record external gear in Pulsar II

Acid Man · Post by **Acid Man** » Tue Oct 09, 2001 6:37 am

Hi all,

Before I get me a Pulsar II I have just one question left (this is probably an RTFM question, but I'll ask anyway);

Is it possible to record my external gear directly into the Pulsar II without using an external mixer? How do I connect my gear to the Pulsar II to record these sources? Can I also connect my fx processor via midi to the Pulsar II?

Any general information on how to set it up and how to use it is welcome!

Thnx!

Acid

[ This Message was edited by: Acid Man on 2001-10-09 07:39 ]

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Tue Oct 09, 2001 7:40 am

You need to get a Fostex VC8 converter or something similar. Fostex VC8 works really well for me, no complaints yet

http://www.soundslive.co.uk/1023.htm

You can then plug in all your outboard stuff, set up a project to include these sources and hook them up to play/record through the Pulsar Mixer. It works perfectly.

You can also connect your outboard effects in this way I think, but I have yet to get my head round how to set it up. Perhaps someone else can help?

Acid Man · Post by **Acid Man** » Tue Oct 09, 2001 9:11 am

Thnx for the advice, but is there no other way to get this done?

How about the ability to connect via the cables included?

Anyone other suggestions?

Acid

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Tue Oct 09, 2001 10:43 am

My personal opinion, is you should consider the "Pulsar2 w/ Zlink Plate" (or PowerPulsar Zlink).

Here's why: http://planetz.ghostwheel.com/forums/vi ... forum=10&4

16x16 quarter inch, balanced (1/4") I/Os via dual Zlink, with NO sync issues.

At least, this is what I have my eyes on personally. Might consider selling the 03D for it, but haven't fully decided yet.

A digital mixer is a good way to go, the VM88 is cheap and will give you 8 analog inputs into pulsar via ADAT.

Explore the Digital I/O options of Pulsar, they are not only the cleanest way to get audio into your computer, but probably the most flexible, as well.

Remember, Pulsar only comes with a single stereo pair of Analog I/O, and while these may be acceptable to you for starters (I started there too!), you will eventually want to fill the digital connections as well.

If you need other I/O suggestions, ask & search the archives here...

Acid Man · Post by **Acid Man** » Tue Oct 09, 2001 12:07 pm

My ultimate goal will be to own a Mackie D8B or Roland VM7000 series. This, I think, will be the ultimate challenge to get a full digital studio. For now I just have to get along with the Pulsar.

Also, I want to take one step at a time. Getting a card like this is my first step as an analog junkie to go digital.

Is the Fostex VC8 expensive? Is it possible to get the Zlink apart from a Pulsar package or is it included with a complete Pulsar card?

Cheers,

Acid

Acid Man · Post by **Acid Man** » Tue Oct 09, 2001 12:09 pm

Oh, one more question.

Does the Zlink give me 16 or 14 analog inputs extra?

Acid

[ This Message was edited by: Acid Man on 2001-10-09 13:09 ]

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Tue Oct 09, 2001 1:17 pm

the Zlink board gives you 2xZlink, for 16 channels I/O @ 96/24bit!!

VM88 is suggested, since it is about $250 and converts 8 channels to ADAT

VM200 is about $450-500 (was blown out recently) and adds a few extra goodies to the mix.

Of course, higher priced but probably also better solutions include the A16 Ultra, Alesis AI-3, Spirit 328, Mackie D8B... also try the Yamaha 03D/01v/02r mixers.

peripatitis · Post by **peripatitis** » Tue Oct 09, 2001 3:10 pm

If you are concidering a digital mixer check out also tascam's dm24 it is supposed to be out in october and considering that it's 24/96k and features effects from antares and waves should be a good case.

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Tue Oct 09, 2001 3:32 pm

features effects from antares and waves 

YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Tue Oct 09, 2001 7:19 pm

I sold my mackie 24/4 mixing board when I realized I didn't need it after I bought the A16. Now I have less noise, total recall and the ability to automate everything. If you have a lot of synths and effects you might also consider a patch bay or two and some snakes and patch cables and a label gun.

Acid Man · Post by **Acid Man** » Tue Oct 09, 2001 9:26 pm

I sold my mackie 24/4 mixing board when I realized I didn't need it after I bought the A16. Now I have less noise, total recall and the ability to automate everything.

Does your stereo out (from Pulsar or A16) go directly to your amplifier then?

If you have a lot of synths and effects you might also consider a patch bay or two and some snakes and patch cables and a label gun.

What is that for?

Acid Man · Post by **Acid Man** » Tue Oct 09, 2001 9:33 pm

On 2001-10-09 14:17, subhuman wrote:
the Zlink board gives you 2xZlink, for 16 channels I/O @ 96/24bit!!

I read this on the creamware site:

"Classic 20

20 channels In
20 channels Out
Stereo analog
Stereo S/P-DIF
2x ADAT optical
24-bit / 96 kHz operation
24-bit / 96 kHz via ADAT
MIDI In / Out / Thru"

Is that the same as the Zlink card? Or is this a package included when you buy the Pulsar II?

