Alesis ADAT XT-20?

Hey folks, I'd like some help making a decision. I have an XT-20 ADAT with 200 hours on it, that I used to record my old band. At the time, it was a good move.

Now I have a small project studio set-up with an 828mkII and a G4 Mac. My typical signal chain is Mic > VMP-2 > 828mkII (A/D) > Mac.

I can hook the ADAT up to the 828mkII and I'll have 8 more A/Ds available, but now the signal will likely go more like Mic > Pre > Mackie VLZ Pro > ADAT(A/D) > 828 > Mac. The idea here is that I have a Mackie 1642 that I can use as a patch bay for the ADAT.

Here's the big question. Why bother? I don't really need 8 more A/Ds, but is there something special about the ADAT A/Ds that makes them sound better than the 828? Or would it make more sense to sell it and get it out of the rack while I can still get a decent price for it?

I guess I can think of a few reasons for keeping it, but I strongly suspect it will never get used. So unless there's something I'm missing, it goes off to Ebay.

So, what am I missing, or what would you do?

THX

Tim

 

If you do any kind of remote recording the ADAT is handy. If you have dozens of ADAT tapes with good stuff on them, the ADAT is worth having around so that you can still use them as is and not have to transfer them to another format in the near future. 8-extra tracks as well as 8-A2D D2A converters can always come in handy. I hate to get rid and sell anything so I would say keep it. Mabe you can rent it out on occasion to friends? You can't really buy anything decent for you can sell it for anyway.

 

> I hate to get rid and sell anything so I would say keep it.
>Mabe you can rent it out on occasion to friends? You can't
>really buy anything decent for you can sell it for anyway.
>

Wait a minute. Aren't you the guy with rack after rack of gearporn posted in another thread?

Well, I thought I might need it as a way to shuttle tracks between my studio and elsewhere, but it appears that most of that happens on CDs now. ADAT tape is like the Syquest cartridge for publishers.

I only have a few tapes with anything on them, and I can transfer all that stuff in about 5 hours. For remotes, I can use the 828.

The rental idea is a good one, I hadn't thought of that. But then I've gotta show them how it works, yadda yadda.

To tell ya the truth, since I built the studio I've been on a housecleaning kick. I threw away a dye sub printer that cost $6k when it was new because it would have cost more to ship than it was worth, and I have crap I've been hauling around since '79 just waiting for something like Ebay to happen. As weird as this sounds, between two buildings I only have 4 closets, so I need to be more selective about what I hang onto.

For me, it comes back to "how does it sound"? Does anyone think an ADAT XT-20 sounds better than an 828mkII?

Tim

 

That might be me. I've managed to obtain a few items over the years.

I sure don't think it is any worse. And I still own and use SyQuest Syjet drives and cartridges for my E-mu Sampler and Darwin backups.

 

Gaff is the godfather of gearporn.All of his compatriots here at RO are planning on building a shrine to His Gearness sometime in the near future. :tu:

 

I'm going back a little further than that. I have a box full of 44 meg syquest cartridges, a couple of 88s, and even one or two unopened 200 meg discs. At one point or another, I've had them all--bernoullis, 230 meg opticals, 9 tracks, you name it. Unfortunately, this stuff isn't like audio gear, where it has some unique feature that makes it still useful. Even ZIPs have gone by the wayside in favor of USB memory devices. Anyone need a crate full of zips?

It sounds like I'll end up selling the ADAT, along with the snake, the edit card, a couple of Tannoy Reveals, and a bunch of odd junk, I can probably scrape together enough for a Rosetta 96--Hey, we all have to start somewhere!

Tim