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What's the best way to track MIDI sounds to PT and make it sounds analog?
a tube preamp? digital in?

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Ang1970 Tue, 01/08/2002 - 02:01

This requires a multiple-layer answer. Let's start with the midi sounds themselves. Make sure they are as close as possible to what you describe before you even start feeding them into PT. Make those sound "analog" to begin with.

Once you have this down, it's mostly a matter of capturing the sound that is already present, and not f'ing it up. Are you close to this, or do the sounds still need a little help to get there?

anonymous Tue, 01/08/2002 - 02:06

ok.
I just got a new Control24 and a ProTools mix plus system setup at home. I used to go to studio for tracking my MIDI work to analog console..now, I'm trying to do this at home to save more money, maybe get the mix done as well.
here's how I do it..I hook up my sounds module to the Focusrite gain on Control24, and the sounds goes to AD8000SE...and then record into PT via the digi8+ card. like i said ..it sounds so flat. how can I make it sounds more analog? to use better preamp?
thanks!

Ang1970 Tue, 01/08/2002 - 04:12

The focusrite pre's in the C24 could be the weak link, or it could even be the wiring. Hard to say, as I haven't heard the piece in question. However I have heard low end focusrite pre's, and if these are the same ones used in the C24 I would personally prefer to bypass them altogether.

Are you using the Apogee crystal as master clock? While not dog-doo, there is still room for improvement. Perhaps a better external wordclock will clean things up a bit.

Or you might be hearing the sound of the Apogee converter, and not liking that.

Or you could be hearing the absence of noise that you get with tape, if that's what you're used to tracking to.

As I said, many layers to this question.

anonymous Wed, 01/09/2002 - 22:38

is that better if I record one track midi timecode...and then use that as a word clock?
I heard Ardsync might be a good choice?

absence of noise...that might be it. I think PT is too clean...
some friends told me to use a tube pres wihle i'm tracking to PT. would this be a better choise to make sounds not that DIGITAL?

Greg Malcangi Thu, 01/10/2002 - 00:20

My brief experience with the pre's in the C24 left me with the impression that they were better than the platinum Focusrite pre's but not as good as the Red ones. Quite usable but not high end.

is that better if I record one track midi timecode...and then use that as a word clock?

Timecode and word clock are two completely different things. Do a search here or in the PT forum in DAWworld as I've posted a fair bit about word clock on RO. You certainly need to look at proper clocking.

Greg

Ang1970 Thu, 01/10/2002 - 07:04

Originally posted by Digital_Vox:
some friends told me to use a tube pres wihle i'm tracking to PT. would this be a better choise to make sounds not that DIGITAL?

It has been stated many times here and in other forums across the net... A great sounding piece of tube gear derives most of it's sound from the surrounding electronics, not the tube itself. If you have a cheap box with a tube in it, chances are you will only be adding distortion to your signal. Whether you think that distortion sounds "better" or "less digital" is purely subjective. But you could do just as well with a solid-state piece at any given price point. In the end, it boils down to what specific piece gives you the sound you're looking for.

anonymous Thu, 01/10/2002 - 07:28

Vox,
I think this depends a lot on what MIDI device is generating the sounds. I'm using an OasysPCI for most of my stuff, along with Reaktor. I send everything to my PTLE system over the ADAT interface and monitor from there. I guess I've never really 'heard' the output of the Oasys any other way.

My weak link is then the monitoring capabilities of PTLE and the 001.

Take care,
Mark

Jon Atack Thu, 01/10/2002 - 11:19

Digital Vox wrote: What's the best way to track MIDI sounds to PT and make it sounds analog?

If you mean the sound of 2" analog tape, then the best way to get that sound is to use it.

If you mean the sound of a good analog console, then use one.

Most of the time when I'm transfering midi sounds into PT, the chain is simply midi machine -> good pre -> Apogee AD8000 or PSX100SE -> PT. By 'good pres' I'm personally talking about Neve 10xx and API, Tubetech MP1A, Martech MSS, GML 8304, etc, though there are many other good choices.

FWIW I like the clock of the Apogee PSX100SE.

If your sound sources are happening, then your weak link is probably the Focusrite C24 preamps, or that you are not using analog tape if you are seeking that sound.

Jon