want converters, not preamps! best for the $$?

[sam humans]

I'll be putting together a digital rig in the next few months, and am looking to get as many good channels of conversion as possible. The thing is, I don't need preamps. I've got nice analog pre's and a great old mixer and I want something to integrate that world with a computer. Mac or PC, don't care, though I like and use Logic.

I'd like to keep it around or under $1000 if possible. Used is fine if there are bargains out there that I should be on the lookout for. Again, I want to spend my money on conversion, not on DSP mixers and "great sounding" preamps. Minimum 4 channels, 8 would be better, 16 would be good if the quality did not suffer.

Thoughts? Thanks!
-S

[narcoman]

You're in the zone for RME.

[The Byre]

or the SSL AlphaLink. Works very well with a PowerMac and Logic.

[sam humans]

Narcoman, RME is on the list for sure. Any models to be on the lookout for and/or avoid?

Byre - Aren't the SSL AlphaLink products quite expensive?

[narcoman]

RME, for the money, are a great choice. Robust, reliable drivers and they don't sound too bad at all. Any of the ADI range would suit you very well (but you'll need an interface card etc).

[beau_mckee]

The brand new UA Apollo could be good value, has thunderbolt support too, and 2ms latency running uad plugs before DAW

[anna_britbass88]

Originally Posted by beau_mckee

The brand new UA Apollo could be good value, has thunderbolt support too, and 2ms latency running uad plugs before DAW

Returning MBox Pro immediately...

[narcoman]

Originally Posted by anna_britbass88

Returning MBox Pro immediately...

the new ones? I wouldn't!! They're real good!!!

[anna_britbass88]

lol I kid.

But yeah, the UA is looking solid w/the Thunderbolt connect option!

hello job @ Hooters.

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by anna_britbass88

lol I kid.

But yeah, the UA is looking solid w/the Thunderbolt connect option!

hello job @ Hooters.

I really like the sound of my Mbox3 Pro, but I'm experiencing unbelievable flakiness with it now that I upgraded to Lion. If I have a browser open in the background, going on the net and coming back to Logic results in the live inputs (DI or mic) starting to get a static kind of thing going on, only solved by restarting. Never had a problem doing this before going up to Lion.

Agreed the UA looks pretty cool. Converters and latency (drivers) will be the question...

[anna_britbass88]

I feel ya ^

I've stripped our 320gig '09 MBP 2.66GHz (8GB) down to just the OS (Lion 10.7) Reason 6, and Logic 9. (750GB GDrive FW800 for tracking)

Runs like a beast, granted it's set up for nothing else, not even web surfing.

The only services I intentionally use are WI-FI (for OSC) and Bluetooth for my mouse and keyboard.

I is scuured to do anything else on it!

[mikedboh]

Recently upgraded from an Aardvark Q10(Ancient I know, but great converters/pre's/routing for it's time) to the Steinberg MR816x(16 inputs - 8 analog 8 digital). Got it for $595 new on e-bay from steinberg dealer. Have had zero issues from day one. The pre's are great and the drivers are rock solid on Windows 7 64-bit. I have been recording at 88/24bit with over 30 tracks, full blow effects/processing, and have zero glitches/pops with 128 buffer. I'd say the only minor issue I have is only having 2 inserts for my preamps, but the pre's are so good that I really don't mind it!

You really don't need converters better than what is in these units if your price range is $1000. You would be better off saving your money for mics/monitors or just taking more time honing your craft. Don't buy in to all the sales hype. If you want to use your outboard pre's to color the sound, just use the inputs as line inputs. The pre's in this do not color the sound at all.

[nas]

For your budget I agree with narcoman RME is a very good choice. Next step up at around 2k, take a look at the Lynx Aruora 8. I believe the upcoming UA Apollo is also going for about 2K as well.

[nms]

@mikedboh- the op is looking for something without preamps.. You can't bypass the preamps in the Mr816 and the unit is one of the least transparent units out there in fact.

Read more here and in the beginning of this thread http://www.gearslutz.com/board/gear-shoot-outs-sound-file-comparisons-audio-tests/660499-ultimate-converter-da-ad-loopback-shootout-thread-post7441715.html

[mikedboh]

least transparent? No way. I wouldn't have bought it otherwise. Also people are suggesting RME which is definitely not transparent. You can bypass 2 of the preamps as I said - and again if you were to go through the yamaha pre's on the other 6 there really is no noticeable color. Plus you still have 8 digital inputs, and rock solid converters. I have compared the pre's to my universal audio solo 110 which is a $700 solid state pre, and there is not noticeable difference in dynamics, tone, noise, etc. If he wants to use something with a little color he can always use it on the inserts. It's a waste of money to spend 1500 on converters - totally overkill. The Mr816x is no joke.

I checked the link you posted and although I haven't seen that thread, I was aware of a rolloff when using XLR inputs, but I use TRS here so it was never an issue!

