"High-end" interface of choice for Native PCs

[DaveJes1979]

What are y'all using as an interface on PCs? I'm trying to get a native (Nuendo) system up and running. My rig is solely going to rely on the PCs hard disk, so the only other intermediary between the mic and the PC interface is the preamps and some stand-alone converters (apogee rosetta). But what interface would work well that has 8-16 AES inputs (96-192khz)? The only thing I have found (that would be considered a truly "pro" solution) is the Lynx AES card.

Yes, I know that the Apogee has a firewire option, but this limits expandability if I want to mix and match converters.

So what do y'all use?

[RichT]

Hi Dave,

What model Rosetta are you using? You mentioned Firewire so I'm guessing an 800?

I run Nuendo 1.6.2 and use an Apogee Rosetta 800 into a RME Hammerfall 9256 via ADAT Light pipe connections.

The Hammerfall is extremely reliable (from my experience) on PC though some people claim otherwise over on the Mac.

Cheers,
Rich

[DaveJes1979]

I've heard only the best things about RME, especially concerning their stability. However, the ADAT doesn't facilitate 96khz very well (it halves the track count), and I have heard some concerns (perhaps well-founded, perhaps not) over the audible drawbacks to the ADAT format vs. AES.

[cdog]

Lynx AES is your choice for AES.

Lynx LS ADAT is the better value if you're not bothering with high sample rates.

If everything is clocked properly there is no difference between ADAT and AES, audible or otherwise.

cdog

[Magnus]

I've heard only the best things about RME, especially concerning their stability. However, the ADAT doesn't facilitate 96khz very well (it halves the track count), and I have heard some concerns (perhaps well-founded, perhaps not) over the audible drawbacks to the ADAT format vs. AES.

The ADAT format itself doesn't support more than 8 channels at 24Bit/48KHz, so the fact that you need two channels to use 96KHz (SMUX) applies to all devices that use the ADAT format, not just the RME cards.

About the statement that the ADAT format sounds worse than the AES format, well, I just don't buy that.

What if the guy at your local powerplant has a bad day and screws up your electricity? That will most likely have more of an effect on your audio quality.

IMO RME cards are extremely stable and works great with software like Nuendo, Cubase, Logic and many more.

Magnus

[fifthcircle]

Lynx AES 16 is going to be your best bet. 16 channels per card, 192K single wire support. Can put up to 4 in a computer.

Their NAMM announcement was the AES 16-SRC which has 8 channels of SRC onboard. Hell of a cool card...

--Ben

[epicenter800]

Check out the new EMU 1820M Interface. It was released at the Namm show. Its got some really nice features.

the rosetta 800 has 2 toslink inputs and 2 outputs of the same. theres a definite potential for expansion...

a couple companies make aes to adat adaptors as well. i think alesis has one and rme has one that may still be in progress or may have released by now

[fifthcircle]

The RME one has been out for a couple years. At NAMM, they released it again... Guts are still the same, but it has a new faceplate


--Ben

[NathanEldred]

I'm personally using the RME HDSP 96/52. However, in the not so distant future I plan on using the Lynx AES 16 (2 of them) and going 96k i/o to the A-D-A with the Lynx via AES. I need the same interface to work flawlessly with mastering as well as tracking and mixing, so I feel this will be an excellent solution.

[speerchucker]

quote: "If everything is clocked properly there is no difference between ADAT and AES, audible or otherwise"

This is not quite true:

Adat is more prone to induced jitter. The quality of the sending and recieving gear plays a part, and so the differences can be minimal, but they can also be significant.

If the recieving gear is also the master clock, then this induced jitter will only exist in your playback system, not in the actual audio.

Additionally, a really good D-A can minimize this problem. Therefore, in the real-world, it's probably not much of an issue, but technically there very definitely IS a difference.

[theom]

the steinberg VSL2020 may be worth a look.
It is very cheap, 2 adat ins and outs. So 16ch in and out. at 24/48


I think it can be clocked via word clock if you feel uneasy about adat jitter stability.

[Magnus]

quote: "If everything is clocked properly there is no difference between ADAT and AES, audible or otherwise"

This is not quite true:

Adat is more prone to induced jitter. The quality of the sending and recieving gear plays a part, and so the differences can be minimal, but they can also be significant.

If the recieving gear is also the master clock, then this induced jitter will only exist in your playback system, not in the actual audio.

Additionally, a really good D-A can minimize this problem. Therefore, in the real-world, it's probably not much of an issue, but technically there very definitely IS a difference.

On the other hand, AES can pick up Radio and Electro magnetic Interferance, since it's based on electric impulses. With the ADAT format this is impossible since it's light impulses.

I'm not saying one is better than the other but I think all facts should be on the table.

[frist44]

It seems like most outboard converters have lightipipe connections instead of AES. I know the mytek comes with AES, but what are some others that offer that format?

[fifthcircle]

Lavry/dB Techno, Prism, Pacific Microsonics, Apogee, most digital consoles...

AES presents many advantages of clocking and general stability. True, as somebody suggested, I suppose that you could get radio interference, but it is a balanced signal. If you are running AES on cat 5, I suppose the lack of a shield could be a problem, but you probably wouldn't use that cable if were in an area with major RF issues.


--Ben

[theom]

The lucid 8 ch units have aes outs and an optional adat i/o
Kind of older technolgy, but they sound very good to my ear.

[Heterodox]

I'm saving my money right now, waiting to see a Firewire version on the Lynx AES-16 (or something like it).

I'd much rather have my expandability be OUTSIDE the box, rather than cramming in more PCI cards.

Anybody have word on when something like this might come about? The closest I have found is the MOTU's and Rosetta's X-card expansions, both weighing in with a whole *ONE* AES I/O. Woohoo.

Where's the damned firewire support?