looking for a digital audio desk to run with Pro Tools 2018.7

[xrekcor]

I have been researching digital audio desks for my studio that can run issue free and priced around the US$3000.00-US$4500.00 range up to 32/32 I/O or at least 24/24. i thought this market would be big but it is difficult to get some views from other users and perhaps folks are simply not using these desks. the ones I have found are either obsolete so your investment may well become a boat anchor or the latest offerings seems to be only for their in-house DAW most of which clearly look to be not in the league of PT. why not an interface you say? well I want to be able to use the desk for live gigs too.

so if you are using a digital desk similar to the specs I mentioned above would love to hear from you.

cheers

[sw rec]

Second hand experience here, because I've set up a couple for other people. Presonus Ai live seems to get the job done quite nicely. Not only interfaces with Pro Tools, but also can record to an internal SD card. A friend of mine in Muscle Shoals used one and recorded major artists with it (til he got the Trident 90 from a Nashville studio, anyway!) It's certainly worth a look.

https://www.presonus.com/products/StudioLive-32

[albee1952]

I would also look at the Presonus, or the Midas M32. Both are solid live consoles. Not sure how they integrate with PT beyond the IO. I think the Midas offers a HUI mode that makes the right-hand bank of 8 faders work as HUI so they can control faders in your session. Then again, if you are willing to give Studio One a try, Presonus has done very good integration of their console and software Having mixed on both desks live, the Presonus has a handful of minor quirks, but nothing that would prevent me from using or recommending it.

[64GTOBOY]

I am using an Allan and Heath Qu32 but with a Windows machine. It was finicky to set up but I believe that was just cuz Windoze, the manual makes it look a lot easier on Mac. When I was looking into digi desks(wanted a DIGI, couldn't afford) I found the Presonus, the A&H and Behringer all made desks that would work with PT. I did/would research by reading the manuals online and then if possible, getting a look at the build quality and of course see what others have said. I like my setup. I can use it as a control surface for mixing though it doesn't have the capability to do plugin control. I know there are desks that do more for more money, but I just have a little project studio and the preamps are neutral enough for drums, I have outboard for vocals, and it has a lot of routing options(they all do really). No matter what u get you will have to adapt for your own use, so the more you know what you want and check against what each can do the happier you'll be in the long run. My second choice was the Presonus. Just remember, most of these desks were designed for live use.

[xrekcor]

Thanks for you input everyone....

Yup been doing a lot of reading, I’m new to digital mixers so my experience is on a big learning curve.... which tells me to take my time...... and pick your brains so I appreciate your feedback.


I first got offered a PreSonus StudioLive 24.4.2 AI but while I was waiting for the sellers to make their minds up I did some research even spoke with the local distributor who advised against the AI series due to them being discontinued and if anything ever failed spare parts will be difficult to get from them, they seem to be the only series that were/are compatible with PT. So that turned me off somewhat, so I did investigate the new PreSonus series 3 SL32 which really did turn me ON!!!! but then reading through their forum there are issues with Pro Tools and their DAW integration.... still couldn’t find out if I could just use it as a simple 32/32 I/O interface and by pass all the onboard features including automated faders, but couldn’t get a clear answer. Still looks like a great live desk too which is a plus and part of my requirements.... I know this ships with Studio One (not sure how that compares to PT, not really is what I hear) can I import those sessions into PT? The onboard SD card looks like it delivers files that are compatible with PT..... but what a process PpPpPpPppp


So then I started looking at the Soundcraft Si Impact which also looked promising but apparently it won’t work with PT as an I/O audio interface, seems you have to setup scenes to switch between an input scene and another seperate scene for output. I’m not sure how that is going to effect workflow or even if this present a inconvenience or not, seems to me it will present some annoyance or maybe it’s just a 1 button switch. Seems to be a great live desk perhaps for the price.... also there does seem to be a way of connecting via their patented network connection....... But! It doesn’t like mOS 10.13.6 hahaha

So I started looking further afield this morning and came across the A&H QU32 probably the first (of 2) desks I have come across that seems to be Pro Tools friendly actually it is looking very promising and with features not dissimilar to the PreSonus SL series. The big plus to is you go on their user forums and you don’t!!! see a lot of issues with PT which is a telling sign of goodness possibly. I’d have to say this beast has jumped to the top spot and it is good to see 64GTOBOY has one and is chiming in. Plus it is a current model of which the makers are looking to improve software wise. Looking forward to hearing more from you 64GTOBOY are you running 2018.7 with it?

