Considering Used ADAT

[DDev]

I've been considering purchasing a used ADAT (20 bit) recorder to give me an inexpensive way to record 8 tracks remotely, then dump it into my computer for editing, etc.

My question is really that I want warm fuzzies that this would be a good route to take (versus, say, buying a Fostex VF16 to do the same thing), and also, what would be a good, inexpensive ADAT I/O card for my PC? I've seen the Lexicon Core 2 advertised for about $200, but don't really know anything about it.

I know there are a ton of ADAT's out there, and Ebay is full of them for sale in all flavors. My biggest problem at the moment is financial (I also need a set of good monitors, but the recorder will be first).

I'll probably be using either Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 or Cool Edit Pro for PC editing (my partners in musical crime are split on this).

Thanx,
DDev.....

[dragonworks]

I have an adat and my buddy has the newest fostex 16 track hard disc recorder, I'll take my adat anyday. There is a way to tell how many hours are on the drums in the adats but I forget how, I would have to look it up in my manual. I am not so sure I would buy off the net. You can usually pick them up used in music stores for around the same price. This way you can check the hours and the general use and usually get at least a 30 day guarantee.

[Automaton]

yeah, checking the hours on an adat machine is a good idea, as well as asking about its service history....to check the drum on hours press and hold down the set locate button and push the stop button.

I would honestly suggest the Dakota adat PCI card by Frontier Designs, even though you are looking for a less costly card. I've never had a latency problem with mine, plus it comes with a ton of features. There are are two sets of adat I/O on it.

[MISTERQCUE]

ADAT's RUUUUUUUULE!!!!!!!

[Dom Franco]

You can check the head hours by pressing "SET LOCATE & STOP" at the same time. Most importantly, You will have individual outs with an ADAT, but the Fostex only has a stereo out. You would not be able to transfer each individual track to the computer.

Sincerely;

Dom Franco

[DDev]

Thanks folks for your inputs. I have a couple of comments and more questions just in case anyone bothers to read this again.

My hope with what I want to setup is to be able to have an ADAT PCI card in my PC to use to transfer 8 tracks of data between the recorder and the PC via lightpipe connection, not through direct audio connection (this was why I had considered the Fostex VF16; it has an ADAT port).

Anyway, is my understanding of how the lightpipe works correct? Will I be able to transfer 8 audio tracks simultaneously to my PC with it if I have an ADAT-compatible card? (By the way, I checked out the Frontier Designs stuff; looks nice but way out of my range at the moment. What about the Alesis card?)

Also, I've begun looking around at used ADAT's, but haven't had a chance yet to touch one. I see a lot of blackface ADAT's for sale on-line (still looking for a local source here in Wichita, Kansas). I understand these are basically original version recorders, working at 16-bit resolution. How much do you really get by going to a 20-bit machine since the final output is 16-bit anyway? It looks like I could probably get 2 blackface ADATs for the price of one XT20 (or have enough money to get meself some studio monitors that I wishes to have).

I don't know yet where, exactly, I plan to go with this newfound infatuation with recording, but I really want to get started as soon as I can get some gear.

Thanks in advance if you're paying attention out there. If not, I'll post a new note later on to repeat this stuff.

DDev.....

[mnicoletti]

OK, I'll get flamed for this but..........

The ADAT card works, BUT it is very picky. Do NOT get a computer with a soundcard or video card on the motherboard. They should be separate cards. Some ASUS motherboards have had problems. WIN 98 SE will work. I have heard that Windows ME works. Win NT or 2000 does NOT. Make sure your soundcard can handle 48K sample rate or you will get errors if you try to play a track with that sample rate through the soundcard. Try to get a Soundblaster or Ensoniq PCI soundcard, I know first hand the PCR card plays nicely with them.

The more "stuff" is in the computer, the more chances for conflict. So make sure you have some (2 or 3) PCI slots open in case you have to play the "slot game" to get Windows to assign non-conflicting IRQ resources to each piece of hardware. The PCR card can neither share an IRQ nor can it be assigned one manually by the user....

Mike

[DDev]

Thanks, Mike, for the info on PCI cards. From what I've read and heard this is probably the singlemost reason I've been thinking about going the ADAT route. I think for the time being (budget constraints) the only thing I am going to use the computer for is mastering. I've been using one of the Cakewalk programs to bring 2-channel audio into the PC, and playing around with Gold Wave for final mastering and normalizing. I will probably just do my mixes from the ADAT with my effects patched in, and go straight to either CD or into Cakewalk for anything else.

Someday, maybe, I'll try the other route to see what it adds.

DDev.....

[idiot_ink]

OK, Ive been using 2 adats with 2 AdatEdit cards for a while now and the only problems Ive had were loud pop's at the beginning of the transfer, no big deal, edit it!. Im using WinMe with a Aureal Votex 2 sound card, but when I first got all of this stuff, I was using onboard sound and didn't have any conflicts. But every system is different. The only problems Ive ever had with pci cards was the Core2 and the M Audio Delta66. They just made everything go crazy. But with the Alesis stuff i have right now, along with Vegas Pro and Cool Edit, I really can't complain. So do your home work!!!!!!!!!!! And you'll be fine.

[DDev]

Thanks for the new input, idiot_ink. I probably won't be getting anything for my pc, now, for awhile. I have to decide whether to stay with my single ADAT and add the pc interface, or add a second ADAT. I am pleased with the unit I bought, but have quickly decided that I need more tracks. I am mostly doing remote, live recordings, then doing the mixdown at home. Just too much I want to do and too little cash to do it with.

Oh well, someday.....


DDev...

[mnicoletti]

Hi, idiot_ink, my guess is you are not using Auto Transfer, true???

If you just hit Transfer, the computer is recording data immediately. Problem is, the ADAT is not synced for a couple of seconds....the noise at the beginning is the lack of clock lock.

Use Auto Transfer and the 8 seconds of preroll assures the ADAT is locked and the transfer's beginning will be clean.

Mike