alesis masterlink 9600

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Ariapro2

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I just bought the masterlink 9600 for $800 new. I seems to work fine though I haven't tested all the features. I still have a window of opportunity to return it.

I am mixing down from cubase sx 2.01. I am using the Delta 1010 soundcard.

What is the best way to mix down and master?
Is the masterlink 9600 a good piece to have? What are my options?
Any suggestions welcome!
 
The Masterlink is an excellent choice for a mixdown unit. And I've yet to hear a limiter s/w plug-in that is better than the one in the on-board DSP.

I'm not sure what your question is regarding mixing and mastering, unless you don't know what mixing is (in which case, read my Mixing 101 article).... and again, as far as options go, what exactly did you have in mind? It's pretty straight-forward............
 
Thanks for responding!

Well.....
I would like to get a professional sounding, finished product ( I do understand that there will be limitations with what I have)

I have been mixing my multitracks from within cubase and exporting the stereo mix to wave file........I then use my Windows cd burner program to make the cd.

I do understand the difference between mixing and mastering. I guess I was wondering if I used my money wisely upgrade my current gear.

Is the masterlink a professional quality machine or can I do better for about $800

I am still new to posting.......trying to get the knack of keeping it simple and clear (yet not too wordy)
 
The Masterlink is absolutely a professional-calibre machine, used every day in many studios. One future upgrade to consider for it would be to use external A/D-D/A converters with it -- the stock converters are certainly acceptable, but are no competition for outboard units.

I use a pair of Lucids on the front and back of my Masterlink........
 
thank you for your response....

I do have the focusrite platinum twintrak pro that I use as a preamp for tracking...it has spdif in and out. Could it also serve as a "pro" quality
D/A A/D?

Please bear in mind that I am fairly new to the digital domain
 
You'd have to try it and see if you notice a difference.
 
Hi, I want to use a Masterlink to make a decent demo CD. Is it possible to rent one, to try it out? The reason I am asking, is, I have found out over the years that if a piece of equipment is really difficult to learn on or work with, it doesn't get used for what was bought for. Final q, is there any cheaper altermative to burning a decent CD without running it into the computer, as I have a Fostex VF 08 with some nice tracks ready to mix, master, and burn? Thanks for listening, Psongman
 
I was considering purchasing the Alesis Masterlink myself but I'm unfamilar on how it works. I know it records cd's. I've been reading on your site and Alesis. I use Home Studio 2004 to track and mix. I'm still unsure how to get my song into the Masterlink. I thought it was something you hooked up to your computer and kinda dumped your song into. But it say's it doesn't have any ports to connect with a computer. So, do you burn out a disk on computer then make a master copy on the Masterlink? Thanks for reading.
 
In A Nutshell.............

You have digital and analog I/O on the unit......... you record to its internal harddrive, then if you like you can apply DSP or do any editing of the tracks. Once you've got the tracks organized and sounding the way you want, you burn a CD from it.
 
The masterlink is the standard in nashville. I have used one about 40 times. Vary easy to work with. The only thing that could be better is having a keyboard port. As a note i have not used the analog in. just the abs/ebu.
 
Yep Masterlink rocks hard. Ill second the vote for the keyboard port. Typing out/labeling stuff gets a bit annoying but I've managed to become pretty fast at it.
 
has anyone compared the new tascam dvd mastering unit. i saw one in a catalog but dont know much about it. im wanting a masterlink myself but if the new tascam thingy goes a step above for the same price range im gonna wait a bit. im thinking maybe better coverters and mastering tools. i just dont like you have to send the songs to a hard disk then burn a copy to a seperate cd burner on the masterlink. even if it is 4x-s. using the masterlink live your not gonna have much time for burning extra copies for the band or the mandatory free libations the band will get you. you know how everyone wants a copy by the end of the night. i would rather give them a copy then constant phone calls about when i can get my copy. if the band leaves with 2 copies i let them worry about extra copies.i usually deal with three- 40 to 50 minute sets for most local cover slash original acts.
 
To the users of the Alesis Masterlink, do you use the compression/eq etc inthe Masterlink itself? I have used the normalizer but not the compression mainly because I do not really know a good starting point. I am really not so sure I even need to. Any thoughts or comments?
 
gemsbok said:
has anyone compared the new tascam dvd mastering unit. i saw one in a catalog but dont know much about it. im wanting a masterlink myself but if the new tascam thingy goes a step above for the same price range im gonna wait a bit. im thinking maybe better coverters and mastering tools. i just dont like you have to send the songs to a hard disk then burn a copy to a seperate cd burner on the masterlink. even if it is 4x-s. using the masterlink live your not gonna have much time for burning extra copies for the band or the mandatory free libations the band will get you. you know how everyone wants a copy by the end of the night. i would rather give them a copy then constant phone calls about when i can get my copy. if the band leaves with 2 copies i let them worry about extra copies.i usually deal with three- 40 to 50 minute sets for most local cover slash original acts.
Click to expand...

Well, it cost twice as much and I don't think it uses a hard drive so you can edit an arange your songs. I do find it hard to understand way no other company such as tascam has came out with a copy of the Alesis.
 
Great ... now we'll have the Behringer MasterChainLink Pro 6900! :)

-Krag
 
just checked on the price of the tascam dvd mastering thingy. its only about 400$ more not double but still pricey. i dont know how it sounds but im still thinking of getting the masterlink.
 
I'm a long time user and supporter of the Masterlink...I've seen them in Nashville several times also...but always with other converters.

I have been eyeing the new Tascam unit though...maybe Alesis will come out w/ a Masterlink MkII...
 
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