AI3, DigiMax,...Aardvark Q32?

[Dean Bohana]

Hey all,

Anyone seen the ad for this thinga-majang? Could be the single most important answer to many 001 user's prayers. Gives both increased ins/outs ala 1/4 " & 8 xlr mic pres.
Does anyone know if the Aardvark stuff is PC only? Mac compatable? Check it out. (Nov. Electronic Musician) or www.aardvark-pro.com

[This message has been edited by Dean Bohana (edited October 22, 2000).]

[Dean Bohana]

?

[Jeff D.]

Dean,

I've been wavering about additional A/D for a while now. I'm currently using an old ADAT for inputs 9-16, but I'd like something better. I picked up an Apogee Rosetta, and I appreciate the difference a great A/D can make. However, there's no chance I'll be able to afford an 8 input Apogee, so what's in between? The options I've seen:

8 ch Mic Pre + Alesis AI-3 (about $1400)
PreSonus Digimax (all in one mic pre-comp-A/D about $1300?)
Yamaha 01V ($1600)
Soundcraft Spirit 328 (used/demo $2k+)

I tried the AI-3, and it was very usable. I also tried the Soundcraft, and was impressed with the quality. Soundcraft was showing software at the AES show which allowed transport and fader control of PT from the 328, so you get a control surface as a bonus. And Lexicon effects too.

However, I keep stalling, hoping that something small like the Digimax will sound really good for about $1k. Maybe the Digimax is the one?? Anyone get to play with one yet?

Jeff D.

[div32]

I'm using the AI-3 currently and I don't think it sounds that great. Has anybody used anything they think is better?

Ditto in not being able to afford an AD-8000.

[Dean Bohana]

The reason I'm intrigued by this new Aardvark device is due to the fact that I need both.. additional line ins/outs and more XLR mic pres...hoping to connect via optical or spdif. I just couldn't decide which to add first...AI3 or Digimax..then this thing comes along and it appears to be both in one rack space for $900.00 U.S. list. What do you think? DB

[Jeff D.]

One thing that's essential for me in this setup is the ability of the A/D box to sync to external clock while using the analog inputs. This is so that I can use the Rosetta as the master clock (it has no clock input so it must be the master).

The AI-3 does this through ADAT lightpipe - you run lightpipes to and from the 001, and then the AI-3 will sync to the 001.

The Digimax has only a word clock input. This happens to work with the Rosetta, since it has a word clock (BNC jack) out. But if you were trying to use something without word clock out (like a DAT player for inputs 17-18, for example), you would be out of luck.

Do you know how the Aard handles external clock?

Jeff D.