AD/DA Converters & Word Clocks & Me

[Wylekalker]

The Mackie does indeed have AD/DA converters, and they're probably not as bad as you think.

That said, you can use the Mackie's Direct Out or Insert sends (I'd use a snake that is TRS to DB25) to send an analog signal into the Mytek. Connecting your Mytek to your computer is a little different of a ball game. You'll need an audio card that accepts the AES/EBU digital output from the Mytek, using another DB25 cable.

In this scenario, with the Onyx just acting as a preamp and sending its analog signal to the converter, you won't really need a master clock. The converter can run off it's own internal clock and probably be fine.

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

You would have two choices for word clock, assuming you are using the Mackie as a board: The easiest way is to select sync on AES 1&2 in your audio application. Then sync flows down your AES cable to the sound card. The second choice is to use a word clock BNC connection, hook up a word clock cable between the sound card and the Mytek.

There is a third option: IF you use an ADAT card instead of an AES card, and you've bought the ADAT daughter board for your Mytek, you can connect the two together via lightpipe and allow sync to flow that way.

However you do it you'll need to select a master and allow the other devices to slave from it.

In the scenario you suggest, I would just replace the Mackie entirely, since you are not using half of what it does.

[projektio]

Originally Posted by Wylekalker

The Mackie does indeed have AD/DA converters, and they're probably not as bad as you think.

That said, you can use the Mackie's Direct Out or Insert sends (I'd use a snake that is TRS to DB25) to send an analog signal into the Mytek. Connecting your Mytek to your computer is a little different of a ball game. You'll need an audio card that accepts the AES/EBU digital output from the Mytek, using another DB25 cable.

In this scenario, with the Onyx just acting as a preamp and sending its analog signal to the converter, you won't really need a master clock. The converter can run off it's own internal clock and probably be fine.

Okay, I'm glad I was correct in my initial assumption! Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the different pieces of gear I'll see in a friend's professional studio and wonder if I need to be considering adding them to mine. As far as I can tell, this Mackie board is pretty solid. I've been very pleased with the results I get with it.

[projektio]

Originally Posted by Bill@WelcomeHome

You would have two choices for word clock, assuming you are using the Mackie as a board: The easiest way is to select sync on AES 1&2 in your audio application. Then sync flows down your AES cable to the sound card. The second choice is to use a word clock BNC connection, hook up a word clock cable between the sound card and the Mytek.

There is a third option: IF you use an ADAT card instead of an AES card, and you've bought the ADAT daughter board for your Mytek, you can connect the two together via lightpipe and allow sync to flow that way.

However you do it you'll need to select a master and allow the other devices to slave from it.

In the scenario you suggest, I would just replace the Mackie entirely, since you are not using half of what it does.

Thanks Bill! This makes a lot more sense to me now. I'm so used to simply using the rackmount hardware that I tend to forget some of them require an actual card that is plugged into my computer. Which until recently was another reason I couldn't figure out how those Pro Tools HD interfaces connected with anything! I kept saying, "Where's the firewire output?!" Silly me!

[BushmasterM4]

I know this is an older thread, but the converters in the Mackie 1640i are the same Avid uses. So that should tell you something.

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by BushmasterM4

I know this is an older thread, but the converters in the Mackie 1640i are the same Avid uses. So that should tell you something.

perhaps not as much as you think.

[BusterBobby]

You know I would say that a smorgeshborg of gear is a lot worse than just using mid level gear with a simple flow to it.

I really don;t think you are going to gain much by adding a Mytek to reciev what the Mackie press are delivering.

Also you clocking starts to get convoluted as it is always suggested that you use ONE clock as the Master and slave every other piece to that...and using your internal clock is best when you can.

If you want to go Mytek I think you should lose the Mackie and into a sound card situation...a lot more expensive really.'

I'd say stick with the Mackie firewire solution and get making music!

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by BusterBobby

I really don;t think you are going to gain much by adding a Mytek to reciev what the Mackie press are delivering.

on the other hand, incrementally upgrading a system one piece at a time doesn't hurt, either.

[BusterBobby]

I think it does..as it becomes a distraction of epic proportion. Instead of forgetting about the gear and getting on with recording, the OP will spend countless hours thinking about how much better is tracks should be sounding and running into clocking issues when one unit doesn't chase properly for whatever reason. I have been down this road. It's bumpy.

I say upgrade when you are ready to another all in one solution using internal clock.

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by GaryWeinrib

I guess that tells you they are not that good?

No, just that one part is only one part, in a complicated circuit with many parts and other pieces that affect the sound.