MADI input hard disk recorder

[DannyMac]

Hi there. I have a couple of laptop based MADI systems, but would like a rack-mount HD recorder with a MADI input. can't seem to find any out there.
any help would be appreciated

[LX3]

Only system I know of with a MADI option (IIRC) is Radar... but then you have to buy quite a few Radars to get 64 channels.

I've mentioned to Tascam that it would be interesting to have a MADI I/O board for the X-48... not sure how practical that would be though - not even vapor-ware, it's more like speculation-ware.

The alternative is to use something like the RME interfaces to convert MADI to and from another digital format e.g. AES or ADAT. But still, building a dedicated "hardware" HD recorder that does 64 tracks is expensive and big compared to a PC DAW system.

What we really need is some good dedicated live recording software for DAWs (i.e. somthing better than BoomRecorder)... I know Presonus have plans to develop something (but again, don't hold your breath... I expect they're busy enough with StudioOne).

Oh, and of course, the Genex 48-track had a MADI option. Do a search for posts about Genex before deciding if that's worth persuing...

[surflounge]

Originally Posted by LX3

use something like the RME interfaces to convert MADI to and from another digital format e.g. AES or ADAT

this has AES or ADAT inputs, but no word on MADI... JoeCo BLACKBOX RECORDER


or for $26,537 you might get Klark Teknik | DN9696

[DannyMac]

thats exactly what I'm after, but I only really need a 24trk setup,
Oh well, I'll just stick with the macbook pro and nuendo for the moment then - works great and has never let me down, just prefere to plug in a box, hit arm channels and then reord and be done with it

[Shadowgames]

The SADiE systems all have MADI card available: SADiE Multi-track Recording Products Home Page

but not cheap if you only need 24 channels...

[noamraz]

I have been thinking on integrating MADI to my system (HD recorders based) and it seems like there are a lot of different directions we can take, none of them is cheap BTW.

For me, I have 32chn of preamps and two HD24XRs, Integrating RME's M32 AD seems like an option that can function in two ways for me:
1. splitting the preamps's outputs to the M32 and the HD24XRs so i will get to different systems running different A/D.
or
2. M32 doing A/D, The ADAT outputs of the M32AD to the HD24XR and the MADI output to the HD24XRs - Which will save costs of wiring for the start but is not that bullet proof as two different A/D systems.

Because i'm not that familiar with the MADI hardware i have contacted the Israeli dealer for RME to better understand which options do i have and will post here if i have any news
- I would like to involve mixing capabilities while tracking because i can see the brighter future in providing mix while tracking (Broadcast/Printing rough mix).

Do you have any tips regarding MADI in general? or specifically for this kind of integration of "new" technology with my old reliable system?

Thanks,
Noam

[mpdonahue]

While it's not a stand alone recorder, there is a special version of the Soundscape record application that works specifically with the SSL MadiExtreme MX4 card that is designed for mission critical recording. It is supposedly the most bullet proof recording application they could create. It's not designed to be a workstation that has every feature in the world, but rather a rock solid recorder application that uses the mixer features of the MX4 to deal with all the IO in hardware, rather than software.
Take a look here for information. I asked Fadi Hayek years ago when the original Alphalink/Madi Extreme came out if the guys at Soundscape could come up with a simple bullet proof recorder player app. It took a while for this to come to fruition because they had to get the MX-4 up and running. The street price on this app is around $400, so needless to say it doesn't break the bank.
Also, it is both 32 and 64 bit capable.
All the best,
-mark

[Bixby]

Acknowledging all the caveats of introducing another piece of hardware into the mix... our RME ADI-648 has been rock-solid for years. MADI to ADAT convertor (both ways) in 1U. Then you could go MADI to ADAT to any of the current recorders, JoeCo, Tascam HD24 etc.

Edit: oops, looks like Paul beat me long ago. Either way, I heartily recommend the RME products, they've always done right by me.

[noamraz]

Thank you all!

RME's ADI 648 seems like a perfect integration with my other gear, but i do not see any way to use a laptop as recorder since RME's MADIFACE does not carry analog outputs or anyway to get monitoring capabilities...

Are there any expresscard interfaces that have any D/A facilities?

[Bixby]

Originally Posted by noamraz

Thank you all!

RME's ADI 648 seems like a perfect integration with my other gear, but i do not see any way to use a laptop as recorder since RME's MADIFACE does not carry analog outputs or anyway to get monitoring capabilities...

Are there any expresscard interfaces that have any D/A facilities?

Not an answer to your question, but we use the ADI 648 to split the output both to a mixer with lightpipe input (for broadcast mix) as well as a M-Audio Lightbridge which has 32 channels in and both analog and digital stereo out (for multitrack recording). Connects to computer via firewire.

[EngineEars]

Originally Posted by DannyMac

Hi there. I have a couple of laptop based MADI systems, but would like a rack-mount HD recorder with a MADI input. can't seem to find any out there.
any help would be appreciated

I see that this is an older o.g. post but here is a great solution, kinda under the radar. It just recorders the MADI stream, the machine doesn't even know it's recording multiple tracks of audio. It just captures the data stream (intended as a backup unit.)

OverviewFeaturesTech Data Galler

[klaukholm]

There is a history to that brand that many of us are wary of.

[rcrowley]

JoeCo just announced BBR64-MADI. JoeCo - Home of the BlackBox Recorder
"...capable of capturing the full 56 or 64 channels of a 48KHz MADI data stream as mono Broadcast WAV files to an external USB2 drive in 1U of rack space."

[klaukholm]

Originally Posted by rcrowley

JoeCo just announced BBR64-MADI. JoeCo - Home of the BlackBox Recorder
"...capable of capturing the full 56 or 64 channels of a 48KHz MADI data stream as mono Broadcast WAV files to an external USB2 drive in 1U of rack space."

Fantastic news!
Pricepoint anyone?

[rcrowley]

Originally Posted by klaukholm

Fantastic news!
Pricepoint anyone?

You are much closer to attend the "Pro Light + Sound" show in Frankfurt this weekend than I am!

[klaukholm]

Originally Posted by rcrowley

You are much closer to attend the "Pro Light + Sound" show in Frankfurt this weekend than I am!

We are way to busy to go to the tradeshows.

[JonesH]

Originally Posted by klaukholm

We are way to busy to go to the tradeshows.

Nice
It looks interesting.

[klaukholm]

Looks like a great product, but I have been waiting a month and a half to get an answer from the danish/swedish distributor who seemingly do not read emails. I guess we will have to buy one from some other distributor in the EU.

[Dan Steinberg]

Roland has a new dedicated rackmount 48 track recorder that I checked out at the recent NAB show.

Since it is designed as an accessory to their digital live consoles, the stock I/O uses their proprietary "reac" connector/protocol. However, the roland rep showed me that they make a reac/MADI converter to use with it, so that the recorder can interface its I/O with MADI systems as well.

Price was a few grand or so, I believe. Not sure on the price of the I/O converter.

It records to standard usb 2.5" drives mounted in a caddy that goes in the front. There is also a usb port, so that recorded tracks can also be transferred to a usb portable drive at end of gig, to hand off to the client or mix engineer.

Thanks!