Dangerous Music D-Box

kwilliams · 30th May 2007

Anyone have any experience with this unit?
http://www.dangerousmusic.com/dbox.html

summing/monitor.......

There's another thread on this that was started a while ago with no user feedback.....anyone get one of these yet?

Sid Viscous · 30th May 2007

If you want an opinion...
This is device that was needed badly, about 7 years ago. Now DAWs have the internal resolution to do mixes in the ways that top producers are just mixing ITB. It's a great idea, but too late for it to matter.

Fnug · 30th May 2007

To be fair to Dangerous, the D-Box is far more than just a summing unit. It also has two discrete headphone amps, a monitor controller, two AES DA converters and extra analogue inputs and outputs. A nice little unit for a mobile rig me thinks

Sui_City · 30th May 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sid Viscous

If you want an opinion...
This is device that was needed badly, about 7 years ago. Now DAWs have the internal resolution to do mixes in the ways that top producers are just mixing ITB. It's a great idea, but too late for it to matter.

Thank you for that bit of wisdom from the top of hill oh great soothsayer.

DrKoss · 31st May 2007

Well - you certainly can make a great mix in the box, but to say that top guys are only doing that and that this box is no longer needed is just not accurate. In fact, i know of very few "top guys" that do that.

I think this box actually fills a nice gap - affordable high quality summing and monitor section control. One could pick up an ensemble and a dbox and have a killer little rig.

I have the 2bus and the monitor ST - both of which i love. Going to get my hands on this unit within the week and will certainly post the findings....

Sid Viscous · 31st May 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sui_City

Thank you for that bit of wisdom from the top of hill oh great soothsayer.

I hope you feel better now.

kwilliams · 31st May 2007

I was curious how the summing section compared to the 2-BUS.

I'm guessing it's inferior in quality considering the lower pricepoint including a monitoring section/converters/talkback...?!

What are the odds they're using the same quality of components for both the 2-BUS and D-BOX ?

I have very little experience with summing devices (aside from analog consoles..of course!) so I wouldn't know the level of difference between this unit and a 2-BUS.

I'd be curious to hear someone with 2-BUS experience hear the D-BOX and share his opinion on sonic differences...if any ?

kwilliams · 1st June 2007

not a very popular unit? no feedback ?

BT_ · 1st June 2007

Take it for what it's worth,I never come on this board and hype a box that we sell but....

This box at a much higher price point would still be a great bargin.The headphone amp with talkback drives a couple of Redco little red cue boxes with great clarity.

The summing section is the same as the LT but 8 channels,it's pan knobs on 7-8 and sum output are a great addition.

Now the final kicker is the da Chris designed for this unit will hold it's own with most anything out there.

The build quality is top notch and I do not think there is another product with this feature set and sound quality being made,at any price let alone $1400.

I use it day in day out on the back of an HD rig,thumbs up

Peace

kwilliams · 1st June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by BT_

Take it for what it's worth,I never come on this board and hype a box that we sell but....

This box at a much higher price point would still be a great bargin.The headphone amp with talkback drives a couple of Redco little red cue boxes with great clarity.

The summing section is the same as the LT but 8 channels,it's pan knobs on 7-8 and sum output are a great addition.

Now the final kicker is the da Chris designed for this unit will hold it's own with most anything out there.

The build quality is top notch and I do not think there is another product with this feature set and sound quality being made,at any price let alone $1400.

I use it day in day out on the back of an HD rig,thumbs up

Peace

Interesting! same summing section as the LT but 8 channels.
I take it from your answer that the 2-BUS and the LT have different electronics?

Sounds like a great unit...think I'll give one of these a try. I was in the market for a good monitoring system (Coleman etc..) so if the monitoring section delivers, the addition of a capable summing section sounds like a good deal.

JasonRandolph · 27th June 2007

So, anyone have one of these??? I am trying to get my 32x8 out of my signal chain, but dont see a good solution to sum my synths and ensemble with this box. (using the mackie as a patchbay now)

Is there a way to combine the anolog input and the sum input into one output? (besides using the headphone out) ?

Looks cool, but no one seems to have one/use it/love it.....

Doc Mixwell · 27th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonRandolph

So, anyone have one of these??? I am trying to get my 32x8 out of my signal chain, but dont see a good solution to sum my synths and ensemble with this box. (using the mackie as a patchbay now)

Is there a way to combine the anolog input and the sum input into one output? (besides using the headphone out) ?

Looks cool, but no one seems to have one/use it/love it.....

Pressing the sum switch while in setup mode, will allow you to listen to any combination of inputs after exting setup. Pressing the Sum switch once again, will return the unit to it's regular monitoring mode.

