All digital VS. analog / digital combo

[MikeV]

I have been in constant debate over what to do for mobile recording. We are looking at mid-sized venues and I am deciding between a roll-in rack right to digital or a trailer with a control room and analog console to DAW or HD24.

The roll-in rack will consist of 32 ch of pre-amplification. I am looking at the Mackie Onyx 800R units into a FireStidio lightpipe connected to Logic with two HD24 or similar receiving the analog outputs for backup record.

The mobile control room would be based in an E250 Extended cargo van or trailer (leaning towards the trailer). The heart of it would be a Soundtracs Topaz 32CH inline mixer. This would go right to double sets of HD24 or similar (primary and backup) or potentially double MOTU 24 I/O units into Logic and a set of HD24s for backup.

The Roll-in rack would allow easy transport and all editing would be done at our in-house facility which is full digital.

The mobile control room would require all editing in the trailer.

My biggest peve is not being able to properly monitor incoming signals; and by properly monitor I mean monitor with the ability to apply EQ, compression and the like without effecting the recorded signal, the mobile control room would allow for this.

The FireStudio Lightpipe does have a digital mixer which would allow latency free monitoring through a pair of headphones (I am thinking the Beyer Dynamic DT770 Pro). But again, no EQ or compression. I could monitor through Logic but I would imagine that listening to 32CH with EQ on all channels an compression on at least four would be inherently unstable.

Curious on what everyone thought

Thank in advance!

- Mike

[bishopthomas]

It's great to have the isolation that a truck offers, but sometimes you also need the portability of a fly-pack rig. Either way you'll want some way to monitor your recorders, whether it's a full console or some type of line mixer. Any reason why you want to have full mix capability while tracking? Are you planning on doing live to 2-track or broadcast work?

I also made this decision recently and I decided to build a portable rig with the intent of installing it into a truck soon after acquiring the gear. By making the truck gear portable enough to remove it allows you to bring it into a venue when necessary. I will say, though, if you decide to do the truck/trailer thing (and I would go with a small box truck or taller roof van so you can stand up) you should really do it right from the start. Think things through very carefully: How are you going to route signal to and from the truck? How will you get power to it? What if it rains? Everything needs to be able to close completely and be waterproof. There's a lot that goes into a mobile recording unit but it can be a worthwhile venture. But maybe you're at a point where you need to keep things simple. It's up to you.

[MikeV]

Thanks for the input! I have opted for a roll-in unit and an audio interface that allows on-the-card monitoring ie: Firestudio Lightpipe from my A/D converters. This will allow me to solo, adjust levels and get a general OK mix for monitoring purposes (personal). I will be recording likely into Logic Pro 8 and one or more hard disk recorders for the o-so-important backup.

One question on that; can the hard disks put out signal through lightpipe realtime as the signal enters the recorder? That way i could us the HD as an A/D and and recorder and also send the signal out of it into the lightpipe conected to logic for my primary record and monitoring?

Thank you!

- Mike

[bishopthomas]

Yes, the HD24 will pass signal through the ADAT outs, but if something happens then you will lose your "backup" machine too. So you really need to split the signal before going to the recorder(s). Many preamps with internal A/D also have analog outs. So your digital outs could go to the computer and analog could go to the HD recorder.