Hi all, i'm searching for a new converters (AD/AD), i already have an A16Ultra, but want something with more performance for mastering OTB.
Anyone use ADAT in/out on A16Ultra to connect other converters? what converters do you suggest for this work?
Thanks in advance
A16 Ultra ADAT in/out
Re: A16 Ultra ADAT in/out
well, it depends...
here's the Marvin Gaye classic What's Going On in the original version and a recent recording by basically the same band with Chaka Khan (from the DVD Standing in the Shadows of Motown)
Streaming quality aside which one would you prefer ?
The first is of course all analog, the second high class digital stuff.
For version 1 you don't need any other converters, but some 'beefy' vintage gear might do the trick.
If you'd be more after the version 2 soundprint, then a change of converters would make perfectly sense, but that gear is so way out of my range that I'll pass the question on.
Btw I have that DVD myself and the dudes are among my musical heroes of all times... but the audio mastering is one big piece of poo imho.
They mastered the Soul out of the songs - brilliant performers to watch, tho...
It's not all in specs, transparency and frequency response
cheers, Tom
here's the Marvin Gaye classic What's Going On in the original version and a recent recording by basically the same band with Chaka Khan (from the DVD Standing in the Shadows of Motown)
Streaming quality aside which one would you prefer ?
The first is of course all analog, the second high class digital stuff.
For version 1 you don't need any other converters, but some 'beefy' vintage gear might do the trick.
If you'd be more after the version 2 soundprint, then a change of converters would make perfectly sense, but that gear is so way out of my range that I'll pass the question on.
Btw I have that DVD myself and the dudes are among my musical heroes of all times... but the audio mastering is one big piece of poo imho.
They mastered the Soul out of the songs - brilliant performers to watch, tho...
It's not all in specs, transparency and frequency response
cheers, Tom
Re: A16 Ultra ADAT in/out
I used my XITE-1 ADAT out to go into a Mytek 8x192 ADAT converter connected to a Control 24 board. They wanted 192k signals since the mix channels were around 90+.
It sounded really nice, but in all honesty I did another mix straight out of the XITE-1 AES/EBU into the Manley rack and the quality difference there was very noticable.
The energy that the SSL desk or Manley rack adds to a digital signal is very powerful. Much more noticable than another conversion process.
I cant afford this kind of gear but personally for OTB mastering I would much rather invest in hardware than another conversion process.
But the Mytek cost around 5-600 bucks and do as advertised, especially if SACD DXD quality is what the clients want.
It sounded really nice, but in all honesty I did another mix straight out of the XITE-1 AES/EBU into the Manley rack and the quality difference there was very noticable.
The energy that the SSL desk or Manley rack adds to a digital signal is very powerful. Much more noticable than another conversion process.
I cant afford this kind of gear but personally for OTB mastering I would much rather invest in hardware than another conversion process.
But the Mytek cost around 5-600 bucks and do as advertised, especially if SACD DXD quality is what the clients want.
Re: A16 Ultra ADAT in/out
dude.
if you want to spend stupid money on ad/da you can go here:
http://www.mercenary.com/addaconversion.html
plenty of good products.
fwiw, the S|C A16ultra is the ad/da that Bose uses for all it's audio testing since it's the ONLY reasonably priced converter that's phase aligned with all it's i/o(i know because i sold them 5 A16s). the only real disadvantage to the A16 over the 2-3 times more pricey Apogee is the slightly higher noise floor. unless you are dealing with multi million dollar accounts, i doubt spending the extra money will help you in any way. you already have a VERY good converter.
if you want to spend stupid money on ad/da you can go here:
http://www.mercenary.com/addaconversion.html
plenty of good products.
fwiw, the S|C A16ultra is the ad/da that Bose uses for all it's audio testing since it's the ONLY reasonably priced converter that's phase aligned with all it's i/o(i know because i sold them 5 A16s). the only real disadvantage to the A16 over the 2-3 times more pricey Apogee is the slightly higher noise floor. unless you are dealing with multi million dollar accounts, i doubt spending the extra money will help you in any way. you already have a VERY good converter.
Re: A16 Ultra ADAT in/out
Thanks all for reply 
Firstly i want to say that i' m creamware user since v3.0 and i' m very proud on my system!
Don' t know if in future i' m going to OTB o stay ITB for now is only for know-how! so the original question born because i have outboards (Distressor, Lil Freq and some others) when i' m in mix stage i notice some degradation (just a little!!) in sound when audio gone out in DA -> outboards and than return to -> DA, it' s suond a little darky. During first years of use i haven' t notice but now know my gear and this degradation it' s clear to me. This situation conduced me to use outboards only for tracking because 99% of time i like more ITB mix.
I know some super pro converters like: Mytek, Lavrey, Apogee and other but know only the name and not how this converters work or sound! so i think is interesting in opinion like XITE-1/4LIVE that have Mytek or other member (if there are) that use different converters.
