ADAT vs Hard Disk Recorders

[DDev]

23 hours, huh? Lets see, at an average of 20 tracks, that would be about a terabyte of HD space...

Anyway, thanks for the feedback, Fishmed. I realize I know NOTHING about SMPTE and syncing in general, so I guess I need to get myself educated before I plunge. I much prefer, personally, to go the ADAT route since I already have an ADAT setup and that would integrate easily with it. But the reality is that I'm setting up a studio for a church, which will just happen to be located at my house for the next year, and they have the final say on what I get. I just get to recommend what to buy, then play to my hearts content.

I'm curious, Wilkee, about what you're doing, since it sounds similar to what I'll be doing (ie. location recording, mixing at home). What process do you use for transferring data from the HD24 to the PC? Ethernet, lightpipe, analog audio? What interface are you using, also (PC-side soundcard)?

Thanks for your input.

DDev.....

 

[Fishmed]

I'm curious, Wilkee, about what you're doing, since it sounds similar to what I'll be doing (ie. location recording, mixing at home). What process do you use for transferring data from the HD24 to the PC? Ethernet, lightpipe, analog audio? What interface are you using, also (PC-side soundcard)?

Transfering tracks are quite slow on the HD24 using the ethernet port, so if you are planning on transferring a whole song, I know that it is more money, but check out the MOTU 2408 for transfering data from your HD24 to your PC via lightpipe. Your time will be well worth the money. The newer model has the balance analog I/O, which you won't need if you are using the HD24. You might find the orginal model cheap on Ebay.
If you hurry here are a few of them:

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1509326201

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1509182671

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1509080453

Note: If you are just going to transfer a couple tracks and not the whole song then the ethernet should be fine.

 

[Fishmed]

Track Rat,
Are you going to keep your ADATs once you get your HD24?
I've kept mine for remote recording. I would like to sell them to get a second HD24. then I would not have to unrack my system in the studio. All I would have to is pull out the drive from one machine and put it into the other. Maybe someday

 

[wilkee]

Originally posted by DDev
I'm curious, Wilkee, about what you're doing, since it sounds similar to what I'll be doing (ie. location recording, mixing at home). What process do you use for transferring data from the HD24 to the PC? Ethernet, lightpipe, analog audio? What interface are you using, also (PC-side soundcard)?


I use the ethernet and FTP but it can be a bit slow but very reliable.
In my PC I have a Maudio Audiophile 2496 card which I use for the mixdowns monitoring on my Volt/Scanspeak monitors (own design) or a large pair of Dynaudio's. The sound is stunning if I have done my job right. But the star of the show is the digital mixer which I also use for FOH duties for a local R & B band. Once I got used to the interface it was smiles all round!

 

[Track Rat]

Fishmed, oh yea, I'll be holding on to them for backwards compatibility and remote recording. Besides, I'm a Pack Rat as well as a Track Rat.

 

[Fishmed]

Fishmed, oh yea, I'll be holding on to them for backwards compatibility and remote recording. Besides, I'm a Pack Rat as well as a Track Rat.

I do not have any material on ADAT tapes since I was just using them for AD/DA converters. All of my stuff is stored in Cakewalk Bundles on CDs. I supose if I sold the ADAT machines and someone brought in ADAT tapes I could rent a machine for the day and transfer them to the HD24 or PC.

 

[Jack Hammer]

I'm sold

The Alesis sounds fine to me. I wold love to be able to get the full 24 out of my 2408. For 2k, this will do the trick. So, time to save my nickels and dimes, put away some do re mi or as someone on this site always says, some pezzutos, I believe is how it goes. Either way, 24 tracks, I would be in heaven. That's wet you pants kind-o s*&t. Oooo...Ahhhhhhh....."I want it" the mantra of those that frequent this site.

Seriously, though, 8 ins and 8 outs just don't do it. Since the 2408 can do up to 24, why have it if you are going to skimp or wimp out and not get the next device that give you its full potential.