Alesis Masterlink... still useful?

R3altruth · 19th October 2009

So I just came into a used Alesis Masterlink..... I don't do any mastering.. I am a producer... and I mix my records but I don't master.... I do mix some of my demos that are not going to be mastered as they are only demos.....
Is the Masterlink still a useful piece of gear? Obviously going S/PDIF out into the Masterlink
Or do you guys think burning waves files straight to CD is cool? Honestly I sendspace and Yousendit 24-bit 48k wave files WAY MORE than I burn to CD... Especially Demos..... Although I do it from time to time and always burn to CD to reference in the car.. I know everyone likes compressed audio but I still like to burn a CD for referencing in the car
I really feel like my LG Blu Ray combo drive burns CD's more than adequately.....
so anyone out there not doing any real mastering but still using the masterlink???

KEYBEEETSSS · 19th October 2009

I don't think the ML was really ever seen as a Mastering tool but more so a storage unit; U can print ur Mixes there as there are quite a bit of guys that prefer that method vs BTD... & again, its a good thing to have the storage & to be able to create 24bit disk or to as u said, make redbook cds for reference or whatnot... I've had 1 since the beginning(I think 98' when they came out) & I still use it... Hell I even still have some stuff on it from back then

chet.d · 19th October 2009

I really prefer to mix to it (digital in) and avoid mixing down to stereo tracks in the DAW.
I think it's a better way to go.

piano · 19th October 2009

Still use my masterlink.

Good for two track projects with a converter - or not. The converters are not that bad on the unit as to be unusable. Most clients never notice the difference with an Apogee or with the Masterlink converters.

Unfortunately, I did lose material in a live situation - due to the quirky nature of how the tracks are organized.

It's a great piece of kit that should stay relevant for another 10 years. 24/96K is a nice comfortable high end medium and we will not be going higher for some time.

R3altruth · 19th October 2009

So running my DAW's output directly to the S/PDIF digital input is gonna be better than bouncing down a 24-bit stereo wave file and then sending that to the Masterlink using some wave player????

19th October 2009	#1
R3altruth Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,571 Thread Starter	Alesis Masterlink... still useful? So I just came into a used Alesis Masterlink..... I don't do any mastering.. I am a producer... and I mix my records but I don't master.... I do mix some of my demos that are not going to be mastered as they are only demos..... Is the Masterlink still a useful piece of gear? Obviously going S/PDIF out into the Masterlink Or do you guys think burning waves files straight to CD is cool? Honestly I sendspace and Yousendit 24-bit 48k wave files WAY MORE than I burn to CD... Especially Demos..... Although I do it from time to time and always burn to CD to reference in the car.. I know everyone likes compressed audio but I still like to burn a CD for referencing in the car I really feel like my LG Blu Ray combo drive burns CD's more than adequately..... so anyone out there not doing any real mastering but still using the masterlink??? __________________ Geek is the new jock!!!!! http://www.myspace.com/R3altruth

19th October 2009	#2
KEYBEEETSSS Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 2,044	I don't think the ML was really ever seen as a Mastering tool but more so a storage unit; U can print ur Mixes there as there are quite a bit of guys that prefer that method vs BTD... & again, its a good thing to have the storage & to be able to create 24bit disk or to as u said, make redbook cds for reference or whatnot... I've had 1 since the beginning(I think 98' when they came out) & I still use it... Hell I even still have some stuff on it from back then __________________ LAUTEN MICS & ME MYSPACE ON'EIM KEYBEEETSSS...."u HeaR dAt"...... *"IS TAMARA HOME?"*

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19th October 2009	#3
chet.d Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2007 Location: philadelphia Posts: 741	I really prefer to mix to it (digital in) and avoid mixing down to stereo tracks in the DAW. I think it's a better way to go.

19th October 2009	#4
piano Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,367 1 Review written	Still use my masterlink. Good for two track projects with a converter - or not. The converters are not that bad on the unit as to be unusable. Most clients never notice the difference with an Apogee or with the Masterlink converters. Unfortunately, I did lose material in a live situation - due to the quirky nature of how the tracks are organized. It's a great piece of kit that should stay relevant for another 10 years. 24/96K is a nice comfortable high end medium and we will not be going higher for some time.