AD/DA converter or Microphone Pre-amp recommendation

[Emerson Scott]

I am looking to expand my Digi 002 Rack's inputs, I have the Behringer ADA8000. and I would like to connect some I/O to my S/PDIF connections. I'm thinking either an 2 channel AD/DA converter, or a Mic Preamp with with S/PDIF in as well as out. I was wondering what you guys use in your setups. Something that won't break the bank would help too. Thanks

[pguy]

Hi Emerson,

I know there are a lot really good sounding A/D converters available today, but, I gotta say .... I'm really happy with the sound of my Rosetta 200.

I had tried the Universal Audio 2192 and the Crane Song Hedd 192 as well and to my ears, which I think are medicore, they were so very very very close
that I could not tell the difference between them.

I'm sure those with great ears can hear the differences between them.

Sorry, forgot to mention that I felt as thought the Rosetta really gave my sound more body and definition. It was much more thick and full.

[albee1952]

A cheaper choice would be the ART Digital MPA but whatever you get, remember that there must be one master device so you need to figure out how you will clock everything so you don't buy something that can't be clocked.

[DrFord]

If you don't have tons of money to spend but still want high quality, I would recommend the Apogee Mini-Me
http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/minime.php

This partners really well with the Mini-DAC
http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/minidac.php

though now you are in the $2000 range, but you would have a nice 2 in 2 out with 2 nice little mic pre's built in.

For the $1800 though you could get a Rosetta 200 which I also own as my outbound converter.
http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/rosetta200.php

You will find that purchasing a professional quality converter will dramatically improve all aspects of your recording from printing to mixing. One thing my rep at Sweetwater asked when I was buying a bulk of new gear, is if I wanted to upgrade my monitors. To which I said no they should be fine. His response was that they would either sound better than they ever had before, or that I would instantly say they sounded worse than before and want new ones. Luckily for me it was the prior, and I didn't have to invest more money.

If you have a halfway decent Mic Pre you will find it has more clarity and response now in the printing, as well as a better top end. This has to do with the math behind how many samples you get in the frequencies, but the point is converters can be the make it or break it for any recording rig.

D

[Rob0214]

If you're at the $2k price range, you can pick up a used Rosetta 800 on eBay. No mic pres on it, but if you have your own decent pres, it's not a problem.

[albee1952]

At around $1500, the API A2D is a serious consideration. 2 API preamps with SPDIF outs.

[billos]

Hey Alb,

Sorry for the slight highjack, but there isn't all that much info on the DUC around about the A2D

I am on the brink of buying a A2D, with 5500 eq and 2500 comp

I understand that the A2D must be the source clock

On the A2D broucher, it says I can connect the A2D to other aoutboard gear eg; compressors, eq's etc

My question is (for those that use the A2D with 003R?), can I slave a comp off the A2D then slave the eq off the comp?

Can you recomend a decent signal chain with the A2d, compressor and eq?

PS: How does the A2D go with Pro tools LE \ 003R? Any quirks I should know about?

Thanks

[jlnelson19]

How does this (Rosetta 200 for example) fit into the signal chain for an LE system?

[albee1952]

Better check the manual on the API A2D before you get anything. The compressor and EQ you are thinking about do not have converters so the A2D is the only way to go digital into the 003. So you need to check to see if the A2D has insert points on the back or you will be screwed(as the only way to run all that stuff would be going into the 003 analog which is not what you want to do). In any case, reports are that the A2D is an excellent pre so you might consider using it alone and use plugins for the comp and EQ(the price of the hardware would buy some great plugins like the McDSP package and the Waves API bundle.

[Daviskenn]

Originally Posted by jlnelson19

How does this (Rosetta 200 for example) fit into the signal chain for an LE system?

I just sold my Rosetta 200 and used it with PT's...Not that it was bad by any stretch, I just found that it's a little mid forward in the 2-5K range. Anyway, it's a HUGE improvement on the sound compared to the Digi003 converters...
Here's how I ran it. I connected the spdif out of the Rosetta to the in of the Digi and the out of the Digi to the in of the Rosetta. (I think that's right - doing it from memory) I then went to Hardware config in PT's and changed the clock to spdif and matched the sample rate to what was on the Rosetta. I then set the analog out on the Rosetta to analog and the digital out to spdif. As far as I/O, I set Channel 1&2 to spdif.

I went from my outboard pres into the Rosetta and the spdif signal sent the information bck to PT's. To monitor I went out of the analog outs of the Rosetta into a Big Knob and then to my monitors.