mixing and matching converters

squizz · 23rd June 2004

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

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

genericperson · 23rd June 2004

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

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

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

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

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!

23rd June 2004	#1
squizz Gear maniac Joined: Nov 2003 Location: mass. Posts: 233 Thread Starter	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	#2
edmann Gear addict Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 444	do a search - that subject has been discussed several times on these boards

23rd June 2004	#3
genericperson Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 521	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	#4
jazzius II Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,002	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!

24th June 2004	#7
genericperson Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 521	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!