mixing and matching converters

squizz · 23rd June 2004, 06:42 AM

how big of a problem is latency when mixing and matching different converters out to an analog console? do most converters have around the same latency or are most converter latency times very different?

i was think of getting a few top notch d/a's for important things (i.e. vocals, solo instruments) to go along with my converters now which are decent.

edmann · 23rd June 2004, 03:31 PM

do a search - that subject has been discussed several times on these boards

genericperson · 23rd June 2004, 04:32 PM

that's a great question!

i was entertaining the idea of getting different pairs of excellent converters along the way, and then running them off something like an aes-16.

something like the u-audio, pair of lavry, pair of benchmark, pair of mytek, pair of weiss, etc.

i wasn't even thinking of a potential latency discrepancy.

jazzius II · 23rd June 2004, 04:36 PM

I imagine it would only be a problem if you were doing some multi-bussing of the same track.....like if you ran the kick out of 2 different converters, then summed them again.....that could be a problem......but if you were sending different mix elements out of the different D/A's, i imagine the delay difference is unnoticable (a few samples?).......someone is almost certain to disagree!

genericperson · 23rd June 2004, 07:16 PM

good point. hopefully some more people can chime in on this.

i'd personally be sending different mix elements to different converters, picking the best converter synergy of sound for each element.

one reason for this idea is this: each converter has different artifacts. so mixing converters (even very good ones) means you don't get the same build-up of the same artifacts.

NathanEldred · 23rd June 2004, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by genericperson

one reason for this idea is this: each converter has different artifacts. so mixing converters (even very good ones) means you don't get the same build-up of the same artifacts.

I mix and match all the time, but I have a clear decision as to what I would use if I could afford it (across 24 channels of i/o). I don't ascribe to the thought about 'build up and artifacts', where one converter is better on one source than another. In my opinion, in the converter world there is a clear cut better and not better...it's not like preamps where there is different, but equally as good. For my purposes, converters are there to provide as much accuracy as possible. Color/character/non linearities can be derived from microphones, preamps, and other processing (IMHO).

genericperson · 24th June 2004, 02:10 AM

not necessarily pairing the artifacts with the source material. more like pairing the source material with the converter, and then the random benefit of different artifacts regardless of combinations used.

as an example. which do you think would provide a better d-a conversion landscape: 8 channels of mytek, or 2 of mytek, 2 of lavry blue, two of benchmark dac-1, and the uad 2192?

that's my basic thinking. subject to debate and controversy of course!

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23rd June 2004, 06:42 AM	#1
squizz Gear maniac Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: mass. Posts: 232	mixing and matching converters how big of a problem is latency when mixing and matching different converters out to an analog console? do most converters have around the same latency or are most converter latency times very different? i was think of getting a few top notch d/a's for important things (i.e. vocals, solo instruments) to go along with my converters now which are decent.

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23rd June 2004, 03:31 PM	#2
edmann Gear addict Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 429	do a search - that subject has been discussed several times on these boards

23rd June 2004, 04:32 PM	#3
genericperson Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 522	that's a great question! i was entertaining the idea of getting different pairs of excellent converters along the way, and then running them off something like an aes-16. something like the u-audio, pair of lavry, pair of benchmark, pair of mytek, pair of weiss, etc. i wasn't even thinking of a potential latency discrepancy.

23rd June 2004, 04:36 PM	#4
jazzius II Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,005	I imagine it would only be a problem if you were doing some multi-bussing of the same track.....like if you ran the kick out of 2 different converters, then summed them again.....that could be a problem......but if you were sending different mix elements out of the different D/A's, i imagine the delay difference is unnoticable (a few samples?).......someone is almost certain to disagree!

23rd June 2004, 07:16 PM	#5
genericperson Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 522	good point. hopefully some more people can chime in on this. i'd personally be sending different mix elements to different converters, picking the best converter synergy of sound for each element. one reason for this idea is this: each converter has different artifacts. so mixing converters (even very good ones) means you don't get the same build-up of the same artifacts.

24th June 2004, 02:10 AM	#7
genericperson Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 522	not necessarily pairing the artifacts with the source material. more like pairing the source material with the converter, and then the random benefit of different artifacts regardless of combinations used. as an example. which do you think would provide a better d-a conversion landscape: 8 channels of mytek, or 2 of mytek, 2 of lavry blue, two of benchmark dac-1, and the uad 2192? that's my basic thinking. subject to debate and controversy of course!