Apogee Duet or RME ADI 2 converters?

[PT6.7UZR]

I'm selecting converters (which also drives a software decision).
I need to hear from you classical music people about converter sound quality.
I am about 1 inch away from deciding on one of these two paths:

1. Buy the RME ADI 2 and begin to learn the Pro Tools LE 7.4 I that already have - total cost $700

RME ADI2 & ADI4 DD

2. Dump Pro Tools and MBox, buy the $500 Apogee Duet and Logic Pro or Logic Express 8 - total cost $700 or $1000

Apogee Electronics: Products: Duet

Something appeals to me about going with apple's software - it may be easier for me to learn since I'm an old fart.

Gear:
iMac Power PC G5 1.6 GHz, 2 GB RAM, OS 10.4.9.
Mics: pair of AKG 414 LTDs.
Pre: is DAV BG1.
I'm recording a concert grand piano - classical music only

Do you have an opinion on which converters sound better, Apogee Duet or RME ADI 2?

[peeder]

Note that if you get an RME ADI-2 you can still use Logic, with all the RME quality, via your computer's built-in optical digital i/o ports. You do not need a Duet to run Logic. You already have a preamp (DAV BG-2) so there's really nothing the Duet offers you that the RME doesn't have.

The RME will let you use Pro Tools with your Mbox or logic, whilst the Duet will force you to use logic. The Duet is bus-powered while the RME has its own external power supply, which suggests in favor of the RME. The RME holds its own with high-end ADCs in my testing but I have not tested the Duet.

[jabney]

For not a lot more, you could get 8 RME channels - with what I believe to be similar circuitry. Admittedly, I'm biased because I'm selling my ADI-8 AEs, but I really wish I could keep them.

best,

john

[RichS]

Originally Posted by PT6.7UZR

Something appeals to me about going with apple's software - it may be easier for me to learn since I'm an old fart.

That line, and the fact I'm an old fart too, prompted me to offer another option.

Since you're doing 2 channel classical piano only, Apple's GarageBand software, which you should already have on your Mac, would be easy to use, have more than enough plug-ins/features for the type of recording you need, and certainly produce as good a sonic result as Logic or ProTools.

Other posts on this forum have consistently pegged the Deut's pres/converters as "high-end" (better than RME) sounding and an incredible bargain for $500 and I would agree... I own a Duet and use it with a laptop for classical location work when I don't need more than 2 channels.

Using the Duet with GarageBand for now will obviously save you some money, give you some time to decide on Logic (or other software), and be a really great compact rig if you need location recording.

[tamasdragon]

Very good advices here, although I don't find apogee that better than rme. Especially in the ad section where the rme might be better, the da section is maybe better in the apogee though.
Tamas Dragon

[dantheman65]

About going straight into the Macs optical In. I've not found great latency with the inbuilt sound on my Macbook so I personally wouldn't suggest it though it really depends on how much you're doing with the Piano.

I personally wouldn't use garageband just because it has a horrible interface. Logic Express would be the way to go.

[PT6.7UZR]

Thanks all.

I decided on the RME ADI2, which means I'll be with Pro Tools LE 7.4 for a while.

The RME and DAV BG1 will all be here by this weekend.

[musicl]

just wanted to bump this as there wasn't a clear answer

Just on converters as a DAC, what's the score between ADI-2 and Duet?

[panatrope]

Right now, I'd be looking at the difference between an RME BabyFace and an Apogee - converters in the BF are more recent and possibly somewhat better. (One other difference ADI-2 to BabyFace is the maximum line in and out levels on the latter are somewhat lower, if this is important to you.)