Help Me Synch’em: 003, DigiMax, MPA Gold

[jbuehler]

*I AM COPYING THIS THREAD TO THE COMPUTER FORUM*

So I have my new Digi 003. No comments on it yet besides it looks a little weird but definitely catches the attention of guests in my little studio which is what music is all about right? JUST KIDDING!

Anyway I have a DigiMax LT via lightpipe and want to get something for the last 2 channels via the S/PDIF coax connection (RCA). I don’t want to blow a lot of money here and would actually like something with tubes because I think it would be nice to have some gritty tubes along side my other solid state pres that really seem to be overly clean and pristine (I remedy this with plugs).

So my current idea is an ART MPA Gold which I THINK, correct me if I am wrong, has 2 versions: one which is just pres and one with digital converters and outputs. I would be getting the digital for the S/PDIF coax connection (RCA). I have heard decent reviews of this from real people and think it will give me what I want especially if I upgrade the tubes down the road. Sound good?

So the more important question is this: IS this setup going to work with everything clocked to the LT? Will I have to clock to the 003? I know the 003 has a clock out but I am not sure if this is needed. Anyway, what is the best way for me to get all 3 devices synchronized and recording like a dream? Thanks fellow slizzies!

[s.d.finley]

This is what I would try first.

Digimax master. Sync the 003 via bnc to the digimax. Sync MPA to 003 via bnc also.

So, BNC cable out of DM into 003. BNC out of 003 into MPA.

You'd have the ADAT outs of the DM into the 003. MPA SPDIF outs into the 003.

This is a chain style sync instead of star. You could to star style and have the DM as master, sending 003 clock via ADAT, and the DM could then send clock via BNC to the MPA. The 002 were tricky to sync clock via ADAT. Not sure about the 003.

[jabulani_jonny]

Here's what I had to do with a Firestudio, 2 Digimaxes and an ART DMPA. I wanted to use the SPDIF ins on the Firestudio from the DMPA. When I used the SPDIF connection from the DMPA and tried to sync it with the Firestudio using BNC, with the Firestudio as the master, BNC'd to the Digimaxes and BNC'd to the DMPA as the last in the chain, I was getting all kinds of digital noise from the DMPA. What I ended up doing which has worked great was to actually set the Firestudio to slave from the DMPA's SPDIF input and pass that clock to the Digimaxes via BNC.

Since you're using the SPDIF out of the DMPA, you may run into problems with digital noise if you also connect the BNC to it and try to clock from another master. That's just what I ran into, but YMMV. So give that option a try as well, DMPA as master, SPDIF to whatever you connect it to, slave the other units to the DMPA's clock. Just a thought.

[subendo]

I have a similar setup, but 002r instead of 003. When I leave the Digimax out of the equation and just hook DMPA up to 002 via lightpipe, I get highly distorted signal with really low volume from the DMPA. I'm pretty sure all my settings are correct on the DMPA. Is this a clocking issue? Do I need to externally clock the DMPA via BNC? I assumed it would work with my 002 just like the Digimax does (via lightpipe).
I haven't tried running all 3 together at once. Didn't mean to hijack the thread (especially on my first GS post!) but I'm hoping we can both find a common solution to our DMPA problems from plethora of fine minds here on GS. Thanks.

And yes, my DMPA works fine when I use it as an analog pre. Pretty happy with it in that regard - I just hope the digital functionality of it isn't faulty...

[jbuehler]

subendo this makes me think the MPA Gold might not be the right choice. Sorry I can't help you myself.....

I want something with tubes to max out the I/O on my Digi 003 so the swap out thing won't cut it.

Anyone else know of good preamps that will work in a setup like this? Isn't the I/O of the 002/003 designed for such a setup: built in inputs + lightpipe + S/PDIF coax connection (RCA). = 18 I/O

[Mosby]

Originally Posted by jbuehler

Anyone else know of good preamps that will work in a setup like this? Isn't the I/O of the 002/003 designed for such a setup: built in inputs + lightpipe + S/PDIF coax connection (RCA). = 18 I/O

Yes. You could hook the Digimax up via lightpipe, and the DPA via S/PDIF, and then have the 003 be the master. If I'm not mistaken, the 003 would send the clock out all of the digital I/O.

The 003 does have WC - and if the gear you're looking at would support it, I would try that as opposed to sending clock over the audio connections.

As far as pre suggestions, my observation is that most of the pres that support lightpipe, by and large, are designed with a budget in mind. The digimax costs, what $800? At that point it's $100/channel. Not saying that that means they're bad pres, but they're probably not a huge jump in quality. If you're looking for great pres, buy great pres (digital I/O or not). Or perhaps look for a 2-ch that supports S/PDIF - the quality/price might be a little better on something like a Joe Meek Twin Q. But I would figure out what you want. Do you want more I/O/ Then do something like a Mackie Onyx 800R, Octopre, Digimax, etc.... If you want better pres, then look at pres that might fit would you're looking for (the API 3124 is a huge value). Just my opinion.

[jbuehler]

Originally Posted by Mosby

the API 3124 is a huge value

Too bad it is 3K. I am not at a point where such a piece of gear is even mildly attainable. Thanks for the response though. That Joe Meek box looks like a good 2Xpre.

Any other boxes 2x pres 1,000 or under that have tubes and spdif?

[s.d.finley]

API A2D!



Forget the ART "tooobes"

[Mosby]

Originally Posted by jbuehler

Too bad it is 3K. I am not at a point where such a piece of gear is even mildly attainable. Thanks for the response though. That Joe Meek box looks like a good 2Xpre.

Any other boxes 2x pres 1,000 or under that have tubes and spdif?

In the states the api goes for $2400.

[lozion]

dbx 386...