mid-level conversion comparison

[frontierfran]

I am rethinking my setup (once again), and I was wondering if anyone could speak on the conversion quality, say, between units like the Motu 24 i/o, the Fireface 800, and something like the Tascam DM-3200 digital console. basically just looking if anyone has used all these pieces...

I have the 24 i/o, and am not blown away by it, even though for the price it offers some great functionality. I am thinking of ditching my console and going back into the box, so I am looking to step up my conversion, but like the idea of having the pres and control surface of the DM-3200. (i think the 3200 looks like a killer piece of gear...but am weary of tascam a little from user testimonials) otherwise, I get a Lavry Blue or at least a Benchmark 2 ch piece. I have 2 channels of Vintech pres, so Im happy with that for now...but I would still like to track live drums once in a while...again, hence the dm-3200.

...or, perhaps I should just keep the motu, buy a 4-channel wunder pre or something, and just get a control surface or something...

im all over the place, i know and apologize in advance.

any thoughts on conversion comparisons?

[jeremy.c.]

Originally Posted by frontierfran

I am rethinking my setup (once again), and I was wondering if anyone could speak on the conversion quality, say, between units like the Motu 24 i/o, the Fireface 800, and something like the Tascam DM-3200 digital console. basically just looking if anyone has used all these pieces...

I have the 24 i/o, and am not blown away by it, even though for the price it offers some great functionality. I am thinking of ditching my console and going back into the box, so I am looking to step up my conversion, but like the idea of having the pres and control surface of the DM-3200. (i think the 3200 looks like a killer piece of gear...but am weary of tascam a little from user testimonials) otherwise, I get a Lavry Blue or at least a Benchmark 2 ch piece. I have 2 channels of Vintech pres, so Im happy with that for now...but I would still like to track live drums once in a while...again, hence the dm-3200.

...or, perhaps I should just keep the motu, buy a 4-channel wunder pre or something, and just get a control surface or something...

im all over the place, i know and apologize in advance.

any thoughts on conversion comparisons?

hahahahahaha! yeah I went thru this not too long ago, sounds like you have gear overload on the brain... I ended up with a Rosetta 800 thru my RME multiface... The RME converters are good enough to run a few extra drum tracks thru if needed and with being clocked to the Rosetta it should up the quality even more... but honestly, like you, I really only use two channels, I got the other six for drum recording piece of mind...
I would say if you don't want to break the bank and you mostly do 2 track recording, just start there, clock your current converters to the two track unit (assuming you go Apogee, they will provide a much more stable clock than most pro-sumer level converters) and upgrade if/when you feel you're suffering because of the lack of 16 high end converters...
plus a lot of companies now are also doing two track converters with high quality pres or channel strips as well, that might set you up quite nicely...
either way, good luck!

[cdog]

Its not gonna be hard to upgrade from the 24 i/o.

Even if you go to the Motu HD series, you will notice a huge leap forware.

Apogee or Mytek is even better.

Stay away from the DM3200.

[antti]

Not sure whether this is the answer but my recording life has got a lot more stress free after purchasing Metric Halo ULN-2. Great value for money, superb customer support & fairly easy to figure out. Haven't done ab tests so.. Pres sound good with my mics (414eb, m160 ribbons, sm7). Balanced insert points between pres & adc allowing you to insert comps/eqs/etc or bypass pres if needed. Separate monitor outs with volume control. FW or psu powered, spdiff & aes ebu, wc in/out. At least check it out! Good luck,


Antti

[frontierfran]

will do! thanks guys!

any thoughts on the fireface 800? does it still "suck" with DP 4.6 and so on...?

I even looked at those new SSL pieces coming out this month...they look SICK....and at $3500 for tons of i/o...i wouldnt rule that out either. word on those?