Questions about Audio Interfaces

Hi! I just bought a Behringer UM2 interface and it seems like it is not working when I am using OS X El Capitan as same as yours. I was looking for some answers as well but I recommend using other interface such as Alesis, Apogee, Digital, Roland, etc. as they are more likely to be Mac-compatible according to the post. (Connect your Mac to a home stereo, iPod, iPad, musical instruments, or speakers - Apple Support) I hope you find what you need!

It's obviously too late now but many quality audio interfaces incorporate a MIDI interface and so your recent USB MIDI interface purchase will be redundant. I should also mention that the price of audio interfaces usually reflect the quality of the device; if you don't want to spend much, don't expect too much in terms of quality. Behringer audio interfaces are cheap and that is a direct reflection of the low quality of those devices. If you're playing live, you need an interface by a company with a reputation for stable, fast software drivers and quality hardware components. I can't tell you the number of times that I've spoken to, or read about, people who have bought cheap devices and ended up spending more money having to upgrade to a quality audio interface that they should have just bought upfront. Go for something by MOTU or Focusrite if you want something decent that's not top-of-the-line expensive, or get a Resident Audio T2 or T4 if you're really budget-conscious. I have a MOTU Ultralite Mk 3 that I bought about 9 years ago and it has NEVER failed me and is high-quality. An Ultralite is probably overkill for your situation but believe me, you're far better off spending some money on a decent interface now and having a trouble-free experience rather than not spending much and having a frustrating experience....only to eventually buy what you should have bought in the first place.

jesstarz,

can you tell us a bit more about the weird sound you get?

Does it crackle or worble? Can you upload a snippet?

How big is your concert you use?

Which model is your MacBook?

Does the CPU meter already indicate an overload?

And yes, the UM-2 can be used with Mainstage. It's a great interface, USB class compliant and has a very attractive price. I bought one just out of curiosity and I have to say it seems to be a good value.

Best,

DaCaptain.

I agree that some explanation concerning what makes the sound "weird" might be helpful. I only need the ability to output sound on stage and I also want to keep things as stable and simple as possible. I use the Radial USB direct box.

Something that might be contributing to sound difficulties is stereo vs. mono. If you are taking a stereo patch and mixing the two channels into one, you might be getting all kinds of odd phase cancelations.

Another aside... I have used the headphone out in a pinch and never noticed that the sound was weird. I use the Radial box so I can run one USB cable from the MacBook to a USB hub and then other USB cables to each controller, pedal board and interface. That keeps the wiring clean and simple.

Good luck!