"Ultra" portable 64 tracks recording system

[deardaddy]

Here's the system we've built as main recorder when we need "ultra" portability :

Macbook pro
Boom recorder software
RME MADIface (audio inrface)
2 Glyph GT051
RME ADI 642 (MADI monitoring system)
SKB Studio Flyer Portable Studio Rack

This system has been rock solid for us.

Greetings from Belgium

[therecordinghous]

so, what do you use for preamps and conversion?

[LX3]

That's quite a cool little system, though of course it's the other end of your MADI rig that will take up the space (unless you're recording off a Digico or something that already has a MADI output).

The RME is interesting though, how did I not know about that? What I can't believe is that they used up all that space on the back panel for four AES ins and outs, but left you with just a headphone output for analog. What a missed opportunity. They could so easily have just put all those AES connections on a single D-sub...

And like a lot of RME MADI gear these days, it seems a bit expensive for what it is...

[deardaddy]

This system has been made for the Belgian national public broadcaster RTBF.
All RTBF audio is based on Stage tec Nexus network and Aurus/Cantus consoles with fiber optics connections to the stage boxes.
Our OB vans are fitted MADI connections so it is really easy to connect this recording system.
The radio side of the company has Yamaha PM5D's with MADI cards for their outside work so they can also use this recording system.

When I tested this recording setup 6 months ago, the RME ADI 642 was not needed to monitor MADI as it was possible to do an aggregate between the MADIface and the Macbook pro. I could use the MADIface as input for Boom recorder and then listen to the audio with the Mac built in audio card.
But for an unknown reason this was just possible with the Alu Macbook pro's and not the Unibody Macbook pro's. Aggregating 2 audio devices with Unibody MBP is not stable at all.

Even if the the ADI642 is really expensive for what it is, we end up with a 64 tracks recording system at around 4000 euros which is the cheapest we could find for such an "ultra" portable rig.

The bigger brother to this setup which is based on a Macpro and a RME HDSPe Madi card is even cheaper because the MADI 642 is not needed.
Plans are to put 2 MADI cards in the Macpro and record 128 tracks on the same machine (in fact we already tested this and it works with no problems)

[I LOVE YOU]

NICE RIG.

WHAT about monitoring?

[deardaddy]

We use the ADI 642 to monitor the Madi signal.

[I LOVE YOU]

I mean Monitor speakers...

[deardaddy]

Sorry, I didn't get you ....
Usually, headphones are used to monitor (I love the AKG K271)