What A/D D/A converter would you recommend that is a cut above my Motu 24 I/O

[ddeez]

I'd like it to have at least 8 ins and 8 outs. I'm on a PC in windows XP but i'd eventually like to get a 64 bit windows system. I don't want to spend more than 2000 total...i'm willing to buy used but would prefer not to. Please suggest away....thanks!!!

[ddeez]

by the way i use cubase im not interested in a pro tools rig...thanks!

[bbgallaway]

Not to be an ass, but a quick search will turn up TONS of threads on converters, including many with the same details as yours. Now to make up for the first sentence, I'll recommend the Lynx Auroras - you can find the Aurora 8 with the card of your choice (pcie, hd, fw) used for under $2k, and I'm plenty happy with mine. BTW, I know you said used wasn't your first choice, but it's all about getting it from someone trustworthy - I got mine used through the GS classifieds and not one thing to complain about.

[ddeez]

Hey thanks much for the reply. I apologize about not searching just figured most wouldnt have the 2k price limit. Is there anything else on the market that is in the same ballpark quality wise as the Lynx with similar features? Thanks in advance!

[ddeez]

also newbie question...i notice the converter cables offered for u to plug ur gear in for the Aurora A/D are all XLR on the Lynx website but all my keyboards im going to be plugging into it are 1/4 so isnt getting cables that convert 1/4 into XLR going to degrade the signal slightly? or is it going to degrade it to an unimportant degree? Thanks again for the help.

[ddeez]

wanted to bump this last question...

[kittonian]

Get an Aurora8 and you'll be golden. However, you will also need an interface card (or the LT-FW option card if you'd rather go FW). As far as the cabling, yes, the Lynx cables are all XLR but you can easily have DSUB to 1/4" (or whatever you want) made for you in whatever lengths you need.

Much better to have the proper cables made rather than using adapters on every connection.

For that setup, including the cabling, you're looking at a bit more than $2k so be aware of that going in. The converter alone is $2k.

[Jay M]

Do you really need to spend $2000 just to be "a cut above"? Is there something wrong with the sound of your converters?

At work I use a RME multiface hdsp and it sounds great, I also have an Apogee PSX-100, it sounds great too. Maybe the Apogee is a little warmer sounding than the RME? But is that good or bad?

At home I have a MOTU 896HD. I brought it to work to compare it to the RME and Apogee. I found that if I used the Apogee as the clock source the Motu sounded really good.

The bottom line is that all 3 sound very similar. In a double blind test I don't think I could tell which is which, or even a difference at all.

Spending $2000 elsewhere such as; better keyboards, better virtual instruments, better mics, better mic pres, etc. could make a significant improvement in your sound.

~Jay

[spectacular g]

Gotta say I was in a similar spot thought about and tried both SSL and Lynx and damn if at the last moment a good friend told me to try the Echo stuff ended up with

1 Echo Digital Audio Corporation
and
1 Echo Digital Audio Corporation

Chained and clocked they work and sound great. The money I saved Bought a couple of nice mics.

NO REGRETS.

G

[clusterchord]

RME Fireface 800 or something similar from the same RMe "generation" of products. it is a serious cut above anything MOTU. been there , done that.

[CrownBox]

+ 1 Lynx Aurora. Look around and you can probably also find an Apogee Rosetta for just a little more.

[Glenn Kuras]

I have a MOTU 2408 and upgraded to the apogee AD16. Yes I think there was a difference but nothing like better monitoring, mikes, acoustics (bios so ) and so on. You did not list your other gear so sorry if you already have top of the line. Just my 2 cents.

[PeteJames]

I've read on here black lion audio are outstanding - they mod motu's so may save you $$

[shobud]

Gotta agree with Glenn. When you have your mics, pre amps, speakers and room acoustics sorted out, then go for the converters. Otherwise you'll notice much more of an improvment purchasing a high end mic, pre amp etc...

Dan

[warhead]

Yup, after everything Glenn mentioned...I'd go for the ECHO Audiofire 12 and have a great sound, more inputs than maybe you need...at a great price.

War

[Dove]

Originally Posted by ddeez

by the way i use cubase im not interested in a pro tools rig...thanks!

If you want excellent conversion and integration in cubase, then go with an MR 816x. It has been favorably compared with converters costing much more. Has decent mic pre's. Price reduction too.

