HD24 Users

[cooker]

Hello all,,thinking of buying an HD24,,was just wondering how well they work..
Do you all use software/pc to mix or do you use another machine...how do you turn it into a cd? thx

[Track Rat]

I love mine. Long time user. I have a hybrid system built around it. I do all my initial tracking to the HD24 directly. The analog inputs come up in a patch bay. Outputs to an analog console (Tascam M-3500). The Lightpipe ins and outs go to a MOTU 2408 mkII to get stuff in and out of a computer. I've never tried the ftp transfer but I hear it's slow. I use Cakewalk9 as an editor and some light automation but I send it back out of the computer through the 2408/HD24 like a 24 channel sound card to mix through the analog board. This way I can use harware compressors/reverbs/EQ's along side their plug in counterparts side by side in real time. I like it.

[mshilarious]

Here are the basic choices:


No PC: get an analog board (or ADAT input digital mixer) and outboard gear for mixdown. A popular box for CD burning & other related chores is the Masterlink.

PC:

Transfer via ADAT. That's what I do now. You need an interface with enough ADAT inputs--ideally 3 but if you don't run 24 tracks too often, 2 is survivable. I stay entirely in the box for mixing and CD burning, but once you have the files on the PC, you can do just about anything you want. I suppose in theory you don't even need to transfer, just set up level and pan and plugs on inputs and do the mixdown straight from the HD24 to PC. I've never tried that though, I like drawing volume envelopes and editing too much

Transfer via FTP over Ethernet--supposedly slow, I haven't tried it but I just got a router so I might in the future. It's faster than the real-time transfer of ADAT, but you can't work on the mix while you transfer files, so I'm not sure which is best.

Transfer via Firewire--fast, but you also need the FirePort to do this.

[Gilliland]

Originally Posted by mshilarious

Here are the basic choices:

No PC: get an analog board ....

PC:

Transfer via ADAT.

Transfer via FTP over Ethernet--supposedly slow ....

Transfer via Firewire--....

Yes, ethernet is slow.

I've been transferring via USB using HD24Connect. It's fast and works well. Seems to be slightly faster than firewire.

The best source of HD24 info is the Yahoo group: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/hd24/

[Adam P]

Another happy user here. I use mine simply as a 24 track recorder and mix analog on a 24 channel Allen & Heath board down to Cool Edit on PC, and use that to sequence the songs. I've tossed around the idea of getting a half-track tape machine for mixdown, but I have plenty of priorities that come before that.

The FTP transfer is disgustingly slow. I'm glad I have the FirePort. It's quick and easy.

[Nate74]

Count me among the happy users as well. For me, coming from a reel-to-reel setup, I wasn't really wanting to go 100% "in the box" so I got a Soundtracs Topaz board and the HD24XR. All my outboard stuff worked fine and the transition to a digital format was pretty seemless.

Since that time however, I've added a PC to the mix I now do a vast majority of my mixing with Cakewalk, but for quick mixes (like when the band that just tracked wants something to take home with them) I can yardstick the faders on the Topaz and do a quick mix. I have my patchbay setup so that I can put my stereo outs on my board straight into the HD24's 23rd and 24th tracks for mixing. Once it's converted to digital I transfer that stereo pair to the PC to burn CDs.

I have the tracks 1-8 on th HD24 fed by the board and tracks 9-16 coming straight off my patchbay and into the HD24. I usually track drums on 1-8, then use various preamps to go direct on 9-16. Never need more than that for any bands I've recorded.

Honestly the best thing about the HD24 was that it was an easy way for me to finally open my eyes to "in the box" mixing.

[killmachine]

I've got one and I love it. They are super compatable for just about anything. I've still got some more componants to get. I've not tried sending it to comp for mixing. That is the plan though. I run everything straight through the board. Just knowing you have that many options for one machine is worth it's weight. I bought mine thinking well I'll start at point 1 and get to point 5 to be able to effectivly be able to do well on any type of project or genre. I've always felt this way about the Alesis machines, but they always seem to be less digitalized sounding even though your going to a hard drive.

[foreverain4]

Originally Posted by Gilliland

Yes, ethernet is slow.

I've been transferring via USB using HD24Connect. It's fast and works well. Seems to be slightly faster than firewire.

The best source of HD24 info is the Yahoo group: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/hd24/

may i ask how you are transfering using usb? i thought the fireport was firewire...

[michaelst]

Another very satisfied user here. For the last two years I've patched the Alesis to the direct outs on my Midas Venice 320 during gigs. Download them to a PC via the Firewire connection, and remix usng N-Tracks.

Amazing results... PM for links to Live Beatles Music.

[Gilliland]

Originally Posted by foreverain4

may i ask how you are transfering using usb? i thought the fireport was firewire...

The Fireport does use Firewire, but I'm not using the Fireport. I bought a VPM-62489 from ViPower and then installed the HD24Connect utility to read from it. Works perfectly - but only in one direction. It will only read from the HD24 drive. If you want to write to it, you need the actual Alesis software and the actual Alesis Fireport. But I never transfer anything back to the HD24, so this solution is perfect for me.

Note that the unit that I purchased has both Firewire and USB, so I can use either attachment. If you need only USB or only Firewire, you can buy a cheaper one. ViPower makes quite a few units that can support the Alesis caddies.

We've discussed these options at great length in the HD24 group on Yahoo over the past several months.

[Tom Hicks]

My HD24 has performed flawlessly the past 18 months or so I've used it. I have it racked in a gator 4-space shallow rack and have used it for mobile location recording with my rock band as well as projects in my studio. I fireport the tracks to my pc and mix with samplitude. A tremendous value for the bucks.

[cooker]

Thx to all who replied..alot of information there, will keep me busy researching for awhile...thx