GR + Apogee Mini-Me + Maudiophile2496 = Good PTLE Project Studio?

[JRo]

I'm trying to put together a cost-efficient PT project studio to do bass/guitars/vox for a small indie band.


We have a GreatRiver MP1NV Pre and an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 soundcard on the machine running Protools.
We only need to record one channel at a time.

If I get the Apogee Mini-Me would that give me a decent signal chain?

GreatRiver -> Apogee Mini-Me SPDIF -> M-Audio Audiophile2496 Digital In...


I realize that the M-Audiophile 2496 is a cheap cheap card... but does that even matter when you're going digital in? It's basically just a PT dongle at that point, correct me if I'm wrong?

-JRo

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by JRo

I realize that the M-Audiophile 2496 is a cheap cheap card... but does that even matter when you're going digital in? It's basically just a PT dongle at that point, correct me if I'm wrong?

-JRo

You're correct. I have a Rosetta 800 -> Digi 002 rack unit. It's basically Apogee to Pro Tools at that point.

I like the Mini Me. It's underrated. The mic preamps in it will be a nice contrast to the GR. They're clean and have a nice amount of headroom.

The soft-limit function is very good. I have to admit that I leave it on a lot of the time. Especially if I'm doing rock and roll stuff.

[JRo]

so, once the signal is converted to digital through the Apogee, it doesn't matter that the audiophile2496 is a crappy $100 soundcard? the signal is just passing through it right?

[NesNeedsGear]

Originally Posted by JRo

so, once the signal is converted to digital through the Apogee, it doesn't matter that the audiophile2496 is a crappy $100 soundcard? the signal is just passing through it right?

pretty much.

The 1's and 0's are handled by the apogee converters going in.

Going out is another story. you gonna upgrade there too?
dac is 50% of the monitoring chain. and you can't mix what you can't hear.

[JRo]

I'm looking to keep cost to a minimum, so no, not for this project.

We have access to a couple pretty high-end rooms we can get in to tweak mixes and such... So we're hoping to get a front-end we're confident tracking with and go from there.

The monitors are Yorkville YSM1Ps so upgrading the D/A would probably include getting some better monitors as well. That will be next possibly, or maybe a nice hardware compressor...? Money money money, good times isn't it?


Anybody have comments/opinions on the Apogee Mini-Me?

[JRo]

Well, I got the Mini-Me, it's a sharp little fella! I managed to find a slightly used one at the Long and McQuade in Toronto(Bloor St) for $889CAN...Seems like a good deal to me!

[NesNeedsGear]

Originally Posted by JRo

Well, I got the Mini-Me, it's a sharp little fella! I managed to find a slightly used one at the Long and McQuade in Toronto(Bloor St) for $889CAN...Seems like a good deal to me!

congrats on the purchase. looks like you saved yourself $100 or so good ones (usd).

now go make some music!

[mrface2112]

make sure that you're clocking the 2496 card to the minime, too, and you'll get much better results out of your DAC side of things than you will running with the 2496's internal clock.


cheers,
wade

[Grasshopper]

mini me