I also Like the aurora but costs much more and needs extras like card, cables and of course external mic pre's. In the end it will cost 3 to 4 times as much.

[rogerbrain]

Originally Posted by PeteJames

I've read on here black lion audio are outstanding - they mod motu's so may save you $$

just got my motu HD192 back from BLA today ..got their clock as well.. I will tell you what I think next week (if I can find this thread again)

[robertshaw]

Originally Posted by Jay M

At work I use a RME multiface hdsp

that's probably lesser quality than motu

[ddeez]

Guys thank you soooooooo much for all the responses!!!

I currently already have a hi end mic and a hi end mic pre and nice monitors so I'm good in that department.

Basically the reason i want to get better converters is because for a long time i've been doing everything ITB (besides my mic recording) but now i'm starting to purchase some keyboards which i use quite often which i want to record as nicely as possible. Do you think it would be a worthy investment?

Also do you think an apogee rosetta is better than the lynx aurora? would it be worth the extra cash? please give me your thoughts.


kittonian

what is DSUB?

Thanks again all!!!

[mattg082]

i like the rosetta series personally. look on ebay you can come across some good buys. form what i've seen on ebay it goes like this.

rosetta 800- 1,900-2,300 some have the firewire card with it.
rosetta 200- 1,000-1,300
lynx auroro lt-fw- 1,700+

i hear the rme is also good but i tested and my personal taste rested with the apogee with my api and great river pres. the clock also helped with my native system and i didn't even think about that it just turned into an added bonus!

[Dubai]

Originally Posted by ddeez

Also do you think an apogee rosetta is better than the lynx aurora? would it be worth the extra cash? please give me your thoughts.

what is DSUB?

Steinberg MR816X
Tascam US- / FW
Roland VS2480

Clock improves most converters, "good designed" converters...
Motu improves with better clock,
try usign a better clock with the same interface.
try diferent brands of clocks, they all sound a bit different.
apogee wyde eye cable its enough... but if you want betters... Acoustic Zen Silver Byte, or Oyaide 510.
Clean Power improoves most equipment... try usign clean power with hi quality power cables.
...
Burl Audio ADC is better than rosetta 200 AD.
Lucid Audio 8824 to my ears sounds better than rosetta 800 & SSL Alpha Link.
Steinberg, Tascam & Roland also,
Lynx Aurora sounds better than SSL Alpha Link
some people swear Apogee AD/DA-16X sounds better than Lynx Aurora, some dont...
its a personal taste war... (some people love the transformer emulation circuit inside Apogee AD/DA-16X, some people dont)

thats why... you should ask your self: ¿what kind of sound i want?
colored? transformer? transformer emulation? clean? dynamic?

Aurora its more transparent than Apogee AD/DA-16X, (rock people hate that)
Lavry Gold has better analog circuit design than Apogee AD-16X, but Apogee has much better clock.
(clock wins over analog circuit.)
Metric Halo ULN-2 "with a good clock" is more transparent than Aurora.
Sonosax is more transparent than MH ULN-2, also has better internal clock.
Matric Halo ULN-8 is more transparent than ULN-2 (Mastering studios love that.)
Auroras seem to be sensible to dirty AC power, or low quality power cables,
etc...

Motu HD192 Black Lion vs Motu 2408

Prism Orpheus vs. Steinberg MR 816X Loopback Test

Found: Apogee Rosetta800 A/D vs. Burl Audio B2 ADC

Found: Rosetta 200 vs. Aurora 16 vs. M-Audio - The "test"

SSL Alpha Link AX vs. Apogee Rosetta 800 vs. Lucid ADA8824

Steinberg MR816 vs. others...

Big A/D converter test session

Mytek converter v.s. Digi 002 converter:A/B Test here!

A-D Conversion Test & Redux

A/D Converter Shootout (with samples)

Callout: Kittonian - Apogee/Lynx Shootout

100% Biased/Subjective/Personal points of view "verry annoing for some."

Apogee Rosetta 800 vs. Digimax/003

Short converter test - Fireface vs UA 2192

M-Audio Profire 2626 vs. Amek + Digi 192 IO

Apogee Duet vs TC Konnekt *shoot out*

Jitter!!! please let me listen some!!!

Drawmer M-Clock DMS-1 vs. Apogee Big Ben

test A/D D/A - without personal bias & without ears!

[ddeez]

Dubai wonderful post thanks for the links!!