Is it possible to share an audio interface with two pc computers for simultaneous recordings?

 

It is possible.

 

Unless you network it in some way, I don't think just plugging a cable splitter will do it. Even a mouse/keyboard needs a KVM to be able to do that, imagine an audio interface.

 

my answer is reflective of a question without any conditions since none were supplied. Can it be done, with the right cables, interface, and software? Yes.

 

Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 4th gen USB as and Windows 11 at the moment. Can’t it be done with any interface? How about Windows 11 and macOS (don’t know what version).

 

No, this would require the interface being connected to both computers at the same time. So it would need two simultaneous connections via USB, TB or the like and running two drivers in parallel.

 

why do you think you can't do it with either dante or avb?

 

can you share the steps, or solution/s and if there are more than one solutions share pros and cons of each so people can decide? I'm interested in this.

 

Sure it can be done with such large and expensive solutions, but even then every computer needs a connection to this network on its own and an audio driver.

The OP asks if he can share an audio interface with two computers and I don't know of any single interface with multiple computer connections.

 

https://motu.com/en-us/news/motu-presents-avb-audio-networking-session-at-aes-la/

This is the newest version of the Motu 828. https://motu.com/en-us/products/828/

with the 828ES model I have, you would connect the second machine via cat5 ethernet cable. this is the 828es. https://motu.com/products/proaudio/828es

 

Such an audio interface requires separate driver, clock, data lane, and the respective duplicate hardware components. It would be effectively two audio interfaces in the same box, but then it limits using the second internal with the same computer through one cable...you'd need to plug both. So logically, manufacturers will stick to one interface per computer until the market sees overwhelming demand and substantial profits from these potentially expensive units.

 

So you think with an AVB interface, or Dante, or any other networked audio interface; the interface cannot send out two digital streams of audio to two separate computers?

 

no.