Apogee Ensemble vs Lynx Aurora 8 FW ?

[matt thomas]

I am interested too, as I use lynx aurora, and am thinking of getting a duet for portable work in the next few days, except that I am wondering about quality too, I can't try first either.

I also have a mytek for sale (still)

narco

[macleodgrant]

Originally Posted by narco

I am interested too, as I use lynx aurora, and am thinking of getting a duet for portable work in the next few days, except that I am wondering about quality too, I can't try first either.

I also have a mytek for sale (still)

narco

there are so many combinations of converters that people want to check against. i know people are sick of the this vs this thread... so sorry!

i can tell you that i love my DUET, even better than my Ensemble which i want to exchange but that may be because there is a problem with it

it's really smooth and quiet and portable - i hope this helps

[matt thomas]

Originally Posted by macleodgrant

there are so many combinations of converters that people want to check against. i know people are sick of the this vs this thread... so sorry!

i can tell you that i love my DUET, even better than my Ensemble which i want to exchange but that may be because there is a problem with it

it's really smooth and quiet and portable - i hope this helps

thanks, yes it does

I'll order one this weekend

the lynx is really good too. I came to it from mytek converters, and I was still very happy with the lynx's performance. It is definitely not lacking. Hope that helps too

narco

[living sounds]

So what's the difference between the Aurora and Mytek in your opinion?

[thermos]

Originally Posted by narco

I am interested too, as I use lynx aurora, and am thinking of getting a duet for portable work in the next few days, except that I am wondering about quality too, I can't try first either.

I also have a mytek for sale (still)

narco

Duet is cool sounding, definitely no doubt not on the level with the Aurora. But still totally workable and pleasing. I haven't been disappointed yet for the remote stuff I've used it for.

So I'm guessing the Ensemble is similar, in which case the Aurora really is the clear winner. Clear is the right word, as the imaging just seems more solid and far reaching. I love mine.

[macleodgrant]

Originally Posted by thermos

Duet is cool sounding, definitely no doubt not on the level with the Aurora. But still totally workable and pleasing. I haven't been disappointed yet for the remote stuff I've used it for.

So I'm guessing the Ensemble is similar, in which case the Aurora really is the clear winner. Clear is the right word, as the imaging just seems more solid and far reaching. I love mine.

cool, thanks for the feedback. i think it's settled then, Aurora 8 (or maybe 16) it is.

the only thing that bothers me about it is that since i will be using it with firewire i don't have any additional digital in/outs like adat for connecting my onyx800r.

i do still have my Motu 828MKII so if it can set them up as an aggregate device then i should be sorted. i'm preferring this option too because then i'm not tied to MAC though i in the short term i don't see this as a problem anyways

thanks, grant

[atari800]

I'm actually selling a nearly-new Aurora 8 which I picked up from Atlas Pro Audio in January. (Nathan Eldred, who runs the shop, is a frequent poster here, and can reference this purchase.) Nothing wrong with it at all, I just upgraded to an Aurora 16. I have all the original packing and manuals, including the warranty card, and it's in perfect working order and like-new condition. Will price to sell, and will throw in an AES 16 PCI card for no extra charge (~$600 retail) if you plan on making an AES connection to a desktop. PM me if you're interested.

Thanks!

Edit:

Well that was fast -- sold. Thank you Gearslutz!

[matt thomas]

Originally Posted by macleodgrant

the only thing that bothers me about it is that since i will be using it with firewire i don't have any additional digital in/outs like adat for connecting my onyx800r.

can't you do 32 channels on the Aurora with the firewire card? you can with the Pro tools card..

then you just need to plug your onyx into the aurora and hey presto, 8 more channels!

narco

[macleodgrant]

Originally Posted by narco

can't you do 32 channels on the Aurora with the firewire card? you can with the Pro tools card..

then you just need to plug your onyx into the aurora and hey presto, 8 more channels!

narco

this is true, i never considered the AES connections; in fact i've never ever used AES, it's always been ADAT of 2 channel SPDIF.

i know now i don't want to Ensemble, i just can't decide between the Aurora 8 or the Metric Halo 2D!!!!

why can't i make up my mind?

thanks for your help to date

[thermos]

I can probably safely say that once you hear the Aurora conversion, you will probably want to sell your mackie right away. I think you might just be safer off getting the 16 channel version.

