Best DSP Fire wire Interface???? Metric halo or Apogee??

[Allen Rowand]

Originally Posted by alohachris

It's fully integrated into Mac hardware and software.

Our ConsoleConnect plug-in gives MIOConsole integration with Logic the same way Maestro does. The difference is that we offer the same functionality in any AU, VST or RTAS host.

I'm not criticizing your preference, but I find your assertions about integration to be a bit off in regards to MH's capabilities.

Best regards,
Allen

[nyne]

The more i research the more i conclude that the MH Labs stuff is one serious recording system, not just an interface.

[Spip]

Hello,

I'm planning to buy the 2882 soon and I have two questions concerning the +DSP bundle plug-ins :

1- How does it work to have the +DSP license if I first buy the MH 2882 (2d card is always shipped with, ok ?)
Can I buy it directly on MH webshop ? and what should I have to do after that ?

2- Everyone here have seen the Sonnox group buy…
What do you have to say about Sonnox Elite Bundle vs the +DSP bundle ?

Thanks in advance

[Allen Rowand]

New interfaces all ship with the 2d card; you can buy the +dsp license from your dealer or our webstore. You'll get an unlock code to enter into MIOConsole to unlock +dsp on your interface.

Allen

[Spip]

Thanks a lot for your so quick reply !
It's, with no doubt, one reason more to buy your product.

I just have two other questions :

1- I've seen on your site that we can put a channel strip on each of the 18 tracks and 2 reverbs but what about the +DSP plugs ? Do you have an idea or some examples of what we can do and what is the limit ? (approx. of course)

2 - Can we use the freeze process offline in Logic or do we have to bounce in real time the tracks where a MH plug is used ?

Thanks again


PS. Concerning the Sonnox and +DSP bundle comparison, I'm going to do a specific thread here

[Allen Rowand]

Hi Spip,
1) The amount of dsp available varies depending on the plug-ins you're using- this makes it difficult to pin down a definite answer. Since many of the +dsp plugs are "primitives" or simple processors, they don't use that much dsp. I have a 16 track session with:
1x 5.1 channel mixer
1x stereo mixer
1x LCR mixer
1x LCR Haloverb
6x MIOStrips
6X TransientControls
Character on ever channel and one bus

There is still dsp left.

2) You have to bounce in realtime; the computer can't tell the difference between +dsp and a piece of analog gear.

Allen

[Spip]

Thanks for your reply again

It's the first time I see a company we can "touch" so easily, what a pleasure !

[madjef]

So, i've been using the 2882+dsp for many years and recently added the 2d card.
I've used all the competitive products over the years, you all know who they are. I started to see the light when these competitors started forcing me to pay huge dollar amounts to upgrade hardware just to run the latest software update. I jumped ship as soon as I heard the 2882. My unit has never encountered a problem, plug it in, its always there. you have a problem, you can call or email the guys and its shocking how they will walk you thru a problem or help you understand something about the MIO console, upgrading or whatever. Its simple, you call, they answer, you explain what you are having trouble with and they walk you thru, right then and there. I was used to those competitors that put your call in a cue and promised to call within a couple of days to help you. MHlabs changed all of that for me. Okay, so i'm using this incredibly flexible and great sounding interface, making records and while I'm doing that these guys are steadily developing the software and hardware upgrades that allow me to open my original 2882 and install some more incredible dsp power, adding Character, MIO strips, Haloverb. I recently replaced my BIG Knob with the MIO Monitor Control and I couldn't be happier, muting and volume handled by a Shuttle Pro thats been sitting around my studio collecting dust. When you combine this with the ability to route any signal anywhere at anytime, you have superior recording power at your fingertips. Hands down these guys deserve tech awards and customer service awards. I love my Metric Halo. I never leave home without it.

madjef
producer/engineer
index

[bluesky]

What really intrigues me about MH's DSP is their mixer implementation, and in particular their "Character" processing. Reminds me a lot of Harrison Mixbus, which I use.

I was all set to go Apogee, but after reading this thread and checking out the site, I'm probably going to go for a MH solution. Looks really good.

[Spip]

Hello, I've just ordered a Metric Halo 2882 and have 3 new questions :

1)

Originally Posted by Allen Rowand

Our ConsoleConnect plug-in gives MIOConsole integration with Logic the same way Maestro does. The difference is that we offer the same functionality in any AU, VST or RTAS host.

I didn't see it the first time… Do you mean it's possible to use the 2882 within ProTools if this one is already launched with a digidesign interface (mbox for example) ?

2) At the moment, I have my sessions on an external hard drive (7200) bus-powered by the Firewire400 port of my macbook.
What is the better way to connect the interface and the drive (mac>drive>interface or mac>interface>drive) ?
Do I have to connect the power supply of the interface, if want to use my bus-powered drive ?

3) My sample banks are on another usb drive but I'm planning to switch to a firewire drive, is it possible to put it in the chain with the interface ?

