Interface/Conversions Questions - 16 Analog I/O

Grab a couple of 192's. Get 'em modded if you want to. Made plenty of records.

You can't USE 192s without an HD system to connect them to. They aren't converter boxes really--they proprietary interfaces that marry to HD cards. That puts them way beyond the $3k he could buy a thunderbolt Lynx for. And he needs TB (or technically just not PCIe cards--so, he'd have to buy an HD Native TB which Avid requires you buy an IO with--which ends up at about $7k, if memory serves. He does get the HD software out of the deal--but, he'd WANT the new IO because that's where they put the FPGA that does the cue mixing-192s will just work as ADA boxes with a new system--they counted on a TDM mix/core card for mix duties.

I actually pretty much use mine to just run a set of VU meters.

I think the ADA8000 sounds okay. Certainly punches above its weight.

However, the caps in it are underrated in the PSU.

Mine, which I got second hand, was starting to dim a bit on the LEDs and then went all together. I looked inside , saw some bulging caps and replaced em.. all good again. I used higher ratings though.

You could get 4 audio ins and outs of it at 88 and 96.

Handy.

I imagine that the converters that I'm currently using in my Midas are very similar to the Behringer, if not the same,

So, if it comes to it, I could stick the Midas in the corner of the room and take the direct outs into the Bustard. It would still be taking up real estate, but I could keep it out of the way. I just feel like a conversion upgrade would be a useful move for ergonomics as well as sonics. Maybe not. Could all be snake oil. The only real worry with the Midas is that it only does 48k. Having the option for higher would help futureproof.

Alphalink ended up going for $1075 -- great deal!!

Clock via ADAT

Its been an undocumented feature.

I actually owned a couple of these in the past, and had sold them, then bought the one I have now as I needed some extra outputs to run a set of VUs and set up external headphone mixes sort of thing.

I had forgotten completely about their ability to SMUX because I had been working at 44.1khz forever and a day.

I had made the jump to 96Khz when I got my RME UCX , and it only has 6 outs, 2 of which are tied up with monitors. I wanted to use the other 4 for critical audio reamping duties, and was looking for a spdif to analog convertor I could hang off the UCX to drive the VUs. I asked on another forum, and a bloke reminded me that the ADA8000 does SMUX. Sure enough it does.

I simply connect it via ADAT , set it to external clock and it synchs to my RME without hiccup.

You now have half the audio ins and outs... in pairs...  1/2 3/4 5/6 7/8.

Now, internet emptor, I haven't used them for anything other than driving VUs, headphone mixes for bands, and setting up testing of things like summing etc.. I can't vouch for anything above that (e.g. I don't want anyone going and spending money, cause I said it works 8)     ).

If you have something you would like me to test for you, more than happy to.

Yep. I can make the Midas work until I get a little more cash I think. The SSL seems like a pretty good value and leaves room for expansion. Having a chassis with an extra slot gives me an excuse to get into UAD too.

Anyone compared the SSL sound to others?

Only to older Apogee and stuff from 10 years ago.  The SSL is much tighter sound.  Some call it light on the bass, but it's just more clear and defined than others which make it seem like that.  It's probably not Lavry grade stuff, but it's better than anything else in it's price range.  I do have a modded ADA8000 and this takes it's lunch money and bangs Behringer's mother afterwards.