Alesis HD24xr - what do you think?

[nuemes]

I currently have a single LX20 that's been a perfect match for my small home/semi commercial studio and have been eyeing the Alesis HD24xr as it could add many more tracks for $2k and appears to be much more reliable over time compared to tape-based ADATs.

But... I'm not sure yet. There are many options out there right now (computer based systems, all-in-one systems, other DAWs etc) and the HD24xr is 3 years old. Is there better technology in the same price range or does the HD24xr hold up still?

If you've have any experience with the HD24xr please let me know your thoughts on it. $2k is a major expenditure; I want to make the best possible choice. Thanks!

In case it helps here's what I'm currently working with:
Alesis LX20:
TDK DA-3826 CD recorder
Soundcraft M8
Avalon M5 preamp
Mackie 1202VLZ
Mackie 1202
M-Audio BX5's Monitors

Processing:
FMR Really Nice Compressor
Joe Meek MC2 compressor
Presonus BlueMax compressor
Ensoniq DP/4 effects processor
Yamaha REV500 effects processor
Alesis Quadraverb effects processor

Microphones:
AKG C414 ULS
Blue Baby Bottle
MXL V67
MXL 603S (2)
Shure SM58 (2)
Shure SM57

[Adam P]

I think you'll find hefty support of the HD24/HD24XR here at the boards. I personally love it as opposed to a PC based or all-in-one setup. I find the all-in-ones seem to be a bit clumsy to move around with, and a PC system can bog down with the burden of trying to record many tracks at once. The HD24 is pretty much idiot-proof...I learned how to use its basic features in about 15 minutes. Just plug in your pres or buss sends, set your levels, and record. The monitoring is intuitive and you can switch between a couple different setups with the push of a button. Another nice feature is the input normalling. I never thought I would use it at first but then I realized I could normalize my board's eight bus sends to any of the tracks and effortlessly route any channel or combination of channels to any track on the HD24 without any repatching.

In short, its a great piece of equipment, especially for the price (I think the Tascam equivalent is at least $1000 more), and plenty of people here use them and love them. Two of the most prominent here on the boards that I can think of are "Blue Bear Sound" and "Track Rat", and if I'm not mistaken "HangDawg" does too. Hopefully they'll chime in.

[edyer]

I bought mine about 6 months ago and Hardly ever turn on the mac anymore. Crossgraded from DP4 HDSP 9652 and Lucid converters. This sounds as good and is a whole lot easier to use. If your mixing on a console it's hard to beat.

[HangDawg]

I love mine. Awesome piece of gear. Simple to use. Can't beat it for live work either. It's so easy in fact, I record a lot of my bands live gigs just for the hell of it. Not just stereo feed of the board either, I do full multi-track. Love it, Love it, Love it.






Did I mention how much I like it.

[leddy]

How do the converters stack up against other options?

How much better (if at all) than the kind you get in a small DAW like a Tascam 2488?

How much worse (if at all) than something nice like Apogee?

[michaelst]

Altho you might not want to make a decision on results,
I have the HD24, and have been recording for about 3 months. I transfer the tracks to a PC and remix using N-Tracks, mastering with O-Zone 3, thru Event TR8's.

This is a live recording, one take, no overdubs (OK, I DID add the shaker)

She's a Woman

[joel77]

Nuemes,

Here's another thought: Add another LX20. You can get them on eBay for very little money.

If you're happy with the results you're currently getting with the LX20, but need more tracks, would another 8 do it for you?

My line of thinking goes like this: Buying the HD24XR will cost you somewhere in the neighborhood of $2k. In order to mix down all 24 tracks, you'll need a much bigger console than the M8. Looking at a decent 24 channel board may be another $2k.

On the other hand, with another LX20, you'd only need a 16 channel mixer(perhaps another M8?), which can be had for much less than a 24 channel.

Let me qualify all this by saying I have an Alesis HD24XR and I love it! But I also have an Allen & Heath GL2200 24 channel mixer. For the most part I dump the HD24XR's files to Sonar for mixing via the Fireport. But I can also mixdown through the A & H if that fits a particular situation.

Best of luck!

Joel

[snatchman]

Well...I still use the Adat Xts (16 bit).. ! They 're not HD24s/XRs but they get the job done! I use the Presonus Digi-Max LT for convertors. The 24 bits seems to give a little more detail, even though I'm printing just 16 bits. Actually, I'm working on better front-end pres, because I actually had the opportunity to mix a project tracked to Adat Xts through API, Manley, GML pres! Just changed my whole opinon about convertor priority! ..I 'll eventually get the hard-disk, but I better get something worth recording through to print to that hard-disk!..

[Track Rat]

I've had the HD going on two years. I have it clocked with a GenX6 and in my humble opinion, it makes the all ready decent converters that much better. I came from two LX-20s and there's definately a sonic improvement. I'm getting in and out of the computer with a MOTU 2408mkII and coulndn't be happier.

[snatchman]

Originally Posted by Track Rat

I've had the HD going on two years. I have it clocked with a GenX6 and in my humble opinion, it makes the all ready decent converters that much better. I came from two LX-20s and there's definately a sonic improvement. I'm getting in and out of the computer with a MOTU 2408mkII and coulndn't be happier.

Hey Track Rat, how do you compare your set-up, the HD24/GenX to the convertors on the XR? Just asking for future reference. Thanks!

[Track Rat]

I've not had the oportunity for any hands on with those converters. Sorry.

[snatchman]

Hey all. Here's a question you all can get a good laugh off. . As I have fore-stated, I still have the XTs. On the HD24, all three banks of 8 tracks work off the same clock I assume? Now that you all have got off the floor from laughing.... this is why I ask. As with the Adat system the first Adat is the "master" and the other bank of tracks follow (separate Adats). If you unplug the Lightpipe out of the master Adat, the slaves lose sync. On the HD24, if you were to take the lightpipe out of the first bank of 8s and plug it into the next bank, will the first bank still be in sync? Hope I didn't confuse you to much!..

[Track Rat]

If you were using an outboard digital device such as mic preamps with ADAT outputs it all stays in sync if you move it bank to bank.

[snatchman]

Originally Posted by Track Rat

If you were using an outboard digital device such as mic preamps with ADAT outputs it all stays in sync if you move it bank to bank.

Hey Track Rat, thanks. That's what I was hoping, as I use the Presonus Digi-max! (for now) Have a friend that has the HD24 just sitting. He wants me to use it, since he's no longer doing live remotes and he uses computer, plugs, etc. in his studio. I'll give it a whirl.. . Thanks!

[Track Rat]

Just set the HD to DIGITAL INPUT and it will clock to the incoming Lightpipe. The analog outputs are always active no matter what so you can monitor recorded tracks.

[snatchman]

Originally Posted by Track Rat

Just set the HD to DIGITAL INPUT and it will clock to the incoming Lightpipe. The analog outputs are always active no matter what so you can monitor recorded tracks.

Thanks, Track Rat..!

[cpl_crud]

Hey, just another quick question on the clocking for the HD24...

If you're using three different ADCs, all connected to the lightpipe inputs on the HD24, will the HD24 sync all of them together? Or do you need some kind of world clock generator to span the 4 units (3 ADCs and the HD24)?

From what I've just read I assume this is the case, but, as we know, assumption is the mother of all screw-ups, so I thought I'd check before finding out the hard way...

[Simman]

I think I wish wish mine would turn into a new iZ Technology RADAR.









I guess that ain't going to happen so, the HD24 is fine