Need 8 ch pre and splitter for adat

[mojo1]

Howdy!

I was just given a blackface adat that I would like to put in a small rack, along with a small 8ch mixer/pre, and a splitter. I'd like to record some of my live bluegrass shows (we happen to use 8 inputs... convenient, eh?). I've read good and bad about the adat, and I don't need to hear more of that... I really don't want to take my laptop rig out to gigs I'm playing (too much stress). Since it's for myself, if I screw something up and don't get a show... no prob! If we record several shows and I can mix them down into a live show for merch... great! If it only becomes a reference and rehearsal tool... great!

Any ideas?

We'll be playing in a couple of venues with limited 48v... so I'd like to supply my own! It would be great if it all fit in a small rack... show up, plug in, play.

I'm not a total noob to recording, but I AM a noob to remote recording.
I have a Forssell fet6 that sounds great, but I'm not sure I'd like to tote it to a bar... rather leave it in the control room.

Oh... I'd like to keep it on a tight budget as this is not a necessity... just more for me to play with!!

Thanks for your help. I DID use the search function but nothing popped up that seemed relevant.

-Mojo

[Jungle Jazz]

How elaborate of a mixer do you need? If it's just basic stereo summing, you might look at the Studio Projects SP828 or the ATI 8MX2. Either one will give you eight preamps and basic mixing (significant price difference though). You might also look for an older Presonus M80.

For a budget 8 channel splitter, check out the new S8 from ART. I just got one. I'll be using it for the first time tomorrow night. Or there is the 4 channel model from EWI (MST-412) that you could get two of for about the same price as the ART (but it'll take up two spaces). The ART just gives you one direct out and one iso out, but the EWI will give you one direct and two iso outs for each channel.

http://www.studioprojectsusa.com/sp828.html
http://www.audiotoys.com/8MX2.HTM
http://www.zzounds.com/item--ARTARTS8
http://www.audiopile.net/products/El...2_cutsheet.asp

[mojo1]

Thanks! I'll check 'em out!

The more I think about it... is there any reason I couldn't just build a splitter... (aside from sourcing a box?)

I was looking around and found a couple more 8pres... probably crap, given their price... what do you think?

SM pro audio PR8-E
Sm Audio Pr8mkii

I know these are not too "gearslutty" but their isn't a lowend forum for remote recording.... I'm just looking for "usable" not "earth shattering". And, as this is an experiment (the band AND the remoteness) I'd like to keep price down as much as possible!!
Thanks again!

[mojo1]

Anybody else... thoughts, ideas, suggestions...

Thanks!

[Chunky But Funky]

Hi, A MOTU 8 Pre will give you 8 mic pres and ADAT conversion (no splitter) and the 828 MkII or 828 MkIII will give you 8 analog ins/8 analog outs as well as ADAT conversion with no pres. Maybe combine the two??? You could probably get both used for under $1000 and have two interfaces as well. If you are splitting before the mic pre's and using an external mixer, I believe you could just use the MOTU 8Pre and some sort of a patchbay. The MOTU stuff has stand alone capability and gives you the gozintas and gozoutas you need. Or I could be totally wrong!

I guess I should clarify what I was thinking.

Mics --> 8Pre ADAT out --> 828 MkII/III ADAT in --> 828 ADAT out to ADAT
--> 828 analog out to PA system

Doug

[mojo1]

Interesting......

I was planning on splitting the mics before my stuff... The house can deal with whatever they want, but I'll supply the +48. I'll check out that motu in a little closer detail!

For an emergency fix I realized that my Behr**** ADA8000 would work in a pinch. (Crappy pres, but it would WORK...).

Also Nady sells a $100 8ch mic pre... just how BAD could it be...?

All of those cheapies have inputs on the front which makes the mic splitter thing more of a PITA.... 2 Api 3124+ would do the trick.... "Honey, we need to sell the car so I can buy a couple pres. That ok with you????"

[mojo1]

Anybody else???

I've been checking around at UBER-cheap pieces... there's a 12 channel alesis rack mixer... anybody know about those pre's. I assume they're fairly crappy, but would love to know if anyone has this or has used it.

Again, I'm looking for an inexpensive solution as this is just an experiment. If I REALLY wanted to track something I'd unrack some of my studio pres and take them out.

Thanks!!!

-Mojo

[Chunky But Funky]

Interestingly enough, I have one of those. I use it with an Alesis 100W per side power amp and Carvin 12" 3 way speakers for my acoustic PA. I have never used the pre's to record, but have no complaints using it for live sound.

