Converter options please

[el cochino]

I'm looking for new converters and I'd like to hear about some options that might suit my needs. I'm working on a G4 dual 867 mHz running Logic Audio. I mixing analog and need alot of D/A conversion (16 minimum) but only 2 A/D converters. I was considering 2x MOTU HD192s, which would cost me € 4.200,- and give me 24 ins and 24 outs. Since I only need 2 ADCs, I was wondering if there was a better option for me in the same price range?

Any suggestions?

[RyanR]

If you only need 2 ADCs (analog to digital), why would you want 2 HD192's providing 24 ADC's? Hmmm, are you sure you didn't swap your D/A & A/D terms?

[el cochino]

Originally posted by RyanR
If you only need 2 ADCs (analog to digital), why would you want 2 HD192's providing 24 ADC's? Hmmm, are you sure you didn't swap your D/A & A/D terms?

The MOTU HD192 has 12 analog ins and 12 analog outs, so I have to pay for the extra ADCs as well, even though I don't need them. I'd rather have 2 ADCs and 16 or more DACs, but better quality than MOTU. Is there anything on the market in my price range?

[Jens]

Apogee DA 16 might be a good buy along with a Lucid AD. There are plenty of other AD´s that I can´t recall at the moment. Haven´t tried them myself but the configuations fit your needs.

/Jens

[atticus]

I would get three of the Lynx 2 cards that have two ins and six outs per card. They sound great, don't cost that much, and provide good expandability. Plus they offer zero latency monitoring. Good luck!

[robdarling]

I will ditto the Lynx move. 6 ins and 18 outs on 3 cards will cost you about $3000.

[jbuntz]

Originally posted by atticus
I would get three of the Lynx 2 cards that have two ins and six outs per card. They sound great, don't cost that much, and provide good expandability. Plus they offer zero latency monitoring. Good luck!

Kinda funny hearing that from a competing converter manufacturer.

[atticus]

Originally posted by jbuntz
Kinda funny hearing that from a competing converter manufacturer.

Our solution, although excellent, would cost him more money then what was mentioned in his post. I would love to sell him converters, but the Lynx offers him tremendous value in a lower price range then he mentioned, so that would probably be his wisest move.

[el cochino]

Originally posted by atticus
Our solution, although excellent, would cost him more money then what was mentioned in his post. I would love to sell him converters, but the Lynx offers him tremendous value in a lower price range then he mentioned, so that would probably be his wisest move.

And I would love to buy your converters from all the good things I heard about them!
Anyway, my budget doesn't allow that at the moment, even though I might stretch it a bit, because I want to buy quality I won't grow out anytime soon. My studio is not commercialy used most of the times (I record albums for friends occasional) and the music I mainly do is metal, if this is relevant for picking the right converters for me.
The Lynx 2 would be an interesting option, but I'm also curious about the Apogee DA-16 as well as the Rosetta 800. How do they compare? I heard about a new version of the DA-16, but haven't seen anything on their web site about a possible release date yet. The Firewire card for the Rosetta 800 would be very nice, but also no release date, yet.

I do all my recordings in 44.1/24 or 48/24 and I don't believe that this will change in the near future. Finally, I'm having a production coming up in mid February so time is an issue as well.

Thank you for your input! thumbsup

Martin

[el cochino]

Hi, it's me again.

I did a search on Lynx2 at this as well as other forums, and it sounds like a very good solution for me, BUT...

I'm on a Mac G4 and I read a few horror stories about Lynx2 incompatibilities with Macs, which worries me quite a bit.
And since it is a PCI card, will I be able to use it once I upgrade to a G5 in the future?

Please don't tell me to get a PC because I won't!

Cheers,

Martin

[flexoffset]

I have a Lynx L22 card in my Dual 867 Mac G4 running Panther and Logic Platinum 6 with no problems.

I bought it from Atlas Pro Audio. He's a regular here.

I got the card in last night and had an issue that was resolved by simply increasing the i/o buffer in the Logic hardware driver setup.

It is supposed to be compatible with the G5. I can dig up the email from Lynx about this. They actually HAVE a G5 over there....at least they're supposed to...the guy told me it was on order a couple of months ago so they should have it by now.

I think the L2 had a SMPTE issue with Logic due to the way Logic works with SMPTE.

Anyway,
The a/d is beautiful.
An example...
I was using an audiophile delta 2496 from M-audio until I got the L22.
I just did my first round of A/D conversions and it's incredible, really.

Several months ago, I thought my guitar pickups were crapping out (or just crappy). I couldn't hear hammer-ons inside chords and the transient attack of the pick was dull, etc.

