been a recent spate of queries from musicians asking how feasible it is to add more inputs and outputs to an existing audio interface, as their recording and playback requirements become more sophisticated.
If you need more audio interfacing, do you really have to trash an interface that's otherwise perfectly satisfactory and buy a bigger one? Maybe not, as ways of using several smaller interfaces together are becoming easier to find.
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