Pre Amp question

[paul_g]

My Rig:
Intel iMac 2.4g processor 4gb ram, 10.5.8 OS X
Lacie FW 800 drive
Protools 8.0.4 and Factory 003
----------------------

question: if I purchase this: http://www.presonus.com/products/Det...x?ProductId=13

Will this give me an additional 8 inputs to the 8 I already have on the 003?
Can I simultaneously track 16 tracks?

paul g

[Ben Jenssen]

Yes.

[marcioguitar]

Originally Posted by paul_g

My Rig:
Intel iMac 2.4g processor 4gb ram, 10.5.8 OS X
Lacie FW 800 drive
Protools 8.0.4 and Factory 003
----------------------

question: if I purchase this: http://www.presonus.com/products/Det...x?ProductId=13

Will this give me an additional 8 inputs to the 8 I already have on the 003?
Can I simultaneously track 16 tracks?

paul g

yes, it will give you 8 additional tracks over adat connection giving 16 tracks simultaneously.

[paul_g]

One other question:
GC doesn't carry the PreSonus Digimax FS, however they recommended the Focusrite OctoPre MKII.

How do they stack up? I realize Focusrite is pretty high-end... just looking for opinions.

Thanks!

[albee1952]

That particular Focusrite is not high-end. They are in the same ballpark for sure. Another Presonus product that would also work fine(and cost less) is the D8. I believe its the same preamps, just fewer bells and whistles. Or you can go totally low budget(but still totally usable) with the Behringer ADA8000. For high-end, look at the RME preamps/interfaces or the Focusrite ISA428 or 828 models.

[The Dougfather]

Originally Posted by paul_g

One other question:
GC doesn't carry the PreSonus Digimax FS, however they recommended the Focusrite OctoPre MKII.

How do they stack up? I realize Focusrite is pretty high-end... just looking for opinions.

Thanks!

I just got rid of a Focusrite Octopre LE, i'd never liked it from day one. It made everything sound harsh, i mean literally everything, i was constantly compensating with EQ.

The ADA8000 does the job, better than the Octopre but it's nothing special, it's just ok.

I just picked a used Digimax FS and i can't believe i wasted my time on an Octopre, the difference is night and day. The Digimax pre's are tonally well balanced, clear and punchy. You've got insert points for compressors etc if you need it and the DAC. The clocking off this unit is pukka as well.

Just my two pence.

[paul_g]

Originally Posted by albee1952

That particular Focusrite is not high-end. They are in the same ballpark for sure. Another Presonus product that would also work fine(and cost less) is the D8. I believe its the same preamps, just fewer bells and whistles. Or you can go totally low budget(but still totally usable) with the Behringer ADA8000. For high-end, look at the RME preamps/interfaces or the Focusrite ISA428 or 828 models.

Problem w/ the D8 is that it only goes to 48k sample rate.

[paul_g]

Originally Posted by The Dougfather

I just got rid of a Focusrite Octopre LE, i'd never liked it from day one. It made everything sound harsh, i mean literally everything, i was constantly compensating with EQ.

The ADA8000 does the job, better than the Octopre but it's nothing special, it's just ok.

I just picked a used Digimax FS and i can't believe i wasted my time on an Octopre, the difference is night and day. The Digimax pre's are tonally well balanced, clear and punchy. You've got insert points for compressors etc if you need it and the DAC. The clocking off this unit is pukka as well.

Just my two pence.

Doug, I see a lot of your posts, so I trust your judgment. This is very good to know. Turns out I found a GC locally that has a PreSonus Digimax FS and I'm about to purchase (plus I have a GC coupon!)

I have (4) PreSonus Tube Pre's and am very happy with them. I use those on for the 4 Line-In's of my 003 (never understood why Digi only gave 4 pre's on 003)...

p

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by paul_g

Problem w/ the D8 is that it only goes to 48k sample rate.

Since the 003 only works at 48K thru lightpipe, its not actually a problem. BTW, I would say the vast majority of us in the LE world work at 48K and 44.1K almost all the time. I for one, don't need 96K, especially considering that the bulk of my mixes end up on youtube or myspace as godawful mp3 files Back to the original question, if you need 96K, then the lightpipe input is useless for you. Either get a great SPDIF preamp like the API A2D, or record on another DAW platform and use a different interface entirely

[paul_g]

Al, Thanks for the input. 48k should suffice, however, I am doing a project that is a bit involved. However I don't see using higher than 48k.

With that said, what about clocking? Is that handled through the light pipe or do I need to get the BNC cable to connect to the word clock of the 003?

Also, who becomes the master clock? 003 or the Digi Max?

Sorry for so many questions - Just trying to get the big and little picture.

paul_g