home studio upgrade: summing box or AD converter?

jimthepisces · 3rd August 2011

I'm thinking of upgrading my home studio. I have some good mics, pres, monitoring etc. - I'm really only thinking about summing or A/D conversion at this point. I don't have a summing box and my interface is the M-audio Firewire 1814.

Right now I'm thinking about the BLA Sparrow or maybe the Dangerous D-box...thoughts? I heard BLA used to mod 1814's but it seems they don't anymore :\

Joshua Estock · 3rd August 2011

I have a Dbox and couldn't live without it. It sounds great, is well built, and the people at Dangerous are class acts. It's a no brainer.

jimthepisces · 3rd August 2011

D-box is just D/A and summing - no A/D right? So you think summing is a more important upgrade first?

Joshua Estock · 3rd August 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimthepisces

D-box is just D/A and summing - no A/D right? So you think summing is a more important upgrade first?

Right. D/A only. What are you using as A/D right now?

kooz · 3rd August 2011

til you have your front end in place, meaning AD.
itb is fine til you've made that investment, and then you can really hear what youre really working with from your nice mics, pres, room...you may be pleasantly surprised how good ITB mixes can be if you have good stuff going in and know how to use the system as it was meant to be.

jimthepisces · 3rd August 2011

Right now my A/D is my firewire 1814! hence the need for an upgrade. From research I've done, summing seems to be more subtle of an improvement over good A/D...anyone disagree?

Joshua Estock · 3rd August 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua Estock

Right. D/A only. What are you using as A/D right now?

Didn't see the 1814. In that case, I don't think the Dbox would hurt, but I would be more apt to get a new interface/converters, especially if you're looking to spend $1500. I haven't heard the Sparrow, but the guys at BLA do great work so I'd imagine it would be dramatic upgrade. You may also consider a Rosetta 200.

3rd August 2011	#1
jimthepisces Gear nut Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 124 Thread Starter	home studio upgrade: summing box or AD converter? I'm thinking of upgrading my home studio. I have some good mics, pres, monitoring etc. - I'm really only thinking about summing or A/D conversion at this point. I don't have a summing box and my interface is the M-audio Firewire 1814. Right now I'm thinking about the BLA Sparrow or maybe the Dangerous D-box...thoughts? I heard BLA used to mod 1814's but it seems they don't anymore :\

3rd August 2011	#5
kooz Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,046	forget about summing til you have your front end in place, meaning AD. itb is fine til you've made that investment, and then you can really hear what youre really working with from your nice mics, pres, room...you may be pleasantly surprised how good ITB mixes can be if you have good stuff going in and know how to use the system as it was meant to be. __________________ ____________________________________________________________________ "If you make everybody big and fat they won't fit all into the elevator." - joeq "I'm gonna give you a hint about "engineering"... the real skill is to know what every knob does in the joint... and then touch as few of them as humanly possible." - Fletcher "You can ignore this advice, but 20 years from now, it's the advice you will be giving out....." -drBill

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3rd August 2011	#2
Joshua Estock Gear maniac Joined: May 2008 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 232	I have a Dbox and couldn't live without it. It sounds great, is well built, and the people at Dangerous are class acts. It's a no brainer.