Mastering Inferface

[DeeDrive]

I know at lot of ME's out there are using Sequoia and Samplitude along other programs, but my question is what kind of interfaces are popular among ME's? What capabilities do you guys typically look for? Considering you're only doing 2 tracks, it seems like a basic high quality digital inferface should work provided you have good A/D, is there anything else you guys look for?

[crna59]

I'm using 2 Lynx Studio AES16 cards to go to my converters. I think Lynx and RME would be your standard way for getting into and out of your computer.
We might be "only" doing 2 tracks, but we have the best outboard available! A lot of us are now doing surround though.

Regards,

[carlsaff]

Eventually, you'll want AES ins and outs. Something to consider that also limits your choices.

RME just released an AES card (AES-32). I own one, but I'm still waiting on the D-SUB breakout cable before I install. Perhaps I'll report back here once I have it going. If it's typical RME quality, it's going to be good.

[will q]

Been using the RME AES card. It's solid and passes all tests with flying colors In Sequoia 8. For some reason it's not as solid with Seqouia 7.

[Kayo]

I have a RME 800 FW interface. Would that pass all the test in your collective opinions. Cause, I've always wondered, how good would the RME 800 stand against the LYNX or the LAVRY...

Must know...

Thanking you all

[Slogun]

I'd like to add Apogee Rosetta 200 to the list. Has been serving me well the last year.

[Brad Blackwood]

Both Sequoia DAWs running on RME AES cards here (all out-board conversion) - never one hiccup, rock solid drivers. IMO, RME simply cannot be beat.

[Kayo]

Thanks Brad.. Phew!!!
That sure puts my mind at ease. A load off!! Always wondered RME's stature compared to the rest, but now I know, I'm working with a stallion.

Bravo

[carlsaff]

Originally Posted by FaTT Dust

Thanks Brad.. Phew!!!
That sure puts my mind at ease. A load off!! Always wondered RME's stature compared to the rest, but now I know, I'm working with a stallion.

Bravo

Just keep in mind we're talking about cards with digital ins and outs -- the analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversions are handled by dedicated hardware boxes. In other words, most (if not all of us) are NOT using on-card converters.

[Kayo]

Originally Posted by carlsaff

Just keep in mind we're talking about cards with digital ins and outs -- the analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversions are handled by dedicated hardware boxes. In other words, most (if not all of us) are NOT using on-card converters.

Really!!
I thought Brad meant, the whole unit, the total fireface experience "RME 800 Fireface" was good enough. Because, I did mentioned the 800' in earlier threads. Hmmm! A bit lost now.

Well, the 800' offers SPIDF/ADAT/wordclock.. so all good there, but, now the converters are up for review. Am I reading you right.

Cheers,

[carlsaff]

You are reading me right. I would use the RME to send and receive digital signals to and from dedicated AD and DA converters (Lavry, Benchmark, Mytek, etc.).

And, realistically, an AES-compatible card will make that process easier, as some AD and DA converters only accept that kind of signal (and using SPDIF-to-AES adapters can be sketchy, at least over long cable runs... tho I've been doing that for about a year without issue).

[hams]

Am curious, are you mastering guys using all those channels or AES/EBU? I could get away with a couple of ins and outs + wordclock, but there don't seem to be very many offerings available for such streamlined needs. Is there an older RME product that fits this bill? Am also wary of the RME card because my main machine is in a rackmounted case and I have limited slots available for PCI cards. Suggestions welcomed.

[ed littman]

Originally Posted by hams

Am curious, are you mastering guys using all those channels or AES/EBU? I could get away with a couple of ins and outs + wordclock, but there don't seem to be very many offerings available for such streamlined needs. Is there an older RME product that fits this bill? Am also wary of the RME card because my main machine is in a rackmounted case and I have limited slots available for PCI cards. Suggestions welcomed.

I resently just got both the RME 9632 & AES -32 cards. they work great. the 9632 is the more updated version of the PAD, it has 2 channels of aes/ebu via dedicated connector. I got the aes-32 with the BOB-32 breakout box so I could have multible AES i/o for some features that are available in wavelab 6. Both comes with hdsp mixers. I'm sure someone can chime in on other great features. but this is what I use them for.

Ed

[Bob Yordan]

Hiya

A bit out of topic, but...

I got 2 RME 9636 card which gives me 2 spdif i/o and as I understand it,
reading in RME manuals etc the spdif can also send/receive at 'profesional level'
by checking a box in the RME i/f dialog. I have not tried that yet, but I am planing to use an external digital comp that only have AES, with this scenario. I do however have to make 2 spdif to/from AES cables to make it work. Anyone that has tried this? It might eliminate the need of a spdif to/from AES converter.

[ed littman]

Originally Posted by Bob Yordan

Hiya

A bit out of topic, but...

