Not a fan of apogee? I can't understand that? Not a fan of Digidesign? I can certainly understand that. Not a fan of RME? I can't understand that? So what kind of input device do you like? So you purchased an SSL thingy and have no idea what it is. I hope it's not stolen? I also know they include very adequate & comprehensive manuals for everything they make. How could you buy something like this without knowing what you were buying? SSL makes some of the most versatile crap on the planet. They also have excellent customer support, drop them a line.

I don't do SSL unless I'm forced to.
Mx. Remy Ann David

u've got problems. When did i say i bought it already?
Get a life

The Alphalink is a MADI format converter/translator and not an interface. You still have to have an interface to go with. Thats why Remy made those remarks. This is stated in black and white at SSL website.

MrPhaSe, post: 380389 wrote: Can someone school me on this piece?

If you buy the PCIE card with it, can you use it as an interface?

I'm not a fan of apogee or digidesign.. or rme.. But i need a way to interface.
Would this be a proper fit? Or would i need an interface to interface this?

someone help please???

Remy is our secret weapon around here. The wisdom is between the lines.
Why do you not like Apogee, or RME?

I just don't really dig the idea of an interface. I want to get what i'm recording to pro tools as organically as i can, and all the interfaces THAT ARE ON THE MARKET TODAY seem to have too much of a digital effect on the sound.
I'm not fond of the idea of recording music using firewire or usb...

So the only other alternative seems to be a pci(which satisfies my nerves for some reason)

SO..If i get a sound card.. like the pro tools hd native card thats out now for 3500... Will i be able to use a converter as an outbox?
Or is there any alternative to a firewire/usb interface?

I'm not interested in anything on the low end... I need that top of the line

For starters, if you want total quality, forget Pro Tools converters then, there is better than that. But then you are going to have to use Avid's inferior converters if you want to use Pro Tools,yes? You could get other converters that will work with Pro Tools but you still need their interface. Unless, you are only using their software but then you are limited with the DAW.
Seems like you have to compromise or take the next leap into high end. Do more research on pro tools pro's and con's, interface options, better converters and get your wallet out.
How many channels do you need? There are converters that cost $7000 for 2 channels. smoke
There are other DAW's that allow higher end converters too. Or, just get the turn key Pro Tools rig and be happy. Its all going to mp3 anyway.

Its hard to help you until you give us more information.

The other thing is the Alphalink is a DIGITAL format converter-specifically MADI. You can't plug external preamps into it.

I'm beginning to think we have a combination of issues here. Protools up til now hasn't allowed other interfaces so I am not sure the OP has heard them on an even open footing. The digital conversion of PT units has always been dub par.

Oops. My Droid has a cold in its node.

If you were so concerned about having a top shelf, more organic sound, I wouldn't waste my money with anything PCM. What you want is something like the Prism, Pyramimix DSD-based multitrack system. That's the closest to organic sounding analog you can get. Everything that's PCM, regardless of bit depth or sample rate still sounds like PCM which you have already expressed you don't like the sound of. I don't either. But I can't afford the multitrack DSD-based systems. And I also don't believe that ProTools 10 can handle DSD streams even yet, still, always, never. So this presents you with an additional dilemma to what you are requesting and/or uncomfortable with. Outboard interfaces don't sound any different from on board interfaces. So why screw around with any of that? Get a good front end set of preamps and get yourself a TA-SCAM 48 track hard disk recorder. Later, you dump the 48 tracks digitally into your computer. Then you only need a good D./A. 2 track output device with Pro Fools 10 or even 9. But hey, that 48 track recorder has a built-in mixer/editor, with output to a computer display & QWERTY keyboard. Then you only need to layover the tracks for processing in the computer for your final mix. That's another reason why I actually prefer having just purpose built recorders. I can always upgrade the recorders but I'm certainly not going to upgrade my Neve nor API front end. So take a listen to some of my examples which are 100% analog with the exception of digital recorder/storage devices. And that's top shelf. Get used to it. All that glitters is not digital but mostly analog. So, can I interest you in some used Neve components? I have two of these beauties and one is going bye-bye. Paul Reed Smith already purchased 8 of my 3115 modules a couple of years ago. Two more went to one of my friends studios. But the rest of the console is waiting for the right person/persons to give it a good home. So that's what you really need.

Maybe you should tell me about your childhood?
Mx. Remy Ann David

MrPhaSe, post: 380532 wrote: I just don't really dig the idea of an interface. I want to get what i'm recording to pro tools as organically as i can, and all the interfaces THAT ARE ON THE MARKET TODAY seem to have too much of a digital effect on the sound.
I'm not fond of the idea of recording music using firewire or usb...

So the only other alternative seems to be a pci(which satisfies my nerves for some reason)

SO..If i get a sound card.. like the pro tools hd native card thats out now for 3500... Will i be able to use a converter as an outbox?
Or is there any alternative to a firewire/usb interface?

I'm not interested in anything on the low end... I need that top of the line

I think you've got an incorrect impression and an incorrect understanding of digital audio to back that up.

Converting analog to digital and then importing that audio into the computer is 2 separate processes.

Computer interfaces (USB/Firewire) have an A/D Converter AND a computer interface in them. Chances are, the devices that you claim you don't like, have the same A/D converter in them that the Alphalinks do (at least the ones that convert Analog to Digital). The next step is getting it into the computer. PCIE and USB and Firewire all use the same process bus. Frankly, once digital audio is digital audio, it won't really matter how you get it into your computer - Firewire, USB, PCI-E, Hard disc...pretty much all the same.

RME, Prism, Apogee, etc. all offer very good computer interfaces - none of which have a "digital effect" on them.

Cheers-
J.

I have a PT hybrid setup.I use the SSL Alpha-Link/madi with my Toft ATB console.I have API,Millennia,Robbie,Vintech,Avalon,Toft,Velvettone and other preamps inline.I sold my Rosetta and got the Alpha-Link.The Alpha-Link sounds great and has been rock solid since I installed it.So +1 for the SSL Alpha link.I did have some issues getting the routing correct during the install but one e-mail to customer support and it was fixed.Great company and a great piece of gear.