Doug

[Jim vanBergen]

I have a Presonus Digimax 8ch pre with analog & Adat outs. Used a HOSA 1x3 adat splitter for multiple record feeds to PTLE and an Alesis HDR. Works just fine, not very high end audio but certainly a solid middle end.

Doesn't get much use with my rig, but when I need it, it's a lifesaver.

[mojo1]

Hey chunky! I was thinking... always dangerous....

If I picked up that Alesis unit I could run sound from the stage AS WELL AS record the show! Interesting...

(I mentioned that it's just a simple bluegrass band 4 vox, 2 inst., 2 DI. no mixing necessary!).

Very cheap, very useful... could it possibly give me decent sounding tracks... err.... maybe acceptable sounding tracks?

Thanks!

[Mick@itc]

8 of these??? Also they build custom jobs..
Mick

[matthewd]

You might find a cheap Focusrite Octropre to be a good option but make sure it has the Digital option

Matt

[Mick@itc]

Originally Posted by matthewd

You might find a cheap Focusrite Octropre to be a good option but make sure it has the Digital option

Matt

Uhhhhh

[wesarvin]

Does anybody else think the ART splitter is any good? I have one of their DI's and think it sounds like poo... A Behringer Active DI sounds loads better. Just chiming in to hear some reviews. Thanks!

[travisbrown]

Try an ART TubeFire8. Despite the ******** name, it's a good unit. Put 4 real tubes in it and it's even better. Worth much more than the price would suggest.

I picked one up for my Alesis HD24. It would be perfect for a blackface ADAT.

I'm a bluegrass aficionado (and poor player). Bluegrass is all about round sound (esp. with the mando). A little tube pre never hurts.

And your Behringer ADA8000 - not the worst thing in the world. Keep it as backup.

[zakco]

A Mackie ONYX 800R is perfect for this application. It gives you ADAT optical outs (with much better A/D than a blackface adat) and line outs on Dsub connectors. Optical to the adat and +4 line to PA. While the preamps aren't earth shattering, they're surprisingly good especially for the price.

[Barnabas]

PreSonus M80 might have all you need, splitter and preamps.

Each channel has both a 1/4" output to send to your ADAT and a line-level XLR to send to the house mixer. This means that your house mixer is getting a hotter level than normal, but should be able to handle it.

The M80 also has a built-in stereo mixer if you want to mix from the stage. Actually it's a summing bus since there is no EQ.

I have an M80 that I haven't used in years, but I used to use it with the TASCAM version of the ADAT for many years. The sound is good.

The manual is very limited.
http://www.presonus.com/media/manuals/29_m80_manual.pdf

There's one on eBay right now for $999 or best offer.

[matthewd]

Mick

What's with the weird purple face thing? My understanding is that the guy wants to get 48V to 8 channels with simultaneous analogue and ADAT output. Having recently bought a Focusrite Octopre for about $500 I thought this to be a legitimate suggestion. What's the face for - too expensive still?

Its a good preamp and has instrument inputs on the first two channels and useful compressor / limiters on every channel.

Matt

[Mick@itc]

Originally Posted by matthewd

Mick

What's with the weird purple face thing? My understanding is that the guy wants to get 48V to 8 channels with simultaneous analogue and ADAT output. Having recently bought a Focusrite Octopre for about $500 I thought this to be a legitimate suggestion. What's the face for - too expensive still?

Its a good preamp and has instrument inputs on the first two channels and useful compressor / limiters on every channel.

Matt

Hi Matt.

I was reading it that he wanted a ADAT splitter, that split 1 ADAT into 2 or more ADATs. Exactly what I am looking for at the moment too. So when you made the suggestion I dived onto the Focusrite site but could not understand how the Octopre rwould give me the split. Rereading the first post I think he wants a split of Analog and ADAT, which this would be great for. No flame intended...

Have a great weekend...I will!

Mick

[matthewd]

No worries mate - in fact I learnt something as I actually need an ADAT splitter so you helped me out

Cheers

Matt

[Adebar]

Originally Posted by mojo1

Oh... I'd like to keep it on a tight budget as this is not a necessity... just more for me to play with!!

Try to get a Soundcraft ProTracker on ebay. It has all you´re looking for.
Soundcraft

[d_fu]

Originally Posted by Adebar

Try to get a Soundcraft ProTracker on ebay. It has all you´re looking for.

Very good piece of advice. I've used a Protracker for years for classical live recordings (8 channels into PC, safety mix into DAT), and it's always worked very well and sounded just fine.
I've had opamps exchanged, some had a tendency to become noisy when the unit warmed up. May have been an individual issue, though.