Expert Sleepers
Expert Sleepers ES-9 New King of the USB-Audio Interfaces for Eurorack
2025
Expert Sleepers Announced ES-9
The ES-9 is a Eurorack 16-in/16-out USB audio interface, with DC-coupled inputs and outputs that can be used for both audio and CVs. With its balanced 1/4″ main outputs & headphone socket, it’s the perfect one-stop solution for integrating a modular synth and a laptop/tablet, either in the studio or when playing out at a gig.
The ES-9’s 14 analog inputs allow simultaneous tracking or mixing of a large number of sound sources in your modular, while the 8 DC-coupled outputs are perfect for controlling the modular with Silent Way, Max/MSP, Abelton’s CV Tools or similar, or for sending audio out to the modular for processing.
For even more outputs (up to 48 more), the ES-9 can be expanded with the ES-5*. It also has a pair of S/PDIF sockets for connecting other digital audio gear. The ES-9 also provides a pair of MIDI sockets (via a breakout).
ES-9 Specifications
- Panel width: 16HP
- Module depth (including power cable): 50mm
- Current draw: 451mA on the +12V rail, 133mA on the -12V rail (at 96kHz)
- USB socket: Type C
- Driver support: class-compliant USB 2.0 (no driver required for macOS and iOS – Windows drivers provided for Windows 7, 8 & 10)
- Channel count: 16 in, 16 out
- Supported sample rates: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz
- Audio sample depth: 24 bit
- Analog outputs:
- 8x 3.5mm TS jacks, DC-coupled, Maximum output voltage approximately ±10V
- 2x 1/4″ TRS balanced jacks, AC-coupled (main outs)
- 1x 1/4″ TRS stereo jack, DC-coupled (headphones)
- Analog inputs:
- 14x 3.5mm TS jacks, DC-coupled, Input voltage range approximately ±10V
- Digital I/O: 1x S/PDIF input (TOSlink), 1x S/PDIF output (TOSlink)
- MIDI I/O: 1 input, 1 output (on the breakout)
- Expansion headers: 1 for ES-5, 1 for MIDI breakout
- Panel controls: headphone volume
- Internal mixer: 8×8 crosspoint mixer
Availability and Pricing
The ES-9 eurorack module should be in stores early October 2019. MSRP: UK £499, US $569 (exclusive of sales tax), EU €469 (exclusive of VAT)
Instruo Lubadh – Grand Theft Audio
With the Expert Sleepers ES-8 as an audio interface, I can basically grab and rip any audio on my PC so there’s a huge potential for samplers, granulators and loopers. But there’s also the risk of getting a copyright claim when you record/sample something that’s owned by a big name or label and decide to upload it. I know some artists have large teams protecting their works. The economy of music is changing and the audience expects music to be free. But you can’t create a great new album if you can’t even break even.
So if you ever copy original sound sources, make sure you use it fair and transformative.
Expert Sleepers ES8 + Native Instruments Reaktor
In my humble opinion, the personal computer (mac/pc) is the most powerful modular synth you can get. You’d need a wall of modules to get even close to that processing power. The ES-8 helps you utilize that power. It’s not cheap, but it can help you to start small – before you end up with that wall of modules.
ES-8 is a PC audio interface you can mount in a eurorack and share all kinds of analog and digital signals between the PC and the real world. It works well with a lot of ‘virtual modular’ applications like VCV-Rack, Softube & Reason. I picked Reaktor 6 because I own a license and barely used it except for exploring presets. There’s a lot to learn and discover here. So I kind of feel like Omri Cohen firing up VCV for the first time. I’ll definitely share some more videos about how to integrate Reaktor and the ES-8 (ES-9 is about the same, but includes speaker and headphone outputs).
Cinematic Laboratory on BandCamp
Eurorack Live Patch Explained – Drums and Samples
Hey there! This is the second video of a three-part series explaining the patch on my eurorack modular synth for live performances. This time we’ll have a look at the parts of the patch responsible for drums and sample playback. Next week we go over how I clock and mix everything.
Pricing and Availability
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