I got 2 RME 9636 card which gives me 2 spdif i/o and as I understand it,
reading in RME manuals etc the spdif can also send/receive at 'profesional level'
by checking a box in the RME i/f dialog. I have not tried that yet, but I am planing to use an external digital comp that only have AES, with this scenario. I do however have to make 2 spdif to/from AES cables to make it work. Anyone that has tried this? It might eliminate the need of a spdif to/from AES converter.

I had the pst & made a spdif to aes connecter, but 96k files would not pass through. i dont remember if checking the profesional box made a difference. but i went strait for the format converter.....
Ed

[jrussell]

Isn't the old "spdif to AES" cable an impedence mismatch? I think you need a format converter for that, even though it _does_ function...

are those of you with WL, Sequoia, etc clocking externally when used as the PB machine? Not judging I'm just curious about these soundcards.

[Brad Blackwood]

Originally Posted by jrussell

are those of you with WL, Sequoia, etc clocking externally when used as the PB machine? Not judging I'm just curious about these soundcards.

I run the RME as the master for playback on WaveLab, but the data is essentially reclocked at the dbTech (Lavry) PB DAC before feeding the analog chain...

[Bob Yordan]

Originally Posted by jrussell

Isn't the old "spdif to AES" cable an impedence mismatch? I think you need a format converter for that, even though it _does_ function...

Hiya

According to the RME site and the 9636 cards I am using.

Originally Posted by RME

Input format SPDIF, AES/EBU (Consumer, Professional), ADAT® optical
Format output SPDIF, AES/EBU (Consumer/Professional), ADAT® optical

And there are only spdif connectors, might be that the card adapts to the impedance levels?

[ed littman]

Originally Posted by Bob Yordan

Hiya

According to the RME site and the 9636 cards I am using.




And there are only spdif connectors, might be that the card adapts to the impedance levels?

From my experience with a tascam dat machine, spdif will run on an aes connection but not the other way.
Ed

[jrussell]

IIRC AES/EBU = 110 ohm, SPDIF=75 ohm

[Bob Yordan]

I better play it safe before I break something, so I think I will go for some nice
converters.

[just.sounds]

what about clocking? Do you use the internal or do you have a big ben or lucid or other
clock??

[Bob Yordan]

Originally Posted by Bob Yordan

I better play it safe before I break something, so I think I will go for some nice
converters.

Nope, will not need a converter. Found the 9636 manual on the net and according
to it

Professional AES/EBU equipment can be connected to the Hammerfall thanks to the balanced-transformer coaxial output, and the 'Professional' format option with doubled output voltage.

[Bob Yordan]

Hiya

Just want to report that it works excellently running AES signals via the spdif connectors on the RME card. Just follow the instruction recommended by RME when making the cablings.

My Weiss DS1 is now integrated with my system.

[ed littman]

Originally Posted by Bob Yordan

Hiya

Just want to report that it works excellently running AES signals via the spdif connectors on the RME card. Just follow the instruction recommended by RME when making the cablings.

My Weiss DS1 is now integrated with my system.

does it pass 96k files? i had some problems when i made an aes connecter for the rme pst card.
Ed

[Bob Yordan]

Originally Posted by ed littman

does it pass 96k files? i had some problems when i made an aes connecter for the rme pst card.
Ed

Hi Ed

I am sorry but I have not got any external equipment that can handle 96k via AES/EBU connectors.

My Weiss is a mk1 and it can only handle max 48k. But I might upgrade it with the mk2 card later, that can handle 96k.

The RME manual does not state that 96k is restricted though.

The first time I tried it, it did not work, because I made the cabling back from the Weiss to the RME connector faulty. I had not check the pin configuration on the female XLR connector, good enough and accidentaly switched the signal (pin 2) & shield (pin 1). *)

*) The female connector, soldering, is different (physically) compared the other cabling and the male XLR connector.

Then I though (shit) this does not work. But luckily I discovered my error before I ordered a converter.

[Implicit]

The HDSP 9632 has an optional AES in/out (XLR-to-DSub) cable you can get for like $20. The standard HDSP 9632 only ships with the RCA SPDIF version.

[soundroid]

just started using Soundbalde this week. It comes with a metric halo interface which
sounds amazing.

[eddierodriguez]

i have a fireface 800 and think about gettin a dac-converter like the benchmark or the lavry.

how´s the converter integrated into wavelab, cubase, whatever?

connect to spdif on the fireface and then change the wavelab/cubase-output to spdif?

so i will only hear the converter when mixing/masting but not in the downmixed .wav-file, right? any chance to get the conversion into the downmix?

thx!

[OJS]

I am thinking about switching from adat to AES. my current gear is equipped with AES.

Is there a difference in quality between the RME HDSP AES-32 and the Lynx AES-16? Are there other options on the market? No firewire, no AD/DA, just a digital AES interface......

Thanks,

OJ