Apogee VS Rosetta VS Lynx VS Digidesign

T_R_S · 10th August 2008, 06:50 AM

OK Here is my Analog to Digital Convertor test
there is a 1.2 GB session to download in 4 zipped files
You NEED to download ALL 4 Zipped files
AD-16X
Rosetta 800
Lynx Aurora
Digidesign 192
All clocked to a Big Ben all direct connected to Protools HD.

Download Link My Podcast

Don't forget you can add comments on the Podcast - Thanks

norman_nomad · 10th August 2008, 08:14 AM

Holy crap. And I thought I was going to bed.

dbjp · 10th August 2008, 11:41 AM

Thanks. Downloading!

norman_nomad · 10th August 2008, 07:46 PM

So a couple questions...

Were the original mixes all tracked to analog then dumped to digital for this test?

Or was this a digital mix that you dumped to tape, then used the tape for the a/d test?

In the latter case... what converters did you use to dump the digital mix to tape?

Flying_Dutchman · 11th August 2008, 09:53 AM

Thanks!

studio_drummer · 11th August 2008, 02:09 PM

Thank you for doing this. Any chance of doing the Aurora clocked internally instead to the Big Ben? That's where the big controversy is...

Gzmo · 12th August 2008, 02:17 AM

Thanks for doing the comparison.downloading...

RoB

norman_nomad · 12th August 2008, 05:35 AM

So far no one has commented on the sounds... so I'll be the first to venture out.

To begin with I think we all understand that this is not a test to determine which converter is the "best" or most accurate because we are not able to hear the original analog recording pre-conversion. So we can only really comment on the d/a's in reference to one another.

After calibrating everything in Cubase down to .1db, clipping out phrases of each tune and then doing my own a/b I was hard pressed to consistently guess which converter I was listening to. The differences to my ears are very subtle. This might have something to do with the clock source being the same on each box. I would love to hear this done with each box clocked internally. (please?!?!?!)

If I were forced to pen my observations I would say that generally the Aurora had a more present upper mid-range and possibly a slightly lacking low mid. Both Apogees had a nice lower mid, but lost a bit of clarity because of this. I think the ad-16x had the best combination of smoothness and clarity. The 192 was no slouch... it seemed somewhat neutral and ever so slightly less focused than the other converters. I was surprised at how much I liked the Rosetta. It sounds really good!

At the end of the day... this is about as geeky as I care to get. I could use any of these boxes and loose no sleep.

Thanks for the test!!

T_R_S · 12th August 2008, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norman_nomad

So a couple questions...

Were the original mixes all tracked to analog then dumped to digital for this test?

Or was this a digital mix that you dumped to tape, then used the tape for the a/d test?

In the latter case... what converters did you use to dump the digital mix to tape?

No Tape - Grace m904 D/A

its a relative test Listen to how the convertors compare to EACH OTHER.

andremattos · 12th August 2008, 06:28 AM

great!

norman_nomad · 12th August 2008, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T_R_S

No Tape - Grace m904 D/A

its a relative test Listen to how the convertors compare to EACH OTHER.

Got it! It's also nice to know you used a totally different converter for the d/a.

The tracks all sound really great btw.

elambo · 12th August 2008, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norman_nomad

This might have something to do with the clock source being the same on each box. I would love to hear this done with each box clocked internally.

Me too! The Big Ben is leveling the playing field to an extent. Clock 'em internally - THAT I'd like to hear.

thermos · 12th August 2008, 07:33 AM

Sounds like he probably did this test to determine which converter he liked best in his setup (ie, has to use a master clock). Yeah, internal clocking would make a much bigger difference.

norman_nomad · 13th August 2008, 11:13 AM

No additional comments?

T_R_S - Which converters do you prefer here?

Gzmo · 14th August 2008, 12:25 AM

wow thx again for the test
what a diff between the rosetta and the 16x
all my best,

RoB

T_R_S · 14th August 2008, 12:29 AM

I like the Lynx the least of them all.
But I only use my Lynx for inserts for my 1176's and My Lexicons on the digital side of the Lynx
With that said they are pretty close.
I like the Drums sound best in the AD-16X and 192 and I and like the way vocals and guitars sound in the Rosetta.

