UR824
- Very low latency: YES but only for recording and not using 3rd party plugins while monitoring, not for midi as USB has more latency than firewire/thunderbolt
- High quality sound / high sample rates: YES. Best converters out the Steinberg interfaces except for their latest 32bit one which is way more expensive
- Appr. 6-8 line inputs, 48 v, midi connections Yes but USB to MIDI cable need as has no midi. USB to midi cables are cheap on amazon and ebay
- Seamless integration with Cubase 10 YES
- Additional software could be a plus Not really anything extra except a reverb and compressor plugin
My suggestion
Apollo Twin mk2 + ADAT Converter
- Very low latency: YES. Lower than the UR824 for everything if you can use and get the thunderbolt version (check compatibility) except for monitoring audio through Cubase but it has it’s own mixer software for monitoring provided you don’t need the extra sends from Cubase’s control room and you get near zero latency monitoring for guitar amp sims and effects if you use it’s own software along side Cubase but it’s still pretty low from within Cubase anyway.
- High quality sound / high sample rates: YES
- Appr. 6-8 line inputs, 48 v, midi connections Come with two but 8 more can be added over Adat
- Seamless integration with Cubase 10 No. You need to use it’s mixer when recording to get zero latency monitoring but… You get LOW latency monitoring inside Cubase AND you can use the DSP plugins included which will give you either low latency monitoring for guitars and basses inside Cubase as a plugin or you can use it’s own software for near zero latency monitoring including monitoring through effects
- Additional software could be a plus Comes with a very nice selection of ultra low latency DSP plugins, plus a monitoring mixer
Extra pluses:
Sits on your desk
Has built in talkback
Has built in Monitor control and selection
Combines multiple devices into one unit which ends up saving money over time
Minuses:
More expensive after you add a good quality ADAT converter to it.
Or you can get both and use the UR824 as an ADAT converter to the UAD Twin Mk2. Then you get the extra inputs of the UR824 as an ADAT converter going to the Twin and if you need zero latency monitoring within Cubase for extra audio sends and to use the full control room functionality, you can swap to the UR824 for that session and monitor through the twin via ADAT to keep your hardware talkback and monitor controller working.
Other options
used Mr816.
- Very low latency: YES, lower than UR824 for midi and same as UR824 for audio but has one less ADAT input
- High quality sound / high sample rates: YES. Best converters out the Steinberg interfaces except for their latest 32bit one which is way more expensive
- Appr. 6-8 line inputs, 48 v, midi connections Yes but USB to MIDI cable need as has no midi. USB to midi cables are cheap on amazon and ebay
- Seamless integration with Cubase 10 YES
- Additional software could be a plus Not really anything extra except a reverb and compressor plugin
Or if you like the Apollo line there is also the UAD Apollo 8.
Or if you wanna go crazy and get the best one there is for Cubase, you can get their brand new interface. The Steinberg AXR4T 28 x 24 Thunderbolt Audio Interface. Ticks all of your boxes plus more but is probably overkill for you since it costs around $2800 and has 20 more inputs than you need lol.
Audient iD44 plus an external Dual channel digital spiff preamp or an 8 channel ADAT converter is a decent option too but lacks the DSP of the Apollo and lacks the Cubase integration.
Right now, the Steinberg interfaces are the only ones offering zero latency monitoring inside of your DAW.