8 ch A/D converters

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2001 10:23 am

Well... I'm glad I didn't mention a $9K one Smile

Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2001 8:56 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by Tim_L:
Mytek 8x96, supposed to be very good... big dollars though!
<hr></blockquote>The Mytek 8x96 ADC is far better than the Apogee 'Special Edition' IMO (and the Mytek is also 96K, the AD8000 is not) for 40% of the price of the Apologee SE Model, and it also comes standard with AES. $350 a channel really isn't much when it comes to world class quality. Really great people behind the scenes too.

Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2001 11:05 pm

...Now i feel massively inferior....my up- grade on my system was to include an 001 factory (cheap plugin package)and some pres to offset my soundcrafts pres....i know there are better ad/da converters out there than the digi's...but $9K???thats two avalons and a couple of good used mics...i gotta go get a scotch and think this all through again...of course unlike a lot of you i'm only doing my stuff and my bands...no clients...any suggestions? (the upgrade also includes a fine amd/athalon drive 'puter in a stripped down os config. as a stand alone unit)...BTW. i am a tape head...thus the analog stuff... Rolling Eyes

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2001 6:58 am

Dave,You definitely don't need a $1125 per channel digital conversion system to make great music, or even have great sound. The most important part of the path is going to be the room and players (and instrument or amp quality of the players) and then the mics and preamps. A/D is very important, but if you have weak links in the front end stay with your 001 A/D and get some nice mics and preamps that you know in your gut are going to deliver truly great sound. You will find yourself fighting less to get good mixes because the better it is going into the multitrack the easier it is come time to put it all together. My point above was that you can be closer (IMO) to something on the level of a Prism for 33% of the cost, as opposed to not as close for 75% of the cost (Apologee SE). YOMV.

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2001 11:43 am

The RME piece you want is the ADI-8-DS. I have one and it sounds very good, and does 96khz and D/A as well, and has some other useful features. The ADI-Pro you mention is only two channel.
I have no doubt that the Lucids and especially the Myteks are an improvement, but the ADI-8-DS is a fine piece. Very well made and solid.
Ted

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2001 11:45 am

Oh, the Swissonic are really good too, but expensive compared the ADI-8-DS (just as good, or better). If you need any D/A the RME is better, of if you need to go to TDIF at any point. Best price I've found on ADI-8-DS is $1500.
Ted

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2001 12:45 pm

Thanks for the shout-out Nathan....most helpful and calming..(er...maybe its the balmore scotch)..One thing that piqued my interest on this string were comments by bassmac and confirmation by julian about being able to monitor mixes from the DA and not in the 001...seems to me to be a better path...sonically and less of a hassle....also inserts on some of these higher end things seem to be up my alley...or am i still looking at it stupidly? Cheers to All..... :w:

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2001 1:41 pm

The Motu 1296 is pretty sweet for the $ ...... (however, to get the full benifit it helps to have DP3 and a mac)

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2001 3:07 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by Ted Nightshade:
ADI-8-DS [RME] is a fine piece. Very well made and solid.
Ted<hr></blockquote>I agree...if I didn't feel comfortable using it in some application in the studio I wouldn't sell it. I feel ethically obligated to not sell junk.

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2001 12:05 am

Just to clear up any confusion: the RME ADI96-PRO is 2-channel with mic or line inputs, and also some built-in DSP, whereas the ADI8-PRO is the older 44.1/48k 8-channel model.Nathan, I am just curious, but for people who are only working up to 48k, do you find any difference in the sound quality of the AD between the ADI-8 and the ADI-DS?thanks

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2001 7:06 am

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by atlasproaudio:
I agree...if I didn't feel comfortable using it in some application in the studio I wouldn't sell it. I feel ethically obligated to not sell junk.<hr></blockquote>Yea, I guess if you don't feel comfortable with a product that makes it junk.... and I guess all those folks who made platnum records that started with Mackies and Adats should have been uncomfortable all the way to the bank.
Of course one product might not be as good as another in quality, but lets not forget, the end result is far from being just about paying large amounts of money for small steps up in quality. Very Happy

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2001 7:39 am

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by littledog:
The question is, does one have the option of using the Spider converters without going through the mic preamps (e.g. a line input alternative) in case I want to use the converters with different mic pres? <hr></blockquote>Spider has "line" inputs as well as "mic" inputs, so you can use what ever pre's or Di's your heart desires. The "insert" point remains after the line input, so if you'd like to insert another outboard unit after going into Spider's "line in", you can do that as well.

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2001 8:04 am

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by Tony C:
I guess all those folks who made platnum records that started with Mackies and Adats should have been uncomfortable all the way to the bank.
<hr></blockquote>There are a group of people who feel that money isn't the be all end all. I like to put food on the table, but not at the expense of a sleepless night. If I recommend a piece of gear, I want the customer to be pleased with the expectations they have from my recommendation. I know a few other large stores don't follow this ethic, and have been burned (especially lately it seems) for it. And you are right, quality doesn't have to reside in millions of dollars of gear, I know that first hand from my own place. I have said it many times, it's the musicians (and the source in general) first and foremost. The engineer's skill is also as important IMO, and a certain quality level of gear that will not degrade the sound. For me I enjoy the results I get from great gear, and am building the list everyday. Slow growth has been a very good friend to me.

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2001 11:30 am

We have the Genex A/D & D/A converters for a trial demo in the studio. They are very nice. We had trouble with a number of Tascam DA78's for mobile so we got the Genex GX8500's MO recorders and really liked the converter in those so we are trying out the stand alone units for the studio.The Genex boxes are forward looking units with option slots for interface cards, including for Digi. The drawback is each box is either in or out unlike the 888's but if your TDM system has a lot of cards like ours it is less of a problem.A lot for the money.Don Goguen
Folk Cafe Productions

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2001 11:48 pm

Nathan, I'm curious about the RME gear. I see the AEB-4I/O boards on your site but not the ADI-8. Care to expound about the line, as even their site leaves some gaps (such as what sample rates the AEB boards run at).Bear

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