Fostex D2424lv versus Alesis HD24

[Terry McInturff]

I'll be lightpiping in...using my DA7 mixer's converters...in this scenario, which is the better machine?

I like the removable remote on the Fostex...and the Fostex also has virtual tracks.

[Pat]

Without converters I would choose the HD24XR.
But both are good.

[eh91311]

If you have a choice, pick the Alesis.
Not like Alesis (Samson) stocks parts for their old gear, but the HD24 uses universal HD caddies & generic IDE hard drives (up to 1TB).
Fostex doesn't support any old gear.
Fostex, no.

[Terry McInturff]

The Fostex d2424lv is still in production...at least it's still on thier website as being available. So....if Im using the converters in my DA7...which is better?

[chris carter]

Fostex still supports the D2424LV and if I'm not mistaken, they still make them as well.

I have the Fostex and it's a great, solid machine. I can't really compare it to the Alesis because I've never used one of those. I will say that the remote is absolutely amazing. Mine's on a 30 ft. cable.

[TAVD]

The D2424LV also uses standard IDE drives. I have a D2424LV and it's rock solid. I bought it way back when the MAP was $1299 and the HD24XR didn't exist. I think the Fostex feels subjectively more solid than the Alesis, not that it matters. If either one falls off the back of a truck, your screwed. The two things that would push me toward the HD24XR instead are the converters and the fireport. I think Fostex really dropped the ball by choosing not to develop a similar firewire device.

[Terry McInturff]

I'll not be using the converters in the alesis or fostex, so...will they be sonically equal? Im going in via optical/adat

[DanDan]

I have used Fostex products for years. Very good sound. SMPTE and Video sync work perfectly. They are very very fussy about drives, supporting only literally one generally. This will get you into trouble. They may be IDE drives but there is a proprietary operating system.
Also the Ethernet doesn't work, so transfer to SloTools is via lightpipe. Tedious but it works fine.
The Alesis I checked out was ridiculously noisy. The Fostex is also bad. I modified my Fos by installing a large slow fan in the bottom drive bay while switching off the noisy internal fans. Very quiet now. If you go Fostex which I recommend, do the fan mod, buy plenty of drives and caddies, and do try the Fostex converters. They may be much much better sounding than you are assuming. Time has passed since the Panasonic converters ruled....
DD

[Terry McInturff]

Thanks so much! What specific drives should I buy for the D2424lv?

[TAVD]

The ethernet on my D2424LV works mostly. It's very slow and is something you want to start and then walk away from. It suffers an occasional dropout, usually with abnormally large files (like 20+ minutes of audio). Hence the need for a fireport type add on.

Fostex has a list of recommended drives online. I've used stuff that wasn't listed and haven't had any issues, but apparently certain drives won't support the required large sector size.

The D2424LV uses AKM 4528 codecs, in case you care about such things.

[eh91311]

The thread starter (Terry) isn't concerned with the converters as he's using the Yamaha mixer via lightpipe so it's digital in and out. I agree that the Fostex's AKM4528's probably are better-sounding than the Panasonic Wavefront ones in the stock HD24. The AKM4528 converters are also used in the Echo Mia and M-Audio Audiophile 2496.

Both units apparently require a fan replacement. I put in a PC Power and Cooling silent fan in my HD24 and the only thing you hear is the hard drive spinning up.

Since both units are in current production, I'd pick the one that lets you run up to a 1TB IDE hard drive of almost any manufacture and ViPower generic HD caddies that you can find at lots of places. The Fireport firewire file transfer/translation feature with the Alesis is a major selling point.

The HD24 can be found used at great savings as well.

Looks like Fostex gear gets lots of support here. Good that there are choices.

[Terry McInturff]

More thanks than be expressed to all!

So...how do my mixer's (Panasonic WR-DA7) converters compare to the converters in the D2424LV and the HD24?

My mixer is, obviously, around ten years old.

[eh91311]

Originally Posted by Terry McInturff

More thanks than be expressed to all!

So...how do my mixer's (Panasonic WR-DA7) converters compare to the converters in the D2424LV and the HD24?

My mixer is, obviously, around ten years old.

You're using a Panasonic WR-DA7, not a Yamaha, my oops. Both the Fostex and Alesis recorders' converters are probably an improvement over the DA7 converters, both being newer. Since you own the DA7, might as well try it first and then decide.