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anonymous 16 March 2002

Hi folk(s).
Sorry about my naivete here.
I've visited Fairlight's website and downloaded stuff about their current systems and I've read and re read but I'm still not clear about the difference between the Merlin and the Dream Satellite. Perhaps somebody out there can advice me (still interested on Fairlights EQ though). To me it seems the Dream offers advantages if your doing video post-production (time coding etc.) but does it still function as a good platform for being a high quality (but basic) DAW?
Eg. in the blurb they state the Satellite is for hooking up to an analog or digital mixer..how is that different from the Merlin? I'm particularly intersted in Fairlights stuff.. I find that I'm getting pretty disenchanted with the idea of mixing within a computer based system (I like the outboard stuff too much). If anybody can give me some clarity on this, and help form some sort of awareness before I approach Fairlight themselves (I hate walking into a shop and being a dumb punter) I'd greatly appreciate it.
Kind regards :cool:

Comments

Henchman Sat, 03/16/2002 - 09:25

I thinkte main differences are the following;
The merlin doesn't have the sruff you need for post:
ADR function to automatically generate beeps.
No Audiobase functions for SFX libraries.
And those are the 2 main things, as far as I know.

The dream stuff is geared towards post, because of these added functions. I'm pretty sure, that since the merlin is the same QDC machine with slightly different software options, and a different controller, you could upgrade to a dream console if you ever wanted to.

I like the built in eq alot. It sounds better that the most digital eq's I have used. (O2R), D8B, and various PR's eq's). I don't know how it compares to say the Massenburg and Oxford plug-ins.

Mark

anonymous Sat, 03/16/2002 - 21:33

Thanks for replying Mark.
Because I'm still waiting for pricing of the two systems from Fairlight I don't knowm what the difference in dollars between the two is. It seems apart from the things you pointed out the eseential archtecture is the same...because I've previously done video production it would be extremely nice to have a sound and video facility also, although if it is too cost prohibitive I'll be considering the basic Merlin item, as quality of sound is my first concern. Speaking of which there are two things which intrigue me:
1. I find in practice I don't go so much for the "bells and whistles" that other look at me DAW's come with. I know that the Merlin offers only basic cut and pastes, fades etc.as it is basically a Hard Disc recorder. Nontheless there's heaps you can do with these - anyway Fairlights file exchange system seems pretty comprehensive. What does interest me is the quality of their AD/DA converters, which from their blurbs should be pretty darn cool.
2. Fairlight also state they use re-programmable chips, which allows for future updating. Wow, pretty nifty stuff there!!!!
Anyway as I said thanks for replying, your comments re the EQ also greatly appreciated.
Kind regards

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