XITE-1/4LIVE have you used A16 Ultra? if so what diffences have you notice with Mytek?
Thanks in advance and sorry for my poor English
Firstly i want to say that i' m creamware user since v3.0 and i' m very proud on my system!
Don' t know if in future i' m going to OTB o stay ITB for now is only for know-how! so the original question born because i have outboards (Distressor, Lil Freq and some others) when i' m in mix stage i notice some degradation (just a little!!) in sound when audio gone out in DA -> outboards and than return to -> DA, it' s suond a little darky. During first years of use i haven' t notice but now know my gear and this degradation it' s clear to me. This situation conduced me to use outboards only for tracking because 99% of time i like more ITB mix.
I know some super pro converters like: Mytek, Lavrey, Apogee and other but know only the name and not how this converters work or sound! so i think is interesting in opinion like XITE-1/4LIVE that have Mytek or other member (if there are) that use different converters.
XITE-1/4LIVE have you used A16 Ultra? if so what diffences have you notice with Mytek?
Thanks in advance and sorry for my poor English
Last edited by Rebu on Thu Sep 23, 2010 6:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
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the19thbear
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Re: A16 Ultra ADAT in/out
in my opinion the creamware converters are a little dark sounding... the top gets rolled off al little bit.
Maybe that was your problem?
I now have RMe converters and dont have the problem anymore.
Maybe that was your problem?
I now have RMe converters and dont have the problem anymore.
Re: A16 Ultra ADAT in/out
as i said, good enough for serious and technical system developement, the A16 is sorry before nobody. as there are many shades of red and different flavors of icecream, the sound of the very best audio equipment will vary and the only way to know what you will prefer is to use stuff and then decide(your ears are the ultimate judge, not any of us here).
for the extra thousands of dollars, the highend converters mentions WILL be more defined and transparent. if you are not in the proper acoustic environment, this will do you NO good. if you simply can afford to spend that kind of money on your system, and do it before putting that money into the room, and still try to call yourself a serious mastering engineer(working on mega million dollar projects), then you are a fool and deceiving yourself. if you just want to buy some top shelf gear like that, then by all means, go for it!
imho, one needs to get gear of a certain level of quality(which the A16 certainly is), and then work it to the best of one's ability. this always gives the best results, when one has the best ability. i'm not suggesting that you wouldn't prefer a different AD/DA, i'm just saying that if the final product lacks, changing the converter won't likely help and i think that there are a number of other areas to spend money on first, which will bring more immediate benefit.
for the extra thousands of dollars, the highend converters mentions WILL be more defined and transparent. if you are not in the proper acoustic environment, this will do you NO good. if you simply can afford to spend that kind of money on your system, and do it before putting that money into the room, and still try to call yourself a serious mastering engineer(working on mega million dollar projects), then you are a fool and deceiving yourself. if you just want to buy some top shelf gear like that, then by all means, go for it!
imho, one needs to get gear of a certain level of quality(which the A16 certainly is), and then work it to the best of one's ability. this always gives the best results, when one has the best ability. i'm not suggesting that you wouldn't prefer a different AD/DA, i'm just saying that if the final product lacks, changing the converter won't likely help and i think that there are a number of other areas to spend money on first, which will bring more immediate benefit.
Re: A16 Ultra ADAT in/out
oh! and to answer your question finally after all this rant, yes, i believe you CAN use the adat connectors on the A16 to connect to a different source, i'm not sure of the details, though. why not write a quick letter to S|C and ask if you can use the adat connectors to bypass the A16's i/o.
you might just find another used card with adat i/o on it. it's be nice to have the extra dsps and i/o, and if you can afford a Lavry converter, you can certainly afford another used card...
you might just find another used card with adat i/o on it. it's be nice to have the extra dsps and i/o, and if you can afford a Lavry converter, you can certainly afford another used card...
Re: A16 Ultra ADAT in/out
My suggestions for better converters would be.
Lynx Aurora 8 or 16 ch
SSL Alphalink 24 ch
Mytek 8 ch
All are pretty much in the same ballpark.
The a16 is a good converter but i agree it is a bit dark.They have to cut costs somewhere to reach the price they are selling them for.
If you want a 2 ch converter i would suggest:
Hedd192
Ua 2192
Forsell Mada 2
These are expensive but they will engrave a permanent smile in your face.
Lynx Aurora 8 or 16 ch
SSL Alphalink 24 ch
Mytek 8 ch
All are pretty much in the same ballpark.
The a16 is a good converter but i agree it is a bit dark.They have to cut costs somewhere to reach the price they are selling them for.
If you want a 2 ch converter i would suggest:
Hedd192
Ua 2192
Forsell Mada 2
These are expensive but they will engrave a permanent smile in your face.