Just to let you guys know, you will only be able to monitor ONE digital source at a time.

We love the D-box around here, there is nothing else out there with simialr features, not to metion sound quality.

peace
mixwell

Ribbonmicguy · 27th June 2007

Hi guys,

Been using the unit here with a friend for monitoring. (Haven't used the summing section yet).

It's far better than monitoring with SSL 4040G console, and Yamaha DM2000 console.

The difference in monitoring was so huge, that a friend who borrowed it didn't want to give it back to me.

He said the difference was proven in the mix; the one mixed with the monitoring section of D-Box translates really well, has a very good imaging and easier to shape sound, get a better judgement. While the one with the console monitor section, was just not in the same class.

Cheers,

Dave12345 · 28th June 2007

shame it doesn't have an insert on the sum output - is there anyway around this ?

Dave12345 · 28th June 2007

I want one !

Ribbonmicguy · 28th June 2007

Hi Dave,

I'm not familiar with any summing box with a master insert yet so far. How i get around it is patching the outboard after the sum output as a final processor.

Jim@SSL · 28th June 2007

X-Rack has an insert on the Mix Master outs

Dave12345 · 28th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ribbonmicguy

Hi Dave,

I'm not familiar with any summing box with a master insert yet so far. How i get around it is patching the outboard after the sum output as a final processor.

thats right, but how do you record and monitor the output of the final processor ? I would route the output of my bus compressor back into my DAW to record but would not beable to monitor back. I have a rosetta 800 so all the outputs from that unit would be going into the sum input of the d-box via dsub to dsub.

H-Rezz · 28th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave12345

shame it doesn't have an insert on the sum output - is there anyway around this ?

Yep , you go into the gear you want to go into and out of it's outputs , the result is the same .....

BT_ · 28th June 2007

Quote:

thats right, but how do you record and monitor the output of the final processor ? I would route the output of my bus compressor back into my DAW to record but would not beable to monitor back. I have a rosetta 800 so all the outputs from that unit would be going into the sum input of the d-box via dsub to dsub.

You would then take that compressed summed mix and monitor it on the D-Box's da converter.There is a sum/daw switch provided to switch back and forth for this very purpose.

Hope this helps,if not call me.

Peace

BT

Dave12345 · 28th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by H-Rezz

Yep , you go into the gear you want to go into and out of it's outputs , the result is the same .....

Ok, so you go from the sum output on the d-box into a bus compressor - then out of the bus compressor back into the analog input on the d-box so you can use the headphone outs and the variable speaker outputs. But how would you record the mix ? - it needs another fixed level output or an insert or something.

Dave12345 · 28th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by BT_

You would then take that compressed summed mix and monitor it on the D-Box's da converter.There is a sum/daw switch provided to switch back and forth for this very purpose.

BT

I'm using a rosetta800 so have no digital out from my DAW. I guess I could get a rosetta200 also but then I might as well get an x rack as Jim says.

BT_ · 28th June 2007

Quote:

I'm using a rosetta800 so have no digital out from my DAW. I guess I could get a rosetta200 also but then I might as well get an x rack as Jim says.

What is you Rosetta hooked up to?You need one more digital out from your daw the D-Box has a da converter in it.You would not need more da's (Rosetta 200).

BT

Dave12345 · 28th June 2007

I'm using the rosetta 800 with the xfirewire card connected to a pc with cubase 4

BT_ · 28th June 2007

I see.

Peace

BT

Dave12345 · 28th June 2007

cheers for the help

Jim Williams · 28th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by FredZman

Hi All,
If there's anyone in the Los Angeles area interested in test driving the D-Box or any Dangerous Music product, please fill free to contact me, Fred Z
Z Product Guy and I'll arrange a demo.

Hey Fred! Is your's still modified?

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

JasonRandolph · 28th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave12345

Ok, so you go from the sum output on the d-box into a bus compressor - then out of the bus compressor back into the analog input on the d-box so you can use the headphone outs and the variable speaker outputs. But how would you record the mix ? - it needs another fixed level output or an insert or something.

Yes- Thats what im trying to figure out. I would go out the sum output into my ensemble (thanks bill- that was a good call) and monitor my mix via the headphone out(on the ensemble) plugged into my mackie mixer 2 trk input.. (post compressor)

Seems like the routing would be a pain until i got rid of the board and went to patchbays for all my synths...

Not sure if the complication is worth it....

Sui_City · 28th June 2007

If i were you, the way i would route it is as follows:

8 Analog Outs from Ensemble into D-Box

Then feed the Sum output of the D-Box into an outboard compressor, then back into the Ensemble.

