Apogee Rosetta 800 vs. Digimax/003

[soundsundergroun]

If you can't tell which is what, you need to get your ears checked.



http://cyber-eyes.com/studio/demo/Pr...converters.mp3

http://cyber-eyes.com/studio/demo/apogee_converters.mp3

[pikapikapi]

got any vocal samples?

[soundsundergroun]

No, not yet, I just got this thing.

[andybrannan]

digi sounds a thiner sounding

[WinterSun]

wow, thanks for posting these! I have a digimax/002 setup now and have been *this* close to upgrading to the rosetta 800. you've just confirmed the benefits for me.

out of curiosity, were both files recorded with the presonus pres?

[SoundEng1]

The Presonus Sounds hollow by comparison.

Were both tracked through the 003?

[noolness]

I am kind of curious too if this is a completely unbiased test. I am finding it doubtful the PreSonus pres are being used in both examples. I am not saying there isn't a difference between converters but I would love to see an unbiased comparison between converters, using identical pres and sources. Does anyone have any links to something like that? I have a Motu 828MK3 and I am trying to gauge if it's worth spending 3K to upgrade to a Rosetta.

If it's only going to be a 1% improvement or something, I don't think it will matter. I know from what I have heard, Apogee converters color the sound. If the majority of the sound difference is from that coloration I doubt I would want to upgrade.

It seems like the majority of the comparisons on here are not true comparisons. Typically something in the chain is changed, or things aren't optimally setup in all tests. If upgrading would give me this much of an improvement I would do it in a second. On the other hand if this is the combination of new pres, a new converter, new mics and whatever else was added to the signal chain, then I am not interested.

[noolness]

Actually I don't know if this a good comparison at all. It doesn't sound like the drums are tuned the same, setup the same or anything. Listen to that snare...it sounds like it's tuned completely differently and mic'ed differently in the Apogee example. In DigiMax/003 example it rings out, and in the Apogee example it has a more tamed sound and smooth sound. And listen to the start of each example, there is a huge difference in the tuning.

So how is this a good comparison? There is obviously different drum tuning, mic placement, mixing and eq'ing.

[SoundEng1]

Originally Posted by noolness

So how is this a good comparison? There is obviously different drum tuning, mic placement, mixing and eq'ing.

Agreed, they have to be set up exactly the same to make a biased conclusion.

[noolness]

I know this is a bit off topic for this thread, but I still think it has some relevance. When people talk about "good A/D's" how exactly does that work? Like is a current Motu, like I own, equivalent to a five year old high end converter (I know they wouldn't sound the same, but I just mean overall quality wise). If that is the case I would see little use buying the best thing out there unless you were an extremely high end studio. I have no problem sounding liking my converters are five or ten years old.

[soundsundergroun]

Originally Posted by noolness

Actually I don't know if this a good comparison at all. It doesn't sound like the drums are tuned the same, setup the same or anything. Listen to that snare...it sounds like it's tuned completely differently and mic'ed differently in the Apogee example. In DigiMax/003 example it rings out, and in the Apogee example it has a more tamed sound and smooth sound. And listen to the start of each example, there is a huge difference in the tuning.

So how is this a good comparison? There is obviously different drum tuning, mic placement, mixing and eq'ing.

Everything is the same except on the Presonus converters, the snare is a little detuned. Same eq, same compression, same mic placement, same preamps.

Great River on kick and snare, Toft AFC-2 on overheads.

Possibly why you are hearing such a great difference is that on both recordings I am sending kick, snare, and room out of the box to eq/compression (same settings!) and then recording it back in. This extra cycle of conversion really kills the sound when the Presonus is doing the conversion. When the apogee is doing it, it really holds up.

[soundsundergroun]

Originally Posted by SoundEng1

The Presonus Sounds hollow by comparison.

Were both tracked through the 003?

both were tracked with the 003 via ADAT lightpipe

[sluttiedude]

damn.. wow.. the apogee is so balanced and punchy in comparison (and punchy regardless of comparison)
nice comparison