Thanks in advance

[syntax]

Originally Posted by Spip

Hello, I've just ordered a Metric Halo 2882 and have 3 new questions :

1)
I didn't see it the first time… Do you mean it's possible to use the 2882 within ProTools if this one is already launched with a digidesign interface (mbox for example) ?

Yes, you would use the mBox essentially as a dongle and connect the 2882 via SPDIF. Or if you had an 002/003 connect it via ADAT and have 8 channels of mic pres + send and return from the 2882/MIO Console.

[Spip]

Originally Posted by syntax

Yes, you would use the mBox essentially as a dongle and connect the 2882 via SPDIF.

Thanks for your reply !
Sorry, I've never done that before… How many inputs and outputs with that connection?

[saovi]

Consider also the advantage of stacking units with MH and complete integration. You might be able to do that with Apogee via an Aggregate Device scheme but its not publicly supported by Apogee (which honestly I don't get). Even RME lets you stack up to three.

[Spip]

I was just asking how many I/O are able to be used with SPDIF wiring between Mbox and the Metric Halo ?

[Allen Rowand]

Originally Posted by Spip

Hello, I've just ordered a Metric Halo 2882 and have 3 new questions :

1)I didn't see it the first time… Do you mean it's possible to use the 2882 within ProTools if this one is already launched with a digidesign interface (mbox for example) ?

Yes, you will get 2 channels in and out using SPDIF.

2) At the moment, I have my sessions on an external hard drive (7200) bus-powered by the Firewire400 port of my macbook.
What is the better way to connect the interface and the drive (mac>drive>interface or mac>interface>drive) ?
Do I have to connect the power supply of the interface, if want to use my bus-powered drive ?

If your drive is FW400, the order doesn't matter. I would power either the 2882 or put a power supply on the drive (if possible).

3) My sample banks are on another usb drive but I'm planning to switch to a firewire drive, is it possible to put it in the chain with the interface ?

Yes, you can chain FW devices with the 2882. You may want to consider leaving your samples on USB, and use FW for the 2882 and record drive.

Allen

[Spip]

Thanks for your replies ! thumbsup

I hope I'll receive it soon…

[Undiscovered]

Ok boys I am back.

My new Imac i7 just arrived and I am now able to install Logic 9 and all my drivers and updates for the Euphonix Mc Control and my new ULN-2.

So far its amazing.
But just a few questions.
1) Right now I have my hard drive plugged into the interface at fire wire 400 then the Uln-2 into the computer with a 400/800 adapter into the Imac i7.

So are there any other advantages if I plug the interface with the 400/800 adapter into the hard drive 800 slot then plug the hard drive 800 to the Imac 800?
Is there advantage going this other route?
Or is it the same speed and quality?

2) I want to connect my Vintech x73i outboard pre amp, into the uln-2 by bypassing the Uln-2 pres and going right into the AD converter. How do I do this?

3) Also how do I use the Mio console connect? I downloaded the link of the template you sent me for the Daw summing. But I am not able to send my Logic pro 9 tracks into the Mio mixer to add mio channel strip effects.

Do I have to use the Mio console connect as a plugin?
I am not sure I am setting this up correctly, is there a video tutorial about this subject.

Thank again, I am really loving my new set up.

[Allen Rowand]

Originally Posted by Undiscovered

1) Right now I have my hard drive plugged into the interface at fire wire 400 then the Uln-2 into the computer with a 400/800 adapter into the Imac i7.

So are there any other advantages if I plug the interface with the 400/800 adapter into the hard drive 800 slot then plug the hard drive 800 to the Imac 800?
Is there advantage going this other route?
Or is it the same speed and quality?

If you are using a FW800 drive, it should be first in the chain. If it is FW400 it doesn't matter.

2) I want to connect my Vintech x73i outboard pre amp, into the uln-2 by bypassing the Uln-2 pres and going right into the AD converter. How do I do this?

Use the insert return. This feeds directly into the A/D.

3) Also how do I use the Mio console connect? I downloaded the link of the template you sent me for the Daw summing. But I am not able to send my Logic pro 9 tracks into the Mio mixer to add mio channel strip effects.

You need to send each track on its own output in Logic, then into the MIOMixer on DAW channels.

Do I have to use the Mio console connect as a plugin?
I am not sure I am setting this up correctly, is there a video tutorial about this subject.

There is a tutorial at Metric Halo Technotes; "FW Returns and ConsoleConnect"

Allen

[Undiscovered]

Ok first off. I am loving my Uln 2. The options are endless. I love having dsp when recording.


But..Just lately I noticed (could be my logic pro 9 or Imac acting up) the sound is acting up.
I noticed that all the tracks in logic went to mono, and when I went to panned all the way to the right the sound would dissapear.
I solved this problem by resetting my audio interface in logic to Internal audio then back to Uln-2.
That worked and now I can pan within the stereo field.

Now I noticed that when I try to play a soft synth in Logic when I have a limiter on the master bus I am getting this crazy loud distortion noise.
The cpu meters are not even moving but I am still getting a crazy distortion sound.
I would then take off the limiter or bypass the limiter and then I can play with out the distortion.

