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Post by jeromemason on Feb 19, 2014 17:25:24 GMT -6
So now I'm running an Ensemble and a BLA modded ADA8000 giving me 18in/18out. I sum 8 channels, use the spdif for the return into PT and the out of PT to my dangerous source. I want to obviously sum 16 channels and still have room for another 10 slot lunchbox in addition to my 6 slot. I'm really starting to lean in the direction of the Apollo. I like the idea of having an interface that has 2 adat ins and 8x8 analog, and also gets me into the world of UAD plugs. I've also heard that the stock units conversion is pretty good. I'd be looking at doing this in stages. First the Apollo, that gets me my 16 channels of summing ability and still let's me keep my lunchbox with with room for two rack mounted or a stereo comp/eq. Then as the I progress I'll pop in 2 more modded ada8000's. If I'm adding it up right I'll be sitting at 42 I/O. Creating an aggregate device in PT I can run both interfaces and could even eventually come OTB into a 24 channel mixer with 16 I/O for outboard effects. My question is should I go this route? Since I've already got the Ensemble and 1 modded ada8000 I wouldn't have to worry about selling anything and I could expand as money comes in. Seems like the way to go, just wanted some thoughts. I know popmann talks a lot about the aggregate setup, and I'm actually running that now so I can easily flip my mixes over to my iMacs speakers as a reference. So far the aggregate setup is really stable, with no issues at all. Thanks! |
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Post by tonycamphd on Feb 19, 2014 22:37:07 GMT -6
Sounds interesting, my question is why 42 I/O? Are you tracking really big sessions? Are u summing OTB? I would spend some $ on a good console, and enjoy the beauty of summing electronically in the analog domain. A Soundcraft delta with JW mods will blow u away, and you could get into a nice size board for around $5k
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Post by jeromemason on Feb 19, 2014 22:46:49 GMT -6
Sounds interesting, my question is why 42 I/O? Are you tracking really big sessions? Are u summing OTB? I would spend some $ on a good console, and enjoy the beauty of summing electronically in the analog domain. A Soundcraft delta with JW mods will blow u away, and you could get into a nice size board for around $5k Well at the present I don't need that I/O count. But it seems like if I bought an apollo, all it would take is a couple of the modded ada's and I would be there pretty quickly if I needed to be. Right now I'm summing 8 channels, I want to add another summing box and go to 16. If I added an apollo right now I could do that without adding anything but the apollo. Another thing that's presenting a problem for me now, is that I'm getting some sessions from NY that have UAD plugs on them, so I've got to sit there and try to find something in my plugs list that I can try to match that with, it takes me a while to do this because I can't even see their settings. So, I'm going to have to get into the UA plugs soon. I'm trying to kill two birds with one stone, and the with the apollo I get the I/O and the UAD plugs, with a lot of headroom to expand I/O as I need it. Do I NEED all that I/O right now? No, do I want the option to get there quickly, yep. |
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Post by tonycamphd on Feb 19, 2014 22:57:01 GMT -6
Sounds like a plan then to me, good luck with it bro
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Post by popmann on Feb 20, 2014 1:43:11 GMT -6
Couple things...I don't have much experience creating aggregate devices in OSX. I mention it a lot because it's a rig that overlays another layer further from the app talking to the hardware. And not useable with cubase, which doesn't really do Core Audio. Sorry if you got a different impression. I wouldn't design a system to rely on it....but, I wouldn't try to make a hybrid mix system with banks of different converters. Different converter latencies...
The other thing is the Apollo doesn't have 16 channels of ADAT. You're mistaking the fact that it has 2 ADAT INs thinking that means 16channels? It's for SMUX operation on 8. Each in carries 4 channels at 96khz.
I'm not sure I fully understand the goal...but, I just wanted to point out the two bits there...
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Post by jeromemason on Feb 20, 2014 2:47:17 GMT -6
Ah, my mistake, and I should had read that bit. So I would have 32 I/O..... still not bad. And like I said, it gets me into UA plugs which is something I'm going to have to do soon anyways whether I really want to or not. I'm just curious on how well the conversion quality is on the Apollo. Is it in the ballpark of an Ensemble, better than? I also like the idea for overdubs of using plugins in realtime to record through. I still need to do some more research, but I think it would fit me pretty well. I could always save up and go with the 16 I/O version and be back at 42. I just want the option of having that may I/O in the future if I need it. Since I don't see any reason to go to HD really I like the idea of using multiple interfaces with the aggregate setup. It does work quite well in PT on OSX.
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Post by RicFoxx on Feb 20, 2014 7:25:26 GMT -6
I can't comment on Ensemble vs Apollo because I have not heard the Ensemble but I can tell you that the A/D on the Apollo is pretty close to my Symphony and a not to far from the Burl. My problem with the Apollo is the Monitoring section is a notch below the Symphony..not bad but when directly compared to it, you immediately recognize the differences.
The Apollo is great for low latency monitoring through UA's Console but just be warned that the round trip latency is not good...the lowest I get is 17.2ms compared to the Symphony's 4.3ms. This is supposed to be dramatically improved with the next firmware update that will utilize thunderbolt bandwidth and speed for processing Audio and plugin processing whereas now it just opens up the processing stream...or something to that nature as Im not a tech. dude, I just know that latency sucks playing Virtual instruments.
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