I was up in the air between a lynx aurora 8 with PCIE, and a handful of firewire/usb interfaces. when it came down to it the lynx did not offer $2000 worth of improvement - or ANY audible improvement. The limitation in your mix is almost always the engineer, not the gear. I made amazing radio friendly mixes on a 10 year old aardvark q10. Take it for what it's worth!

[yosefTux]

what about MOTU 24i/o Core PCIe? Retails approx $1400, but might be worth looking on eBay. The plus here is nothing to add but the patch cables.

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by anna_britbass88

I feel ya ^

I've stripped our 320gig '09 MBP 2.66GHz (8GB) down to just the OS (Lion 10.7) Reason 6, and Logic 9. (750GB GDrive FW800 for tracking)

Runs like a beast, granted it's set up for nothing else, not even web surfing.

The only services I intentionally use are WI-FI (for OSC) and Bluetooth for my mouse and keyboard.

I is scuured to do anything else on it!

That's really not necessary to do on a mac...our studio macs are just set up normally with a couple of PT specific system prefs, and they're super-stable.

[nms]

Originally Posted by mikedboh

least transparent? No way.

It's a waste of money to spend 1500 on converters - totally overkill.

Your ability to notice or context which you've had to compare may tell you one thing, but in actual fact it's not even in the middle ground for transparent converters out there. You can read into that thread to see multiple examples of that. I got rid of mine because I don't want onboard preamps, just top quality transparent converters for tracking and insert processing. You might think spending $1500 is a waste but there are much better units out there than the steinbergs with more transparent sound and significantly better dynamic range (like Mytek). Again this is facts only, not personal preference.

To the op, the new UA Apollo looks really interesting as does the RME UCX. If I go for a UCX though it'd be for the interface and use my Mytek for conversion still. The Apollo is the much better option for a single unit solution, assuming they didn't drop the ball on sound quality.

16 channels of great conversation for 1000.-shitters ? You should´nt even post at low end, you should post at Sub.
What world do you live in? The planet where I come from, it´s called earth,.............

[mikedboh]

The RME UCX is not 'transparent' either lol. Just throwing out there that he prob doesn't need to upgrade. I've worked around a lot of gear. Take it for what it's worth.

[markham]

For that price, you'll be hard pressed to find anything that sounds great. For a bit more money, I would look at the Metric Halo 2882, RME stuff, or perhaps the new UA Apollo.

[projektk]

If and only if the Apollo plays nice with windows via FireWire will I get it. Looks pretty solid and gives me UAD plugs which I have always wanted mainly for the DBX compressors and Lexicon emulation. Hopefully the sound is great overall I will be using external mic Pres so if the conversion and drivers are great then I am sold.

Sent from my LG-P925 using Gearslutz.com

[narcoman]

Originally Posted by mikedboh

The RME UCX is not 'transparent' either lol. Just throwing out there that he prob doesn't need to upgrade. I've worked around a lot of gear. Take it for what it's worth.

ADI not the stuff with the Pres.....

ADI isn't great - but in the budget he has, best in town.

[DIGI ENT]

Used Aurora 8 w/ USB or ADAT card.

[HowOwl]

Take a look at the brand new Universal Audio Apollo. A bunch of ins, 4 pramps (in case you need em) on-board processing of UA plugins.

[oceantracks]

Can someone explain this Alpha Link thing to me?

So...if I have a Mac,and a mic pre like the API, I don't really NEED an interface with mic pres. I just need to get the pre into a converter, have a converter for D-A, and be done.

What is the best sounding avenue to do this without breaking the bank? I was thinking the only choice would be the Symphony with the analog (no pre) card...I don't understand MADI or any of that stuff as I've only used Firewire and PCIE cards in the past. thanks

Tom

[nms]

Yes in your case you absolutely don't need onboard preamps. It'd be good to see more companies really addressing this need better. I don't want to pay for preamps I'm not going to use. I don't want a bunch of onboard fx that don't recall on opening a project and most of them wouldn't even get use anyways because I already have my go to plugins. I just want an interface with solid low latency (windows) drivers and conversion on par with a Mytek or Metric Halo LIO8. If the sound of the Apollo is on par with their 2192 or the other units I mentioned I'll be all over that but that's assuming the drivers rock and and probably too high hopes for the sound. What a killer it'd be if it was though.

[mcgruff]

Originally Posted by sam humans

I'd like to keep it around or under $1000 if possible.

RME Multiface. I've got an older model I which is solid and reliable and just a great way to get audio in and out of a computer.

[Avening]

Interesting to hear how many people are suggesting an interface no one has heard (Apollo). Strange ....

Anyways, For around $1K, I'll echo the above comments on RME. Can't really go wrong there.

[yosefTux]

Originally Posted by Avening

Interesting to hear how many people are suggesting an interface no one has heard (Apollo). Strange ....

They're looking for guinea pigs to test out the drivers