I used the BB to clock the convertors because that's way I need to have my system set up. I have several devices and I need 128 channels of I/O

Protools Guy · 14th August 2008, 12:30 AM

Wow! I can't believe I was able to correctly identify all four...

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10th August 2008, 06:50 AM	#1
T_R_S Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Canuk Posts: 3,415	Apogee VS Rosetta VS Lynx VS Digidesign OK Here is my Analog to Digital Convertor test there is a 1.2 GB session to download in 4 zipped files You NEED to download ALL 4 Zipped files AD-16X Rosetta 800 Lynx Aurora Digidesign 192 All clocked to a Big Ben all direct connected to Protools HD. Download Link My Podcast Don't forget you can add comments on the Podcast - Thanks __________________ === NEW Into Eternity Video Pre-Release

12th August 2008, 06:28 AM	#10
andremattos Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brazil - Amazon (the heart of the world) Posts: 706	great! __________________ Record Engineer - Musician - Producer Brazil - Amazon http://www.palcomp3.com.br/andremattos

14th August 2008, 12:29 AM	#16
T_R_S Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Canuk Posts: 3,415	I like the Lynx the least of them all. But I only use my Lynx for inserts for my 1176's and My Lexicons on the digital side of the Lynx With that said they are pretty close. I like the Drums sound best in the AD-16X and 192 and I and like the way vocals and guitars sound in the Rosetta. I used the BB to clock the convertors because that's way I need to have my system set up. I have several devices and I need 128 channels of I/O __________________ === NEW Into Eternity Video Pre-Release

14th August 2008, 12:30 AM	#17
Protools Guy Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: US of A Posts: 1,014	Wow! I can't believe I was able to correctly identify all four... __________________ I only need one more piece of gear...

10th August 2008, 08:14 AM	#2
norman_nomad Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 1,978	Holy crap. And I thought I was going to bed.

10th August 2008, 11:41 AM	#3
dbjp Gear addict Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Japan Posts: 328	Thanks. Downloading!

10th August 2008, 07:46 PM	#4
norman_nomad Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 1,978	So a couple questions... Were the original mixes all tracked to analog then dumped to digital for this test? Or was this a digital mix that you dumped to tape, then used the tape for the a/d test? In the latter case... what converters did you use to dump the digital mix to tape?

11th August 2008, 09:53 AM	#5
Flying_Dutchman Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 972	Thanks!

11th August 2008, 02:09 PM	#6
studio_drummer Gear interested Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 27	Thank you for doing this. Any chance of doing the Aurora clocked internally instead to the Big Ben? That's where the big controversy is...

12th August 2008, 02:17 AM	#7
Gzmo Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 156	Thanks for doing the comparison.downloading... RoB

12th August 2008, 05:35 AM	#8
norman_nomad Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 1,978	So far no one has commented on the sounds... so I'll be the first to venture out. To begin with I think we all understand that this is not a test to determine which converter is the "best" or most accurate because we are not able to hear the original analog recording pre-conversion. So we can only really comment on the d/a's in reference to one another. After calibrating everything in Cubase down to .1db, clipping out phrases of each tune and then doing my own a/b I was hard pressed to consistently guess which converter I was listening to. The differences to my ears are very subtle. This might have something to do with the clock source being the same on each box. I would love to hear this done with each box clocked internally. (please?!?!?!) If I were forced to pen my observations I would say that generally the Aurora had a more present upper mid-range and possibly a slightly lacking low mid. Both Apogees had a nice lower mid, but lost a bit of clarity because of this. I think the ad-16x had the best combination of smoothness and clarity. The 192 was no slouch... it seemed somewhat neutral and ever so slightly less focused than the other converters. I was surprised at how much I liked the Rosetta. It sounds really good! At the end of the day... this is about as geeky as I care to get. I could use any of these boxes and loose no sleep. Thanks for the test!!

12th August 2008, 07:33 AM	#13
thermos Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,964	Sounds like he probably did this test to determine which converter he liked best in his setup (ie, has to use a master clock). Yeah, internal clocking would make a much bigger difference.

13th August 2008, 11:13 AM	#14
norman_nomad Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 1,978	No additional comments? T_R_S - Which converters do you prefer here?

14th August 2008, 12:25 AM	#15
Gzmo Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 156	wow thx again for the test what a diff between the rosetta and the 16x all my best, RoB

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