"Best" Linux Interfaces

[spetraschek]

Good Afternoon, fellow LinuxMusicians!

I get it - maybe there are already thousands of threads on the Internet where people talk about there experiences with different Linux-Interfaces, what works and what doesn't on each of them and which workarounds are available...
But first: new Interfaces are released every year, so the question is still relevant,
and my main question: is there any company, that makes Audio-Interfaces with official Linux-Support? No fiddelnig around with workarounds (setting up on a windows-PC and then work on Linux and so on) or software provided by users (huge thanks to all the great users working on such solutions) and so on - just plug and play - everything works AND all functionalities that are paid for are also useable on Linux.

My specific requirements (but the thread is more general) are:
at least two (better four) XLR Inputs with 48V Phantom Power (ideally individually switchable for each Input), Heaphone out with its own level controll (at the moment I use my sisters Scarlett Solo, when the level of my Speakers is right, it blows my ears on the headphones, and I have to unplug the headphones when I don't use them because they are nearly as loud as the speakers and influence the sound I'm listening to), Stereo-output for Monitors - ideally with volume-control.

Usually in such threads there are only mini-interfaces with only one Input or cheap Beringer Stuff...

[bluebell]

Good Afternoon, fellow LinuxMusicians!

I get it - maybe there are already thousands of threads on the Internet where people talk about there experiences with different Linux-Interfaces, what works and what doesn't on each of them and which workarounds are available...
But first: new Interfaces are released every year, so the question is still relevant,
and my main question: is there any company, that makes Audio-Interfaces with official Linux-Support? No fiddelnig around with workarounds (setting up on a windows-PC and then work on Linux and so on) or software provided by users (huge thanks to all the great users working on such solutions) and so on - just plug and play - everything works AND all functionalities that are paid for are also useable on Linux.

My specific requirements (but the thread is more general) are:
at least two (better four) XLR Inputs with 48V Phantom Power (ideally individually switchable for each Input), Heaphone out with its own level controll (at the moment I use my sisters Scarlett Solo, when the level of my Speakers is right, it blows my ears on the headphones, and I have to unplug the headphones when I don't use them because they are nearly as loud as the speakers and influence the sound I'm listening to), Stereo-output for Monitors - ideally with volume-control.

Usually in such threads there are only mini-interfaces with only one Input or cheap Beringer Stuff...

Focusrite supports Geoffrey so there is the fantastic alsa-scarlett-gui, see https://github.com/geoffreybennett/alsa-scarlett-gui for supported interfaces. Works great with my Scarlett 18i20 gen3.

I use a MOTU UltraLite UVB that is configured with a web browser but it's not supported by the stock kernel and there are some problems with newer models.

[erlkönig]

There are plenty of interfaces that work with Linux, but in my opinion, you can't do wrong with Focusrite. Here, a Clarett and a 2i2 (2nd Gen) are doing their job for many years, and @geoffreys UI of his great config tool is (to me) much more intuitive and understandable, than what i know from Focusrite under Windows.

[Linuxmusician01]

and my main question: is there any company, that makes Audio-Interfaces with official Linux-Support?

No.

[...] [please no] software provided by users (huge thanks to all the great users working on such solutions)

No.

Usually in such threads there are only mini-interfaces with only one Input or cheap Beringer Stuff...

Beringer makes USB class compliant audio interfaces. No config software. They'll work in Linux (or Win or Apple). They appear not to be as bad as people say/think. Link example.

Good luck and wisdom in choosing.

P.S. The Behringers use Midas pre-amps. Dunno if that's a pro or not.

[pavianaudio]

My choice is Motu M4 which is plug and play and my second interface is digital mixer Midas MR18 configure via ethernet and USB audio interface 18in/18out working plug and play. ( but midas has samplerate only 44,1 and 48kHz )

[bluebell]

( but midas has samplerate only 44,1 and 48kHz )

That's enough. Higher sample rates not only consume more CPU, but can also cause unpleasant intermodulation distortion.
It's more efficient to use oversampling in some plugins (e.g. limiters).

[khz]

I read that Marian has official Linux support. https://www.marian.de/linux-ist-da/?lang=en
I have no idea whether the interface (card) is good.
Although they are also listed here. I didn't know either, cool up-to-date ALSA HP. ALSA SoundCard Matrix https://www.alsa-project.org/wiki/Matrix:Main

Weren't there other manufacturers? If so, please collect them here.

I use a RME AIO with the expansion cards. Everything the card offers works under Linux. The sound is analytical and has unofficial? support? under Linux, e.g. the hdspmixer is outdated - no FX.

[pavianaudio]

( but midas has samplerate only 44,1 and 48kHz )

That's enough. Higher sample rates not only consume more CPU, but can also cause unpleasant intermodulation distortion.
It's more efficient to use oversampling in some plugins (e.g. limiters).

I agree, I mentioned because somebody want higger Sample rate.
Thanks for explanation.

[sunrat]

I read that Marian has official Linux support. https://www.marian.de/linux-ist-da/?lang=en
I have no idea whether the interface (card) is good.

I just had a look at these. The Seraph 8 appears to be an excellent card for a high-end home or project studio. However the only Linux drivers listed on the Marian website are for the Clara E Dante card. A full Dante setup would be expensive overkill for a small studio.
They are reputedly very high quality cards but come with a matching high price - https://www.marian.de/products/?lang=en

The listing on alsa-project is basically useless; no current cards listed and no info for those that are listed anyway.

[bluebell]

( but midas has samplerate only 44,1 and 48kHz )

That's enough. Higher sample rates not only consume more CPU, but can also cause unpleasant intermodulation distortion.
It's more efficient to use oversampling in some plugins (e.g. limiters).

I agree, I mentioned because somebody want higger Sample rate.
Thanks for explanation.

There is a valid exeption: If you do some (field) recordings of sounds that you want to pitch down massively to create some sound effects (e.g. for games or movies) then you might benefit from higher sample rates.

[reppard]

I've been using a Universal Audio Volt 276 2-in/2-out. No official support but plug-in play it works out of the box. Not much different than most 2x2 interfaces but the pre-amps/solid state tube emulation is fantastic.