3rd March 2012
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#1 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 299
Thread Starter | Why so many DAC channels?
Generally, we need a bunch of ADC channels and (usually) only 2 DAC channels for monitoring right. So many converters or all-in-one interfaces have equal amount of ADC as DAC like 8 of each. Why would you need more than 2 DAC channels other than surround mixing which would of course need that many channels. Are there any other uses for that many DAC channels? I am thinking I could get away with getting a separate ADC rack, and a small 2 channel DAC box, and save some money, but I dont want to learn later that there is a good reason for having so many DAC channels.
Also where do headphone outputs fit into all this? is every headphone out another DAC?
Thanks
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3rd March 2012
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#2 | | Gear Guru
Joined: May 2008 Location: Mountain View, CA
Posts: 12,369
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Because you can't use outboard gear unless you have both outputs (to send the signals out) and inputs to bring them back in.
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Dean Roddey
Chairman/CTO Charmed Quark Systems, Ltd www.charmedquark.com
Be a control freak!
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3rd March 2012
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#3 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Nashville
Posts: 4,328
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Not to mention mixing on an analog desk...or summing mixer. But, yes also, any outboard...I have an effect processor that's 8x8...plus all the channels of eq and compressors...
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3rd March 2012
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#4 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Nov 2010 Location: Canada
Posts: 260
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You can use them for separate headphone mixes, sending audio to outboard processing gear, send individual track or groups to a mixer. There are lots of different uses for DACs than just your monitors. And yes, the headphone output (just like on your iPod) has a DAC as well.
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3rd March 2012
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#5 | | Church of UAD
Joined: May 2003 Location: USA
Posts: 2,088
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Yep, that's the ABC of it.
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3rd March 2012
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#7 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Sep 2002 Location: Elmont NY |
Yep I mix on an analog desk, I have 48 channels of I/O, with only 24 in wired, all 48 outs coming back to my console
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Lou Gimenez
www.musiclabnyc.com
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3rd March 2012
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#8 | | Gear nut
Joined: Feb 2012 Location: East Stroudsburg, PA
Posts: 114
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If you want to leave your options open, I recommend getting an all digital interface such as the RME Raydat, AES or Madi Card. Then you can upgrade and downgrade your converters separately as you need. depending on the application, you don't always need all your converters to be expensive either. for instance you could pick up a Behringer Ada8000 and just use the DA converters for your headphone outs, but have high quality converters on the inputs and 2 channel out.
__________________ Darrell Lehman
www.tonegrown.com
Hybrid Analog and Digital Mixing and Mastering, Tracking
Cubase, Protools, NHT PRO M60/S80's, Mytek Converters, Overstayer VCA, Distressor EL8X, RNC, CP10, SCA Pres, Mics, Guitars, Tube Amps.... | |
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3rd March 2012
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#9 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Pennsyltucky
Posts: 2,690
| Quote:
Originally Posted by LeeYoo  | High-end converters, typically, are not codecs.
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3rd March 2012
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#10 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,268
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As mentioned, separate cue/monitor mixes and external mixing/summing, but also you need 8 outputs for 7.1 Surround Sound monitoring.
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