"ADAT / Z-Link Expansion for Luna II, PowerSampler and Elektra. Via this I/O board, the number of available inputs and outputs of a Luna II, PowerSampler or Elektra system can easily be increased."

Or is this the I/O board I should get?

Funktastico · Post by **Funktastico** » Tue Oct 09, 2001 10:40 pm

Creamware doesn't update their site too often so the Z-link i/o card for Pulsar isn't even on the site yet even though it's been out quite a while.

The Z-link expansion that IS on CW site is for the Luna/Powersampler/Electra cards only, and gives them an extra z-link port or something.

Ask your local dealer (or on-line dealer). AFAIK the z-link option is not usually sold separately, only with the Pulsar 2 card.

The Z-linked Pulsar package costs a few bucks more than the Classic-version, or about the same amount as the Plus-version (with AES/EBU dig. and XLR analog i/o).

Btw. I was saving for a Tascam DM-24 but now I'm definately going for the A16 Ultra instead.

Toni L.
http://www.mp3.com/NativeAlien

Acid Man · Post by **Acid Man** » Tue Oct 09, 2001 11:47 pm

Btw. I was saving for a Tascam DM-24 but now I'm definately going for the A16 Ultra instead.

Is it true you can completely go digital without using an external board if you have the A16 Ultra? So if I understand correctly you connect your external gear via a breakout box (a16, VC8, etc.) to the Pulsar II, thus giving you complete control over your softsynths and gear....

Acid

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Wed Oct 10, 2001 8:10 am

Is it true you can completely go digital without using an external board if you have the A16 Ultra? So if I understand correctly you connect your external gear via a breakout box (a16, VC8, etc.) to the Pulsar II, thus giving you complete control over your softsynths and gear

You got it!

Pulsar Zlink plate:
Costs the same as the "Plus" version of Pulsar, only gives you 2xZlink and 1xADAT (from memory, please correct me if I'm wrong).

Then without any other I/O plate, you can connect all 16 channels of A16 ultra at the full 24/96khz (of course, higher sample rates also use more DSP, so I will probably use 24/44 for most projects).

Luna Zlink Plate:
Gives you an extra Zlink Plate, and 2xADAT I/O. This way, you can, with this plate, and a Luna2 (/eleketra/powersampler) card, have 2xZlink -- BAM!! you'd also be ready for A16 Ultra. This combination -- Luna2+Luna Zlink/ADAT -- was called "Code word Hammerfarm" during Summer 2001 by Creamware's marketing department. Maybe you can see the similarities in both physical I/Os, and price to another audio card?

Only this one also has 3 DSP chips, basically for 'free'

Acid Man · Post by **Acid Man** » Wed Oct 10, 2001 9:11 am

I already called my local dealer and when I asked him about the Zlink he didn't know what it was. He said that it's only available for the Luna and so. Perhaps he should get his facts straight?

I still don't know whether the Zlink can be obtained seperate...

If I don't start using a breakout box, then I should use it the same way as i do now: Connect the out of the pulsar to two stereo inserts on my mixing desk and to two inputs from the desk into the Pulsar II.

Thus enabling me to record sources from my gear however not digital..

[ This Message was edited by: Acid Man on 2001-10-10 10:12 ]

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Wed Oct 10, 2001 10:21 am

I still don't know whether the Zlink can be obtained seperate... 

For Luna, yes, you can add the "Zlink/ADAT expander" later, and it is a second plate:
<img src=http://www.creamware.de/images/pics/lun ... xp_200.jpg>

For the Pulsar, it should be purchased at the time of buying Pulsar, since it is the actual I/O plate for the card -- not an expander.

I do not see it listed on Creamware's website, but it is on the new Dealer Pricing List, maybe he hasn't yet received the new dealer price list. I think it will show up once the A16 Ultra appears on Creamware's website (it has only been "previewed" so far).

JoeKa · Post by **JoeKa** » Wed Oct 10, 2001 3:52 pm

I´m having all my outboard stuff routed in Pulsar via a pair of A16s, this setup rocks! 32ch from the converters, the outboard FX routed easily as the pulsar´s internal FX, my masterverb (Roland SRV3030d) connected via S/PDIF in and out, 16ch ASIO source, all mixed down to 2ch ASIO dest. Works superb, no latencies worth mentioning... I´m just now transferring my older, incomplete projects to V3, I hope it will be as stable as it used to be, but I´m glad having the great mixer now.

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Wed Oct 10, 2001 4:03 pm

JoeKa, I agree..

As I've said my current "ideal" setup is an A16 Ultra connected via Zlink to a PowerPulsarZlink/PulsarZlink/ScopeSPZlink card, running the Mackie/Emagic LogicControl...

Acid Man · Post by **Acid Man** » Thu Oct 11, 2001 11:51 pm

Creamware Pulsar SRB - board

What does this board do? Is it an expension board for additional I/O's?

Acid