Upgrading from Sound tracs PC-midi to toft atb24

BenJah · 20th April 2009

I'm currently using a Soundtracs PC midi.

I like how it sounds but I find the lack of dedicated busing very frustrating. I've had my eye on the toft ATB24 and am wondering how it compares sonically.

Has anyone ever had an opportunity to compare them?

Thanks!

Phaidon · 20th April 2009

I had a Soundtracs PC24 about 12 yrs ago which I really liked!

I've heard the Toft and tbh I don't see it as an upgrade,really!

What's holding you with the Soundtracs busing? Need more?

BenJah · 21st April 2009

I'm having dificulty getting my head around how to send things to a bus and then send the bus to the master outs.. I'm wanting to to compress things in groups (drums, vox etc)

Does anyone have any ideas on how to do this on a pc midi?

mbrebes · 21st April 2009

The MidiPC board does not have insert points on busses, which it sound like is what you want. A lot of boards don't have that capability. The only way to do that would be to take the buss out into your effect, then take the effect out and feed it back into a line or tape input, or effect returns, if you have the extra modules.

BenJah · 21st April 2009

Maybe I'll try takeing a bus out and using the comp in series. Then feed it back to a tape return.

Do you think that will work?

White Falcon · 21st April 2009

Why not a nice patchbay? It may not solve this problem, but it will make it a bit easier.

BenJah · 22nd April 2009

I have one of those!

Any tips on setting this up?

Roc Mixwell · 22nd April 2009

DAC, 1/2 Normal to Line Mixer Inputs

Put all the master buss outputs, master buss insert send/return, channel inserts, and the AUX sends returns and all, on the patch bay. This is only limited by what you think you need. I would take the time to wire a "frame" into the Room, if you plan to upgrade the console. For now, just hook all your gear and what you need. If you want to go to the lazy lane for tracking, you can 1/2 normal the outputs of your microphone preamps to the inputs of your AD converter, and have a template ready to go for tracking.

robertshaw · 22nd April 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenJah

I'm currently using a Soundtracs PC midi.

I like how it sounds but I find the lack of dedicated busing very frustrating. I've had my eye on the toft ATB24 and am wondering how it compares sonically.

Has anyone ever had an opportunity to compare them?

Thanks!

soundtracs pres are generally better than what I heard in the ATB. The atb eq may be slightly better though.
I realize price doesn't always represent quality (or lack of quality) but soundtracs were english boards and in 1980's money they were 6k or whatever. A toft is 5k in millenium money and made in china

you do the math........

I would keep the soundtracs and work around your issues with it. I'd buy an old Allen and Health or whatver before id buy a mixer made in china

Check speck they made some good boards. I suppose if you could get a used 32 ch atb for like 3k it
may not be a bad deal.

passenger · 27th April 2009

anybody have the pc-midi series manual?

diamondjim · 27th April 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by passenger

anybody have the pc-midi series manual?

Yep. Its not specially helpful on busing, but better than nothing. PDF.
Pm me.

microwave · 17th July 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phaidon

I had a Soundtracs PC24 about 12 yrs ago which I really liked!

I've heard the Toft and tbh I don't see it as an upgrade,really!

What's holding you with the Soundtracs busing? Need more?

I agree. I have the PC24 and have experience on the ATB and really its not an upgrade. I understand that the lack of group inserts on the Soundtracs is frustrating (but the workarounds suggested here are viable), and the Soundtracs' interfacing is very basic compared to the ATB (which is also more quiet) but when it comes to the sound it has character in spades - to my ears more than the ATB, the eqs sound different but the PC24's is right there with it and the Soundtracs' mic preamp is better.

Barish · 22nd July 2009

Get your Soundtracs modded to give you group inserts and off you go. No big deal for a qualified electronic technician, and its cost would be justifiable.

B.

20th April 2009	#1
BenJah Gear addict Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 386 Thread Starter	Upgrading from Sound tracs PC-midi to toft atb24 I'm currently using a Soundtracs PC midi. I like how it sounds but I find the lack of dedicated busing very frustrating. I've had my eye on the toft ATB24 and am wondering how it compares sonically. Has anyone ever had an opportunity to compare them? Thanks!

22nd April 2009	#8
Roc Mixwell Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Quincy, MA Posts: 7,376	DAC, 1/2 Normal to Line Mixer Inputs Put all the master buss outputs, master buss insert send/return, channel inserts, and the AUX sends returns and all, on the patch bay. This is only limited by what you think you need. I would take the time to wire a "frame" into the Room, if you plan to upgrade the console. For now, just hook all your gear and what you need. If you want to go to the lazy lane for tracking, you can 1/2 normal the outputs of your microphone preamps to the inputs of your AD converter, and have a template ready to go for tracking. __________________ Adam Brass adam@dspdoctor.com DSPdoctor "Pro Audio Gear And Advice for the Modern Recording Studio" ________________ "Any opinions above are worth exactly what you paid for them." Anonymous "If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward. Thomas Edison RTFM

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20th April 2009	#2
Phaidon Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: N.Y.C. Posts: 2,595	I had a Soundtracs PC24 about 12 yrs ago which I really liked! I've heard the Toft and tbh I don't see it as an upgrade,really! What's holding you with the Soundtracs busing? Need more?

21st April 2009	#3
BenJah Gear addict Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 386 Thread Starter	I'm having dificulty getting my head around how to send things to a bus and then send the bus to the master outs.. I'm wanting to to compress things in groups (drums, vox etc) Does anyone have any ideas on how to do this on a pc midi?

21st April 2009	#4
mbrebes Lives for gear Join Date: May 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 589	The MidiPC board does not have insert points on busses, which it sound like is what you want. A lot of boards don't have that capability. The only way to do that would be to take the buss out into your effect, then take the effect out and feed it back into a line or tape input, or effect returns, if you have the extra modules.

21st April 2009	#6
White Falcon Gear maniac Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Discordia Posts: 262	Why not a nice patchbay? It may not solve this problem, but it will make it a bit easier.

27th April 2009	#10
passenger Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 558	anybody have the pc-midi series manual?

22nd July 2009	#13
Barish Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Istanbul, Turkey Posts: 1,703	Get your Soundtracs modded to give you group inserts and off you go. No big deal for a qualified electronic technician, and its cost would be justifiable. B.