ALso there has been times when I would push play and I would get that distortion noise on all my tracks and it sounded like they were all being played through a higain amp.
I would have to exit and reload logic pro 9 and then its fine.

I am not sure if its Logic pro 9 acting up, Or ULn-2 , or my new Imac 17.
Has anyone expereinced this?

Thank you in advance.

[Allen Rowand]

I've had bizarre problems with Logic 9 on my Mini and MBP running 10.6.2 recently. At first I thought it was related to beta software I was testing on the Mini, but then had the problem using the built-in audio on the MBP. Everything will be running fine, then after I stop playback to adjust something and hit play again, I'll occasionally get a grungy ring-buffer noise. Quitting Logic and relaunching cures it, with nothing odd reported in the logs. This happened running at 192k on the Mini, and 96k on the MBP. The Mini was running audio from a USB drive, and the MBP was using the internal drive. Both were stereo sessions, and shouldn't have come close to over-saturating the bus.

Time to file bug reports with Apple…

[Undiscovered]

Hey guys I am finally getting a chance to test out my Vintech x73i and distressor el8-x through my uln-2.
I have not used these devices in months because the uln-2 has been so great that I forgot I had these expensive dust collectors. lol

Anyway I'm thinking about selling these devices but I want to try them first to see if theres a big difference in sound. I want to patch my devices through the Uln-2 and straight into the converters and bypassing the uln-2 preamps.

I was recommended through this thread to insert through the insert return of the Uln-2.

My question is what type of wire should I use to do this?
I only have xlr cables and the return insert is only 1/4 inch.
The only extra 1/4 inch wire I have laying around is a guitar cord. Can I use the guitar cord to patch this to work or do I need a special 1/4 inch to 1/4 inch patch cable??

[Spip]

I'm not specialist of this sort of question and someone else could have a better answer but I think you need an "insert 1/4 inch wire". It looks like a stereo wire (like those at the end of the head-phones) but it's made for insert purpose.

Hope this helps

[nyne]

Originally Posted by mh_bj

A couple of Factual points:

1) If you connect iMac <-> FW800 HD <-> Mobile I/O using a FW800 cable to the HD, the computer will communicate with the dive at FW800; it does NOT slow the entire bus down to FW400. Communications with the MIO will be at FW400, but that is not an issue, especially for one box.

........Is this unique to MHLabs ? The popular belief is that the slowest link in the FW chain brings the whole bus down to that speed...... i:e in the above chain, the M I/O would bring down the whole bus to FW400 and the Drive would also communicate at FW400.

Please give details for this.
Thanks

[mh_bj]

Originally Posted by nyne

Is this unique to MHLabs ? The popular belief is that the slowest link in the FW chain brings the whole bus down to that speed......

It is not unique to MHLabs. Popular does not equal correct.

Originally Posted by nyne

i:e in the above chain, the M I/O would bring down the whole bus to FW400 and the Drive would also communicate at FW400.

This is not correct. All traffic to the FW400 device will be at s400, but if the FW800 devices are connected together with FW800 cabling (and not through a FW400 device or hub nor with FW400 cabling) then the FW800 devices will use s800 for communications between themselves. Speed is determined on a packet by packet basis in FireWire, and the system knows the maximum speed supported between any two nodes.

So, it is incorrect to think that attaching a FW400 device to a FW800 bus will slow the entire bus down to FW400 for all transactions. It only places a bottleneck on the transactions that have to pass through the FW400 device.

Best regards,

[nyne]

Thanks for ur response to this!

And as a manufacturer of FW interfaces, how do feel about daisy chaining interfaces and hard drives. Do u have any track counts/tests that you may have carried out with ur interfaces ?
Best regards
Faisal

[sanjari]

All MH needs now is Linux or PC drivers....

Steve

[Chucho]

As a gratuitous add on:
I have a uln-2d along with Logic 7.

I have been working like this for about a year and completely love it.
I thought ,at the beginning, that the 2 mixer scenario would be clumsy but it's easy and flexible.
The MH pre's and converters are sweeeet.

mac laptop - FW to uln2d - FW to 7200 speed ext drive - no probs

[inthere]

Originally Posted by alohachris

Aloha,

I'd go with the Ensemble over the MH and certainly over the RME 800. It's fully integrated into Mac hardware and software. It's a GREAT sounding unit that is almost universally praised. If the sound quality is the same, then I suggest that you go with the integrated unit/signal chain everytime to avoid compatibility issues down the road. The new iMac i7, Logic 9 and Apogee Ensemble together are as good as it gets for home recording, IMO.

alohachris

In my experience, Metric Halo drivers have been more stable than Apogees in Logic. I'm on Logic 9.1.1 now and the ULN-8 drivers are rock solid.

[zephonic]

Q for the MH boffins: Are you guys going to stick with FW400 or are there other protocols on the horizon? FW800? USB3? Ethernet? or PCIe?

[chai t]

great! i'm all excited to get my 2882 2d next month! is there a group buy for the +DSP? i'd really like to buy it all in one go but reality must prevail. the best i can do at this point is +DSP maybe late this year.