Mackie 1200f Daisy-Chain

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:12 pm

My initial theory was that a person could run everything from a computer (foh, monitor, video, recording, etc...), live.
I just really like the idea of being able to do anything, at any time. We have 3 separate consoles (foh, mon, video) that do 3 separate things. Why not be able to do it all with one computer system (aside from the obvious "what if it crashes").
It kind of surprises me that this seems like such a crazy idea to you guys. It's quite logical to me. Even an analog board is susceptible to failing. People are doing full computer-based recording in studios. At the worst, you have a complete secondary system running at the same time and if a part of the first one fails, you just pop a cable and there's no problem. It seems especially useful in a world driven by digital mixers and computer-driven speaker systems. They are all computers, anyway. I mean, seriously, our monitor board has a usb port.
Hehehe...
If you wanted to take it a step further, lighting is much the same way. I was even looking at how sawstudio can automate a light show with the music via midi.
There are people using full digidesign systems for this type of application. Am I really to believe that protools and a mac is so much better than everything else, available?
From the cost standpoint alone, it makes sense. You might spend $300000 on separate gear systems or you can spend $30000 on consolodated gear systems.
JJ

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:25 pm

NO PT and a MAC is no better
not exactly sure what you mean... or what you want

call me...

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:15 pm

I must not be communicating well...
All I was looking for was the ability to do foh and monitor live with a computer.
The 1200f was the only interface that I saw that stated the ability to chain together for 48-64 pre/line ins.
I was simply wondering if anyone knew if it actually worked as advertised, since, the last I knew, people were having problems with firewire and more than 24 channels (3x8 pre interfaces).
Thanks for bringing up the rme pci cards. I'd seen the old pci hammerfalls, but they didn't seem that impressive to me. I have read that rme has some of the lowest latencies, though, and that madi interface really looks cool (1 card for 64 channels - 3 cards for 192 channels). I'm guessing that the rme adi-648 will take any adat 8 channel pre (it doesn't have to be one of the rme ones).
JJ

Edit...
$ 1500 rme hdspe madi (pcie card)
$ 2500 rme adi-648 (8xadat interface)
$ 1600 rme octamic 2 (8xpre)
$ 1600 rme octamic 2 (8xpre)
$ 1600 rme octamic 2 (8xpre)
$ 1600 rme octamic 2 (8xpre)
$ 1600 rme octamic 2 (8xpre)
$ 1600 rme octamic 2 (8xpre)
======
$13600 Total (48xpre)

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 4:11 pm

you have the right idea yes
and there are several ways to do it,

you could do cheaper AD/da for say drums like the presonus Digimax FS $550 for 8 with pres

Focusrite octapre or octa pre le
mix and match etc.

Scott
ADK

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:49 pm

Have you looked at this?

http://www.rssamerica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=257

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:59 pm

doubleJ wrote:

It kind of surprises me that this seems like such a crazy idea to you guys. It's quite logical to me.

NOT a crazy idea

it is just that at your budget you are jumping the gun by a few years
and
at the number of inputs you want

A Digidesign Icon or any of the other MADI based systems could do this BUT it is big budget and cutting edge

ALSO
the computer is NOT the central part of the system and there is far greater parallel Digital Hardware in use to get the LATENCY low enough for live, real time use.

look to those Digital mixers as shown above
these can have secondary control panels and record options

there is many more out there than just the big name ones ... like Roland or Yamaha

by interconnecting with AES or MIDI the options for multiple brands is increased
....
A guest or hired Protools system can be connected
same goes for Soundscape and Nuendo etc ....

...
you can begin to think about IEM ... on wires in a DIY manner

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:33 pm

It's not a crazy idea at all. In fact, it's exactly what I describe with the jazz show. I used the DAW inputs on the RMEs and fed that to the computer and the live sound mixer and used the RMEs as the single central point. It's not crazy at all. However, the computer should not be thought of as the central point of this system, more as an auxillary (the recording and maybe some automation. Many to most systems will automate lighting via MIDI and is quite commonly done.)

A good, solid and stable control surface (or digital mixer that acts as an interface and control surface) mixed with a stable computer and a person who knows how to make it all work could certainly pull it off.

Expect to spend some serious cash though. Stability comes at a premium.

This topic sponsored by: