Allen & Heath will introduce a brand new product to its range at PLASA, the ICE-16, a 16 In/16 Out audio interface allowing performers and audio engineers to easily capture high quality multi-track recordings direct to a USB drive or interface to a computer.
Fitted into a compact 1U rack design, ICE-16 is capable of studio quality interfacing, converting and bi-directional streaming of 16 channels over high-speed USB or FireWire at 24 bit, 96kHz resolution. Alternatively, 16 channels can be simultaneously recorded straight to a USB hard drive or memory stick at up to 24bit 48kHz resolution .wav file. The ICE-16 is expandable, so you can link units together and synchronize recording of many channels.
ICE-16 connects to any audio mixer or analog source using ¼” jacks for the inputs and RCA phono connectors for the outputs. Signal and peak metering is provided for each channel and can be switched to show input or output. Headphone monitoring is also included and switches on each channel enable checking of individual or multiple channels. ASIO drivers and Core Audio compliance ensure full compatibility with all the main DAWs, including Logic, Sonar, Cubase and Pro Tools.
“I like making things simple and the ICE-16 makes life easy in many ways. Recording multitrack at a live show no longer requires booting up a laptop and configuring a session - just plug in, turn on and press record. ICE-16 is also ideal for connecting audio to your DAW in the studio, or for expanding your existing system to add channels,” comments R&D designer, Mike Griffin.
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cirrus / burr brown converter chip sets. is that good? looks co
cirrus / burr brown converter chip sets. is that good?
looks cool to me but you would still need a DAW to edit / process. at a grand street, the converters would have to be pretty good for me to be interested.
The unbalanced in /outs are less of an issue for me than the 0 dB nominal level. What ever happened to +4?
It seems that A+H designed this device to connect to a mixer's u
It seems that A+H designed this device to connect to a mixer's unbalanced direct outputs or insert jacks, which are usually at -2dBu nominal (one half of +4dBu balanced). It's an interesting box, doing much of what an RME UFX can do for stand-alone recording but at around half the price (in the UK!).
This is copied from GS, written by "Mike" at A+H:
Here is a little more information and some answers to your questions about the ICE-16.
The reason the outputs are on RCA phonos is purely down to space. There was not enough room to fit jack sockets with the [[url=http://[/URL]="http://shop.ebay.co…"]Firewire and USB[/]="http://shop.ebay.co…"]Firewire and USB[/] connectors as well.
The analog inputs and outputs are unbalanced for the following reasons:
The main intention for the product is to provide a convenient solution for local recording from multiple analog sources - predominantly direct outputs, insert points or analog feeds from a pre-amplifer. These tend to be either unbalanced or ground compensated circuits in the majority. With short to medium cable connections, ie - with the ICE-16 close to the source, then interference will be negligible and balanced connection is not really an advantage. Of course you can connect a true balanced source to the ICE-16 input.
The argument for limited metering: The analog inputs are fixed unity gain, and with the original intention for the product being connected to a mixer or analog source which usually has more comprehensive metering, it didn't seem necessary to duplicate it other than providing signal present and peak indication. I agree a few more segments would be nice, but space is limited also.
The ADC and DAC converters are CS5368 (Cirrus) and PCM4104 (Burr Brown).
Both 24 bit up to 96kHz S/R. 114 & 118dB dynamic range respectively.
That would be nice to see and try with AES or MADI.
That would be nice to see and try with AES or MADI.