Alesis LX-20 Adat WhiteFace for my A/D conversion?

[RecordingMaster]

Hi there, you can see my setup outlined in my signature, but just for the record, I use a Tascam US-1800 as my audio interface. I mostly use outboard preamps and feed them to my Tascam's line level inputs (which do not have built preamps). Thing is, there are only 4 of those inputs, so if I am recorded more than 4 mics at a time (like drums or an elaborate guitar setup), I then need to use the shitty stock digital pres on my interface as additional inputs. This is fine and all, but I know the whole deal about "Why have a nice expensive outboard preamp when your A/D conversion is cheap?". So that being said, I don't want/need to splurge and buy another interface with more line inputs and xlr's, etc, and spend a crap load of money on something with better A/D. I am simply looking for a way to upgrade my A/D conversion quality only and pass it through the spdif input on my Tascam in order to get it to Pro Tools.

All that being said, there are two White face Alesis LX-20 Adat units for sale right now at $200 a pop (I'd only get one). They come with some tapes (which i wouldn't use) and controllers. They also come with RCA to 1/4 TRS cable snakes. Of course I'd try and bargain the price down a little, but would it be worth my while to go with it? I figure I'd patch this Alesis up to my patchbay. Run my outboard preamp's outputs to this thing, then go out from the "Optical Adat Out" jack on the Alesis, and into my "Digital in" on my tascam.

My concerns:
1) Is that compatible with my unit as far as connectivity goes?
2) Is it worth it, or will going through rca cables and such just degrade the signal, going against the intention of trying to get a better quality sound in the first place?
3) Will there be clock or conversion issues? My clock is the internal tascam clock and I have no issues. The Tascam is standard 24 bit, but the Alesis is only 20 bit! I'm not a techy, but does 20 bit mean it will sonically be lower definition? Also, if it is 20 bit coming out of the Alesis, will it get converted to 24 bit upon digital entry/exit of the Tascam? I'd worry about the recording sounding sped up or slowed down due to conversion bit rate error or something, especially if I am simultaneously recording the same source with different microphones going into the actual Tascam's xlr inputs too (which I will sometimes for drums still, since I don't have 12 outboard preamps).

Am I being a worry wart or will everything be fine and seamless? I know some of you know this stuff pretty good. Please help, as I would very much appreciate it! Thanks and cheers!

 

[Track Rat]

First off, ADATs will definately function as AD/DAs and will do a decent job. I have a couple that I use with a MOTU to track with out where my band practices and they do a fine job. However, I wouldn't buy one for $200 for that purpose. The only reason I use them is that I allready owned them and they were just sitting around unused for years. At that price I'd look at a Behringer AD8000.

 

[RecordingMaster]

First off, ADATs will definately function as AD/DAs and will do a decent job. I have a couple that I use with a MOTU to track with out where my band practices and they do a fine job. However, I wouldn't buy one for $200 for that purpose. The only reason I use them is that I allready owned them and they were just sitting around unused for years. At that price I'd look at a Behringer AD8000.

Well I've looked at that, but I'd think/fear that the A/D conversion on the Behri can't be any better than mine, no? People always bash Behri for having cheap, unreliable, poor sounding gear. What specs am I supposed to look at on both the Tascam (and any other unit I look to buy) for A/D comparison?

Also, isn't the ADA just an 8 channel mic pre? Looks like it has volume knobs on the front, eg: preamps.