And desk 2, there is a TASCAM DM4800 used but from a smoke free studio for AUS$1500.00 or US$1000 and change. This beast also looks interesting but again it is obsolete but at that price.... it also looks to intergrate with PT very well.... needs more research. Prolly could buy as a good quality interface for that price... tascam has been around a long time I used to own one of their old 4 track cassette studio decks, could be pretty good it looks in top notch condition not a scratch on it. How would it compare to say the A&H QU32? For third of the price of a brand new QU32 maybe it could very well pay for itself over a few years.... or is there anything I should be aware of with these consoles..... ie: what ware and tear and thing that tend to fail over time.

Also interesting the Tascam DM-3200 is still being sold locally brand new for AUS$4679.00

Cheers

[64GTOBOY]

I am running 18.7 "Native" on a Dell xp with 4core i7 and 32g. I looked at the Tascam also and really liked it but for two things-fewer mic inputs than the A&H and the Qu series have been designed to work without a fan to cool power supply etc. and I wasn't too sure whether the Tascam would be noisier. Plus I like the way the Qu series implemented things like eq and panning better. The color touch screen, while not really necessary does make it easier to see things at a glance IMHO. Two things that I do find a little annoying(and this is really just picking nits): the power button is in an odd place for me to get to, and the ASIO driver does not load sometimes when I boot up my pc(which is probably a pc issue). I put a shortcut on my desktop for the Devices control panel so if it doesn't load I can force it to. It's not a big deal though. The only other thing I can say is that it does have a bit of a learning curve, the routing options are pretty deep so it can take a little menu diving and manual searching to get the setup working the way you like. I have to say that the used DM 4800 looks really good for that price, so I would definitely consider whether it fits your needs.

[xrekcor]

Originally Posted by albee1952

I would also look at the Presonus, or the Midas M32. Both are solid live consoles. Not sure how they integrate with PT beyond the IO. I think the Midas offers a HUI mode that makes the right-hand bank of 8 faders work as HUI so they can control faders in your session. Then again, if you are willing to give Studio One a try, Presonus has done very good integration of their console and software Having mixed on both desks live, the Presonus has a handful of minor quirks, but nothing that would prevent me from using or recommending it.

do you know if you can run the PreSonus series 3 SL32 as just an audio interface with PT and more directly 2018.7 I don't mind not having access to the onboard stuff while if I can use it as an audio interface I have enough stuff in PT to take care of the rest. those on board feature would be utilised in live scenarios.

[xrekcor]

boy that Midas M32 looks like a sweat piece of kit, loaded many a Midas desk into concerts when I roadied in my younger years. prolly more my next step as it is just a lil above my budget.

[xrekcor]

Originally Posted by albee1952

I would also look at the Presonus, or the Midas M32. Both are solid live consoles. Not sure how they integrate with PT beyond the IO. I think the Midas offers a HUI mode that makes the right-hand bank of 8 faders work as HUI so they can control faders in your session. Then again, if you are willing to give Studio One a try, Presonus has done very good integration of their console and software Having mixed on both desks live, the Presonus has a handful of minor quirks, but nothing that would prevent me from using or recommending it.

I have to say after reading a bit more on the Midas M32 this is an interesting beast. I notice you have Midas in your signature are you running a M32 by chance. the Midas does in fact have a HUI mode and apparently which allows it to integrate with PT according to Midas. I've looked at a series 3 SL32... maybe when they sort out the DAW control feature..... by which time I will have something else

I notice we have one going locally ex showroom for aus$5500 which is within budget.

anyone have any experience with Yamaha TF series? in particular the TF5

[Southsidemusic]

Yikes!!! 5500 AUD new is a LOT!

I can get one for 4200 AUD brand new demo unit with all warranties etc for you plus maybe 200-300 AUD shipping and insured delivery door to door.

Also we have in my neighbourhood 2 used ones in MINT condition for less than 4000 AUD and both comes with original packaging and all that was included with the purchase. One even has 5 month warranty left.

Let me know if you decide on a M32 and if you need any help sourcing it to you.

PS. Albee has used one of the M32's in the past atleast but might still use it. Just keep in mind it is a Behringer product however you twist and turn the company structure and we all know Behringer is the equivalent of Bayliner boats, easy to get one but almost impossible to get rid off