I finished with the L22 this morning and HOLY COW!!! I can clearly hear hammer-ons inside chords (A sus 4 kind of notes) and I can instantly tell which pick I used (thick or thin, etc.). The sound is 'bigger', clearer, fuller, more dynamic, etc. with this good A/D conversion.

I can't imagine what the Benchmarks and other high-end A/D conversion ( I have the DAC-1) must sound like. I can't comprehend anything cleaner than this ... even though there most certainly is stuff out there that IS.

[Aud.Manipulator]

RME and Metric Halo make some cool stuff, and they're always on top of updates for the mac.

-AM

[el cochino]

Originally posted by flexoffset
I have a Lynx L22 card in my Dual 867 Mac G4 running Panther and Logic Platinum 6 with no problems.

I bought it from Atlas Pro Audio. He's a regular here.

I got the card in last night and had an issue that was resolved by simply increasing the i/o buffer in the Logic hardware driver setup.

It is supposed to be compatible with the G5. I can dig up the email from Lynx about this. They actually HAVE a G5 over there....at least they're supposed to...the guy told me it was on order a couple of months ago so they should have it by now.

I think the L2 had a SMPTE issue with Logic due to the way Logic works with SMPTE.

Anyway,
The a/d is beautiful.
An example...
I was using an audiophile delta 2496 from M-audio until I got the L22.
I just did my first round of A/D conversions and it's incredible, really.

Several months ago, I thought my guitar pickups were crapping out (or just crappy). I couldn't hear hammer-ons inside chords and the transient attack of the pick was dull, etc.

I finished with the L22 this morning and HOLY COW!!! I can clearly hear hammer-ons inside chords (A sus 4 kind of notes) and I can instantly tell which pick I used (thick or thin, etc.). The sound is 'bigger', clearer, fuller, more dynamic, etc. with this good A/D conversion.

I can't imagine what the Benchmarks and other high-end A/D conversion ( I have the DAC-1) must sound like. I can't comprehend anything cleaner than this ... even though there most certainly is stuff out there that IS.

Thanks for your input, because I'm running the same setup as you. I have a few questions if you don't mind:
What OS are you running?
Are you clocking the Lynx card internally or do you use a master clock?
Since I mix analog I need alot od D/As and would like to hear your impressions of the converters. Have you compared them to the DAC-1?

Cheers,

Martin

[flexoffset]

What OS are you running?

OS X v10.3.0

Are you clocking the Lynx card internally or do you use a master clock?

I'm clocking internally. I plan to add a clock at some point in the future.

Have you compared them (other D/A converters) to the DAC-1?

Sorry, I have not A/B'd them. I'm quite happy with my DAC-1, though.

[el cochino]

Originally posted by flexoffset
OS X v10.3.0


I'm clocking internally. I plan to add a clock at some point in the future.


Sorry, I have not A/B'd them. I'm quite happy with my DAC-1, though.

Thanks alot!

[cannikin]

SO you can use multiple Lynx2 Cards?? I need at least 12 ins.

And the Latency is Zero???

Every post I read seems to say they kick RME ass

Right now I have the RME HDSP 9652 but I'm very interested in the Lynx2 Card. Right with the RME I get 2ms of delay, which is pretty damn good. will I be able to get close to that Lynx2.

Lynx2=Better converters, no latency, and multiple cards
is this true?

[Boogle]

AT this price point you might wanna consider the new apogee DA16x. Big Ben clocking apparently, no one's heard it yet but it's released in march/april. Also look out for the Firewire cards direct to your DAW.

(ad a mini me for your AD needs)

[cannikin]

Well right now I have the Mini-me and mini-Dac into the RME 9652, but I just bought a slammin' old console and need to get at least 12 ins,
I know I can always get the apogee AD16x in march but if the Lynx2 card has better Converters than the RME. (which is what many say).
I'd rather go that route, but the info. I'm looking for is...

How is the Latency with the Lynx2?
Can I use multiple cards? (two Lynxs2 6ins 2 outs for a total of 12ins...which is all I need. I would still be able to run the Mini-me as a converter via spdif in the Lynx2, so the money spent on the mini-me will not be waisted)

Thanks for your help.

[flexoffset]

I am over the honeymoon period with the Lynx L22 (basicaly a small version of the L2).

There is considerable latency with Core Audio in OS X. I am experiencing sample delays of 663 samples at 48kHz when recording the 'out' of the L22 in to the 'in' of the L22.

David Hoatson said the latency in OS X is their next priority so I trust they are working on this as I type this.

Anyway, I use Logic and I have to maintain an audio buffer size of 1024 samples or I get crackling and popping.

Just be aware of my situation.
The card is top-notch and the latency isn't killing me ----- right now.