Now assuming that you can route the returning signal into the SPDIF of the Ensemble, then hook that up to the DAW connection on the back of the D-Box

That way you can monitor both signals:

The output of the Sum pre-outboard comp

And the processed signal via the internal track.

Make sense?

JasonRandolph · 28th June 2007

That would work for sure- thanks Sui

So here is the question, Is summing 4 stereo stems enough to hear a difference?

I know when you add in the monitoring and da, the value goes up but....???

30th May 2007	#1
kwilliams Gear maniac Joined: Apr 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 247 Thread Starter	Dangerous Music D-Box Anyone have any experience with this unit? http://www.dangerousmusic.com/dbox.html summing/monitor....... There's another thread on this that was started a while ago with no user feedback.....anyone get one of these yet?

31st May 2007	#5
DrKoss Gear maniac Joined: Mar 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 169	Well - you certainly can make a great mix in the box, but to say that top guys are only doing that and that this box is no longer needed is just not accurate. In fact, i know of very few "top guys" that do that. I think this box actually fills a nice gap - affordable high quality summing and monitor section control. One could pick up an ensemble and a dbox and have a killer little rig. I have the 2bus and the monitor ST - both of which i love. Going to get my hands on this unit within the week and will certainly post the findings.... __________________ Shane Koss Alto NYC www.altomusic.com/nyc/ shane@altomusic.com

27th June 2007	#13
Ribbonmicguy Gear addict Joined: Apr 2004 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Posts: 412	Hi guys, Been using the unit here with a friend for monitoring. (Haven't used the summing section yet). It's far better than monitoring with SSL 4040G console, and Yamaha DM2000 console. The difference in monitoring was so huge, that a friend who borrowed it didn't want to give it back to me. He said the difference was proven in the mix; the one mixed with the monitoring section of D-Box translates really well, has a very good imaging and easier to shape sound, get a better judgement. While the one with the console monitor section, was just not in the same class. Cheers, __________________ ------------------------------ Harmoko Aguswan Big Knob Studio Right Track Productions ------------------------------ On one hand, I can certainly sympathize with the approach of "Hey, I can't hear any difference, so why should I pay that much?". On the other, I wonder why anyone who can't hear a difference is recording, mixing, or producing records. -DAVE MARTIN thumbsup

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30th May 2007	#2
Sid Viscous Gear Guru Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 15,878	If you want an opinion... This is device that was needed badly, about 7 years ago. Now DAWs have the internal resolution to do mixes in the ways that top producers are just mixing ITB. It's a great idea, but too late for it to matter.

30th May 2007	#3
Fnug Gear interested Joined: May 2007 Posts: 13	To be fair to Dangerous, the D-Box is far more than just a summing unit. It also has two discrete headphone amps, a monitor controller, two AES DA converters and extra analogue inputs and outputs. A nice little unit for a mobile rig me thinks

1st June 2007	#8
kwilliams Gear maniac Joined: Apr 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 247 Thread Starter	not a very popular unit? no feedback ?

1st June 2007	#9
BT_ Gear Head Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 56	Take it for what it's worth,I never come on this board and hype a box that we sell but.... This box at a much higher price point would still be a great bargin.The headphone amp with talkback drives a couple of Redco little red cue boxes with great clarity. The summing section is the same as the LT but 8 channels,it's pan knobs on 7-8 and sum output are a great addition. Now the final kicker is the da Chris designed for this unit will hold it's own with most anything out there. The build quality is top notch and I do not think there is another product with this feature set and sound quality being made,at any price let alone $1400. I use it day in day out on the back of an HD rig,thumbs up Peace

27th June 2007	#11
JasonRandolph Gear interested Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 7	So, anyone have one of these??? I am trying to get my 32x8 out of my signal chain, but dont see a good solution to sum my synths and ensemble with this box. (using the mackie as a patchbay now) Is there a way to combine the anolog input and the sum input into one output? (besides using the headphone out) ? Looks cool, but no one seems to have one/use it/love it.....

28th June 2007	#14
Dave12345 Gear maniac Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 297	shame it doesn't have an insert on the sum output - is there anyway around this ?

28th June 2007	#17
Jim@SSL Solid State Logic Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 1,443	X-Rack has an insert on the Mix Master outs

28th June 2007	#29
Sui_City Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2004 Location: South of South Posts: 820	If i were you, the way i would route it is as follows: 8 Analog Outs from Ensemble into D-Box Then feed the Sum output of the D-Box into an outboard compressor, then back into the Ensemble. Now assuming that you can route the returning signal into the SPDIF of the Ensemble, then hook that up to the DAW connection on the back of the D-Box That way you can monitor both signals: The output of the Sum pre-outboard comp And the processed signal via the internal track. Make sense?