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Originally Posted by rxfit06  I just read all the current threads concerning the Allen/Heath Zed-R16. I was currently already searching for viable options to upgrade to 16 inputs, without breaking the bank, so to speak.
This unit looks like it would work for me, although I can't quite figure out a couple of things.
(1) When I produce, I record a good bit of midi tracks. It looks as though this thing only has midi out, so I would have to also purchase a separate midi interface to send and receive midi data? |
Think you might be a tad confused here . . . you presumably have a MIDI keyboard, most of which are USB based these days. You play it to trigger software instruments in your DAW where the MIDI is recorded, or to trigger sounds on external sound modules - you'd only need some kind of MIDI I/O box if you had older sound modules without USB connections - all the ZED R16 is doing is sending MIDI via Firewire TO your DAW software, nothing's coming back so a MIDI out is all that's needed.
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(2) Will it "play nicely" with Cubase 4?
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It should play nicely with any DAW software that has a MIDI learn function
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(3) I currently use a custom ADK-Pro Audio pc, with a Presonus Firepod as my interface. When I track, I can set the control panel on the firepod to as little as 1.5ms with no problems at all. Can the Zed track with as low a latency?
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Check out the figures in the original new product alert thread
| Previously, I was considering going with the Presonus firestudio, along with the digimax and it's avail. digital ins and outs, in order to acheive my 16 channels. So even though I could/would acheive 16 channels for around 1300 bucks, I would most likely be adding additional pres, which would eventually add up to probably at least what the street price of the Zed is. Having said that, it really all depends on the pres within the Zed. If they are that good, perhaps I wouldn't really need to purchase addtional pres.
(4) Bottom line, are the pres really "as good as" many stand alone pres in the 800-1500 ish category.
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The SOS review compared them directly and favourably with DAV BG pres - seeming to imply that they were on a par with them, not better or worse, but that the reviewer owned DAV BG pres and would be happy using ZED R16 pres despite having these dedicated and well respected pres available.
My guess is that they are pretty damn good pres, economies of scale allowing A&H to compete with the lower end of the boutique pre market, if not with pres that cost substantially more than $500 a channel. However such high end pres could always be added later funds allowing – though I tend to see better pres than DAV BG as a luxury rather than an absolute necessity, not that I wouldn't like some!
It's very early days and I'm looking forward to hearing from more real world users - right now there's very little to go on.