[macleodgrant]

Originally Posted by thermos

I can probably safely say that once you hear the Aurora conversion, you will probably want to sell your mackie right away. I think you might just be safer off getting the 16 channel version.

the mackie onyx 800r is my 8 channel pre, not sure it will be replaced easily

i'm really loving the idea of the aurora however the metric halo 2882+2d is calling hard. i can't see a reason not to go for it. the realtime fx and routing is just amazing

have you tried the metric halo 2882?

[matt thomas]

I notice on the newest version of the AES 16 mixer you get 8 (or was it 10? or more?) inputs per channel, where as you used to only get 4

I wonder if the aurora mixer is the same

narco

[desotoslo]

narco

did you ever grab a Duet? How did you find the sound quality compares to other things you have tried?

desoto

[barryjohns]

I would not say there is a huge difference between the duet and the Aurora. Both are fine converters. Personally, I think it is splitting hairs. I've owned an Ensemble, Duet, Aurora 8 and 16, and a Rosetta. They are all very good boxes and they all will serve you very well.

Site note, the Aurora only has AES as additional routing options. And you can only use both AES and Analog I/O at the same time with Protools HD. The Ensemble will give you Adat, SPDIF, and Pre's if you need them.

For naitive, I would always suggest a Rosetta over an Aurora, only because of Symphony. I don't know where it stands today, but everything I read about the AES PCIe Card for Lynx was terrible.

The Lynx Aurora for Protools HD is a no brainer for me, but Naitive, I'd go with other boxes for better options.

[matt thomas]

Originally Posted by desotoslo

narco

did you ever grab a Duet? How did you find the sound quality compares to other things you have tried?

desoto

yes I bought one, but I never tested it in my studio before leaving for traveling round the world (which is what I bought it for) so I didn't have the opportunity to test it next to the aurora in a familiar set up. In fact I haven't even tried it yet even though I've had it for two weeks!

narco

[JPZ]

Originally Posted by macleodgrant

the mackie onyx 800r is my 8 channel pre, not sure it will be replaced easily

i'm really loving the idea of the aurora however the metric halo 2882+2d is calling hard. i can't see a reason not to go for it. the realtime fx and routing is just amazing

have you tried the metric halo 2882?

Not to bag but the Mackie Onyx is not a good sounding piece of gear. At least with Ensemble you would get 4 usable mic pres. I have an Ensemble and am very happy with it.

[jeronimo]

I think as a converter, the Aurora is better than the 2882, but as a tool with multiple utlities, I would say the 2882 is a better choice

[desotoslo]

Originally Posted by narco

yes I bought one, but I never tested it in my studio before leaving for traveling round the world (which is what I bought it for) so I didn't have the opportunity to test it next to the aurora in a familiar set up. In fact I haven't even tried it yet even though I've had it for two weeks!

narco

[macleodgrant]

Originally Posted by JPZ

Not to bag but the Mackie Onyx is not a good sounding piece of gear. At least with Ensemble you would get 4 usable mic pres. I have an Ensemble and am very happy with it.

i don't know the other Onyx gear but the 800r is very very good imo - awesome for tracking drums though not always enough gain
for the price you get 8 pres and very good quality conversion

i wasn't very fond of the Ensemble to be honest. i think the DUET is great but there was something up with that Ensemble, harsher sounding, and that's besides the noise issue i experienced

the 800r along with the LA610 i think i have my bases covered

cheers, grant

[JPZ]

I just happen to be working with an Aurora 16 today. Nice box for sure with alot of I/O for a good price. I've compared it with the Ensemble (although I'm not actually using it this way the Aurora has the FW option) and what I would say is that it is slightly warmer than the Ensemble while the Ensemble has slightly better width and depth. Both good sounding boxes on their own and I don't think you could really go wrong with either. I don't get the Onyx stuff at all though. Maybe I've just had bad experiences with them or didn't use them on the right stuff but they were brutal.

[gracejames]

How old is the Aurora series now? Haven't they been out for a while?