Cost effective 32 channel system?

[tomv-k]

Hello, this is a newbie (to hd) question but I'm wondering what is the oldest digi hardware you can use with the current HD software? these 888's I see around will they work if I'm not concerned with super high sample rate?

My requirements

18-32 channels IN
32 channels out
16/24 bit 44.1/48K
Most recent PT software

Can the Apogee converters be used directly with PT?

What would be your cheapest solutions to my requirements? doesn't have to be pretty. Oh and there's absolutely no way of using an imac with HD hardware?

many thanks

Tom

[JFreak]

The only supported Mac is the Mac Pro! Cheaper alternative is a used PowerMac G5 tower that one can find 2nd hand from eBay. That's the cheap part.

You also need an HD core card and an HD interface to run Protools HD, and it costs a lot.

After your initial purchase you can then expand your HD system with legacy (MIX) hardware that can be found cheap from eBay. Two 888|24 units tied together via y-cable and then connect that combo to legacy port of a HD96 interface, that would give you 24 in and 24 out plus 8 i/o via ADAT.

32 inputs could be had with two HD96i interfaces, but that's not for you if you really must have 32 outputs as well.

[tomv-k]

That's fantastic, thanks JFreak

32 out is a must so that seems the cleverest solution, cheers!

[tomv-k]

And is the cheapest way of getting the software and PCI(e) card for 32 i/o buying the HD 1 Option? it seems the PCI cards can be bought on their own, but can HD software be bought on it's own? (ie can scrimping on some plug-ins and virual instruments save any cash? or even possible?)

Cheers

[Craig F]

a new HD core card will come w/ software
for 32 I/O:
1 96 I/O
2 888|24
1 8 channel Light Pipe AD/DA converter

1 card can do 32 I/O but it is limited to 2 HD interfaces or 1 HD interface and 2 888|24

[tomv-k]

I am looking at the apogee converters also (with HD cards)

Can I run 1 AD-16x (16 in) and 2 DA-16x's (32 out) with one ProTools PCI(e) card? Anyone know this?

Many thanks

[usd]

Originally Posted by tomv-k

I am looking at the apogee converters also (with HD cards)

Can I run 1 AD-16x (16 in) and 2 DA-16x's (32 out) with one ProTools PCI(e) card? Anyone know this?

Many thanks

yes, you can!

[tomv-k]

Thanks usd!

lastly I'm trying to work out how to get an extra 2 channels in (ie 18 in total), using the Apogee setup I mentioned before, I assume I can add something like a Rosetta 200? I actually have an older 2 channel Apogee ADA converter (spx 100) but these don't have X-card bays, only the standard digital ins and outs, is there a way of getting this working in the chain?

getting there!

[usd]

if we take the setup with one AD16x and two DA16x all with xhd cards, you could possibly run one of the DA16x´s in advanced routing mode which should give you another 16INs. you can connect your psx100 with the AES input of the DA16x.
but better call apogee support to be totally safe with that config...
cheers, alex

[tomv-k]

Thanks!

To change the subject slightly, what would be the minimum Mac power/age to run say a 32 in and out setup with a modest amount of plug ins? The older G5's would cope? how old/slow could you go do you think? do all G5's have PCIe bays or the older ones have PCI?

many thanks, all incredibly helpful