Originally posted by bjoern:

1. In order to sync to an outboard drum machine or a Korg Triton, will I require the STC pro timecode interface module?

Not necessarily - the SMPTE module provides LTC and VITC sync, but for MTC sync you could get any MIDI interface, and for syncing with a Triton, drum module, etc. you would need one anyway. Take a look at the MOTU Midi Express XT (or Timepiece) - works great with PC or Mac (or both which is a VERY cool thing for syncing Paris on one with another app on the other).

2. In order to use various outboard units (stereo and mono compressors, reverb, drawmer mastering unit and such), will I require the A80 pro output module?

You will need both and output and input module. The MEC which comes with the Paris Pro system has 4 in and out (20 bit). The I/O cards are 24-bit and sound fantastic. I recommend one of each if you have that option. If you only need 4 inputs or outputs, the MEC will cover the bases (remember output for monitoring in counting this). The 20-bit I/O's are very good too, BTW.

3. I have seen some talk on greatidea.com about soundcards (specifically, the RME digi 96 pst) and the use of soundforge and cool edit pro. What would be the issues surrounding these topics and what would be the benefits of using them? Sorry if this question is perhaps vague.

No MME drivers for Paris right now. Paris users on PC generally use another sound card. I run it on a Mac and with 2 EDS cards, ASIO doesn't work right either. So an extra sound card for other apps can be necessary. The RME seems to be one of the best out there. Extra editors are a matter of preference. Paris 3.0 will have a dedicated waveform editor, so you may not need CEP or SF - it depends on what you need.

The 24-bit I/O cards are the key for analog I/O. The sound is incredible coming from, and going into them. Only the MEC I/O is 20-bit (4 in 4 out - the 24-bit cards are 8in or 8 out). For digital I/O, there are 24-bit ADAT and AES/EBU cards on the way, but I don't have a time frame on them yet. The current ADAT card is 20-bit, so you could use a digital patch bay with digital format converter, but if you are working in 24-bit you lose some resolution. There are several digital "routers" that pipe between ADAT/TDIF/SPDIF, etc. If the converters in your outboard gear are good, analog really works very well, at least until we have 24-bit ADAT cards for lightpipe connections to everything. You do have to be sure your outboard gear supports 24-bit I/O (most newer FX processors do, but some older gear is 16-bit digital I/O only - a al Lexicon MPX1).

Sorry if I am confused by this. Are there 24-bit digital ins and outs on the MEC or not? Could I run a final mix digitally through my Drawmer 2476 and back into the Paris? Thanks!

Bjoern

The MEC manual says, as I thought, the SPDIF is 20-bit, but the Emu site says the Paris Pro MEC SPDIF is 24-bit. I didn't think there was any change, but I'll have to check on it. It may receive 24-bit, but send 20 - I don't see why that would be the case, but perhaps.

24-bit ADAT cards and AES/EBU are coming but Emu hasn't put a date on them yet. Other options for the time being - the 24-bit analog I/O is good enough to trust a mix to in many cases, but many of us still prefer to stay digital where possible, and many people would cringe at the thought of converting one more time. The AES/EBU or ADAT I/O will probably be your best options, when they come out, but in the mean time I'll try to find out if the SPDIF I/O on the Paris Pro systems is in fact 24-bit, or still 20.

FWIW, I actually have used the analog I/O for 24 to 16-bit conversion (re-record a mix at 16 bit to avoid processing artifacts of dither algorithms - I only tried it on a demo mix and haven't A/B'd it closely, but on first listen it seemed smoother than the Waves IDR-dithered mix. I'll have to try that again and post some findings. Hopefully I won't get flogged for suggesting analog I/O on a mix, even if it worked for many a great mastering engineer on many great records over the years. :D

SPDIF is normally 20 bit, but Ensoniq's engineers (remember them?) altered it.

Thanks
Neikirk Audio

SPDIF is normally 20 bit, but Ensoniq's engineers (remember them?) altered it.

On which end? In, out or both? There has been confusion about this for a while. The manual says 20-bit. Paris Pro is an Emu revision and is advertised as 24-bit.

I wouldn't complain if it is really 24-bit on all MECs.

I spoke to an E-mu rep this afternoon and he told me that the digital ins and outs on the MEC were 24-bit. Hopefully he's correct about that!

Bjoern

Awesome! Thanks Bjoern!

it has been my understanding that the MEC spdif is 24 bit, and the IF442 is 20 bit.

:) :)