Multiple Audio Devices under OS X using Aggregate Device

So you may have a couple of different audio interfaces. You're using a Mac running OS X. You want to combine all the available inputs and outputs running a music creation software like Logic Pro 8. What do you do to use more than one audio interface at a time?

Let me first start by saying that there is nothing better than having an audio interface that has the number of inputs and outputs that is required for what you are doing. Using aggregated devices under OS X has not been known to be the most stable solution for multiple ins and outs on a Mac. Larger solutions from M-Audio, RME Audio, TC-Electronics and more are definately a more stable and preferred way to go. That said, maybe you are thinking of starting to play with recording more than two channels and have an extra audio device or two laying around (plus the built in audio in your mac of course)
There are only a few steps you need to go though to set up an Aggregate Device in OS X. The first step is to start Audio MIDI Setup (I find that the fastest and easiest way to do this is to use Spotlight. Just hold down Command and press space bar. Then you type MIDI and it should quickly appear in the list in the top right corner) and go to the Audio Devices Tab.
In Audio MIDI Setup you go to the Audio drop down menu and select Aggregate Device Editor. In the editor you click the plus button to add a new aggregated device. In the structure part of the window you will notice that now there is a few audio devices listed. Some devices might only have inputs while others might only have outputs. All you have to do is tick “Use” for the devices you want to combine as an aggregated device. Then you might want to double click “Aggregate Device” on the top and rename the device to something that makes more sense to you, like the names of the devices in your setup. In your music software you can now select the newly created device as your audio device and start recording.
I used the built in audio output of my Mac Mini for this tutorial and a CEntrance MicPort Pro that i got from the guys at Sound Devices in Sydney. This is a great solution if you happen to have a microphone and want a simple solution to record stuff. Maybe you create podcasts on the road or record demos and ideas on the beach with your laptop? The sound quality is pretty good considering the small size.


Mac Mini (Intel), OS X (10.5.4), CEntrance MicPort Pro

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