Originally posted by rivers:
im looking a getting a new A/D converter as a front end for my yamaha Aw4416
choices so far are used Cranesong Hedd(not the 192)or Lucid 2496

Anyone use one? Can they be upgraded to other sample rates(96hz or up)?

If you can put together the scratch for an original HEDD unit, you will not be sorry. Besides being a top flight converter, you also have the benefit of the 'haromic processing'. There are several of the originals that are starting to come up on the 'used' market, and there are also several of the 'originals' that were not sold by some of the less effective C-S dealers.

Now, is the Crane Song worth 3+ times more than the Lucid? Depends on your perspective, and the level at which you play this game. When you start to get into real high end stuff, beyond converters, to mic-pre's to compressors, to equalizers, etc. Once you pass a certain point, it's all just a game of inches. Each additional inch costs significantly more than the inch before it.

The price differential is only worth it to you if you A) can hear the difference [not a rag on you brother, but it takes a few years to train and develop your 'listening skills' to be able to discern the subtle differences in much of this equipment, and how these differences can be employed to help define your music]; B) have a chain (or 7) of equal strength, quality, with a worthy richness and opulence of tone.

Now, I don't know what other hardware you're running, nor your level of experience, so I could be a million and a half miles off on this...but, the AW 4416 says "Guitar-Mart" to me, which says 'entry level'. Something tells me that you've been loaded up with crap like HHB or ART stuff on the front end, maybe a Chinese mic or two..and frankly, it's a great starting point, but I would suggest that as you improve your system to do it in a quasi-logical, and definitely circular motion.

Improve every link in the chain as you move along, first the converter, then a mic, then a mic-pre or compressor, or [you get the idea, and while this is a long winded answer, I really do hate to type].

So...for the reasons outlined above, I'd recommend the Lucid 9624, and save up to improve the other links in your signal chain. I'd also recommend that you look into a 'master clock' for the system, and highly recommend the Apogee 'Wide Eye' cables for moving digital signals around. I don't know why they sound better, but they do.

Last thing, the HEDD-192 was made to be 'upgradable' to a 192kHz sampling rate once the market has been saturated with 96kHz stuff. The original HEDD had no such 'upgrade' provisions, which is why the HEDD-192 came to be.

Best of luck.

Good bit of advice there, Seems a wild over-spend in the context discussed.

Jules (Hedd owner)

Hey Jules, when I bought the original HEDD back in '97 no one in the UK seemed to know what it is. I never finished a ProTools mix without the Pentode at least at 6!

Steve Rhodes
RME London

I agree!
:)
Jules

I was wondering to what extend do you use the Triode in the mix bus?
I find it hard to notice until I get heavy distortion.

Steve

Steve, I find that when I find a "desired" setting with the HEDD (new or old), I back each knob off one full number. That way I don't find it "overprocessed" when I listen to it a week or so later.

As always, YMMV.

Hey, Fletcher! Thanks! I just found one of your old posts where you've explained the Triode function at lenght.

cheers,

Steve