Mackie D8B converters vs RME FF800 converters

[Baykush]

I have a mackie D8B console. Using it's pre's for some time. Now I'm about to buy a converter which I can also use it mobile. Do you think RME Fireface 800 converters are better then D8B? For some reason I have to buy a european brand. That's why Apogee stuf is out of discussion. Do you have a better suggestion then FF800 to improve the converter quality. (I will be using AMS Neve 1073 pre)

[Lawrence]

I also own a d8b and although I've never used a FF800 I'd be shocked if the converters weren't better sounding than the d8b. I only use my d8b converters to monitor midi devices during production but for tracking I use the Traveler's AD (and in a few days a Lavry Blue) which easily sounds better.

I think I can say with certainty the FF800 will sound better.

With that being said, the d8b is still a very usable digital console, especially if you can afford to bypass it's converters altogether and feed it ADAT lightpipe signals via an OPT8 (uh... the DIO? - it's polarity reversed!) card and it's locked to a high quality master clock.

I also have a Behringer ADA8000 that doesn't get much use anymore but the converters are better souding to me than the d8b.

[Baykush]

With that being said, the d8b is still a very usable digital console, especially if you can afford to bypass it's converters altogether and feed it ADAT lightpipe signals via an OPT8 (uh... the DIO? - it's polarity reversed!) card and it's locked to a high quality master clock.

That's actually what I'm doing now. D8B is a nice digi console but not the pre's and converters. So I'm planning to buy AMS Neve 1073, DAV BG-2 and Fireface 800.. I hope FF800 would be a smart choice to use with AMS and DAV??? I'm not sure yet..

[Barish]

Put it this way, anything worth mentioning within that price bracket would sound better than d8b.

Why don't you give Baris Büyük at BL Muzik a call?(No I'm not him, but I know him very well, kinda old acquaintance of mine) http://www.blmuzik.com Their showroom is in Selamiçesme, just after Fenerbahçe. He'd certainly do you a demonstration, may be even a loan arrangement to compare it with your existing stuff.

I have been using an ADI-8 DS that I have received from them for a review in the past a week or so and I am really liking it. And if I read correctly, the analog circuitry in FF800 is based on the technology used in the ADI-8, -the converter chips used may be slightly different, I need to check it out- but a few other friends of mine have Fireface stuff for their mobile rigs and Rosettas in their studios (one of whom is a very well known producer in Istanbul) and they all told me they couldn't hear any serious difference in between in terms of sonic quality.

At least, not enough to justify the price difference anyway.

I'm yet to make a comparison, though.

I hope this helps.

B.

[Baykush]

Thaks for the reply..
Sometimes it seems to me that I'm exaggerating this converter issue a little bit. It is such an issue thet 1 out of 1000 people would understand the difference between mid priced converters and high hend ones.(or less) Anyway we all want to get the best with the money we spent..
Any other European brand that might have better quality converters in the same price range? (2000€ or less)


PS:By the way it states UK for location but you know prety well about istanbul.. Does Barish stands for Barış?

[Barish]

Yes, but that's not my real name. I'm originally from Istanbul anyway. Born and bred. Funny you haven't heard of my joint but many people hang out in there from Turkey, from Ozan Çolakoglu to Ayhan Sayiner, from Volkan Gucer to Sorgun Akkor, from Tarik Agansoy to Hasan Sagindik. It gets people from all sides together. Just click on the bottom link and come over. It's a cool place, you'd like it.

(BTW, the producer that I was telling you about is Umit Kuzer. He has Rosetta 800 in his Virus Production studio, and FF800 at home to take away to tours etc. and he told me that he could hardly tell a difference. And they are feeding Bryston 4B driven PMC TB2s and Dynaudio S3s via a Harrison Series Twelve desk with them. They use some Alesis 24XR HD recorders as well but I can't recall it all correctly now. Anyway, you get the picture.)

Just buy something and move on, I'd say. I'll see if I get to make a comparison the next time I'm over there. It's usually very busy schedule whenever I go back but on the other hand, you can't find such a good set-up everywhere anytime. We'll see.

Just buy something and move on, don't think about it too much. Don't get caught up in all these "what if"s.

B.

[Baykush]

I already did sign up.. Thanks

[Barish]

If you are going for Neve mic pres then I don't see any point in going for a Fireface, though. You won't ever need its pres after the rest of your shopping list anyhow.

Just cough up another 150 euros and get one of those ADI-8 DSs and fire it in via lightpipe. You'd do so much better.

B.

[Baykush]

Does ADI-8 DS has better converters then Fireface 800?

[Barish]

Fireface is a cut-down version of ADI-8 DS, as I understand it. But I haven't tried the FF series myself yet so I can't make a comparison.

Look, go and see Baris and ask him to arrange a demo for you. You can ask it through the forum too, he goes by the name of bbuyuk and replies to questions.

You are living up to your nickname by the way. Two hours ahead of me as well. Bloody hell! A true nocturnal, a true musicmaker

Luckily so is he

I had to give up and go to bed

B.

[Lawrence]

Originally Posted by Baykush

That's actually what I'm doing now. D8B is a nice digi console but not the pre's and converters. So I'm planning to buy AMS Neve 1073, DAV BG-2 and Fireface 800.. I hope FF800 would be a smart choice to use with AMS and DAV??? I'm not sure yet..

Here's maybe your overall best bet, sound quality and value wise, if you're going with the Neve pres and you want to use them with d8b and better converters.

Buy a Lynx Aurora 8, add a PDI-8 (AES) card to your d8b and you'll be good to go. You'll have 8 ch's of really good conversion (probably a step up from the RME) and you can use whatever digital device you use now to get your tracks into your daw or your recorder.

Overall, that's probably your best quality/value move. Probably run you about $2300 total. You can get used PDI-8's on ebay pretty cheap. I found one for $40 to hook up to the Lavry Blue which is also AES.

If you want 16 ch's get the Aurora16 and 2 PDI-8's for about $3300 or so.

[Barish]

He wants to go for a European manufacturer's stuff, though.

B.

[Midlandmorgan]

Having used and subsequently ditched a d8b years back in favor of the FF800, I can tell you there is absolutely no comparison...the d8b convertors sounded consitipated, whereas the Fireface is much more clear, defined, and, well, professional...you can plug whtwever preamps you want into the line ins on the Fireface as well...

Go for it...8 channels built in, ability to add 16 more (ADAT) plus 2 (SPDIF) all into a firewire 800 port...

[FadersmakmeHappy]

The Lynx stuff is very good, but you might want to also consider the RME ADI-8. In my experience the ADI-8 sounds a little cleaner than the fireface. I have read that the converters are the same but that the signal path is different. Since you won't be using the pres on the fireface this may be a better option.

Can you use AES or do you need firwire? That is the real question? Lynx has a firewire card now also.

[The dman]

I had a D8b for about 5 years and I agree the converters suck.