Fletcher- Iz Technologies Radar Digital Multitrack

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LeeRosario

LeeRosario

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Hey Fletch,


You still on this thing? I was reading an old interview on prosound web with Rupert Neve and the name Fletcher came up as one of the interviewers.

Was that you? If it was...

Neve gave a interesting comment on Iz technologie's Radar Digital Multitrack Recorder line of products. Loosely quoted:

It's amazing to see how you can actually hear the short commings of distinct styles of preamps/audio material recorded through the Radar
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in reference to an amazing clarity not commoly achieved in most digital recorders. Perhaps, also paving a way for a new era in a post analog tape world. The analog tape of the digital world if you will.

If it's as close to analog digital tape technology is currently at, as they say, then why not more widely used?

Have you looked into this? Any possible insight?

I ask, because if it does sound as good as they say it does, it would be an investment I would quite possbility look into.

Any information (first hand, even better) would be great.

-Lee
 
In case Fletcher doesn't answer you, I would imagine that quote is pretty dated at this point. RADAR was the better sounding option to ALSIHAD (mixerman speak for ProTools) back when that quote was probably made. Keeping in mind that a one is a one and a zero is a zero, no matter what they're stored on, the sound is in the converters. I don't know anything about the new non Otari Radar, but the bottom line is that converter technology has progressed a lot since then, and there are lot's of other options for great sounding converters and matching them up with the software that fits your needs best.
 
Harvey Gerst said:
And yes, that was Fletcher moderating the Rupert Neve live session. The transcript is at:

http://www.prosoundweb.com/chat_psw/transcripts/rupert.php
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exactly. This is the article I had read, although at the time I had skimmed through it. I didn't realize how dated it was, however, the thought of finding the best AD/DA conversion in the industry still intrigues me.

I do realize the AD/DA technology has progressed exponentially since then, however now [in 2007] I wonder what secret gems lay out there. If not the Radar series (which I think Iz had bought from Otari), then something of that extremely high caliber.

I do realize you get apogee and drawmner with some great stuff out there, but somehow I'm not convinced he buck completely ends there. ???

This would match up to some type of Pro Tools HD rig, which I'm not limited to, but work best with. The 192 I/O A/D does alright, but it's to a point where I want to find something further than that. Perhaps someone knows of some of those secret gems I'm interested in?

I try to compare it to a photographer on the hunt for some of the world's greatest lens.

Thanks for the responses on the matter so far.
 
Never heard any of them but from what I've heard the best converters are supposedly Radar, Pacific Microsonics, and Prism. I don't think pacific microsonics are made anymore. All are super expensive.

$18,800 for a Prism 2 channel AD and a 2 channel DA. WOW. I'm going to get that some day.

http://www.mercenary.com/prismsound.html

I think prism is coming out with a digital interface for like $4k which has the same converter technology as it's standalone stuff. Fletcher also sells Prism and RADAR stuff on his site I linked to.

Off-topic: I left a comment on your new mp3 in that forum with a question about it. Awesome mix, man.
 
LeeRosario said:
Hey Fletch,


You still on this thing? I was reading an old interview on prosound web with Rupert Neve and the name Fletcher came up as one of the interviewers.

Was that you? If it was...

Neve gave a interesting comment on Iz technologie's Radar Digital Multitrack Recorder line of products. Loosely quoted:

in reference to an amazing clarity not commoly achieved in most digital recorders. Perhaps, also paving a way for a new era in a post analog tape world. The analog tape of the digital world if you will.

If it's as close to analog digital tape technology is currently at, as they say, then why not more widely used?

Have you looked into this? Any possible insight?

I ask, because if it does sound as good as they say it does, it would be an investment I would quite possbility look into.

Any information (first hand, even better) would be great.

-Lee
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I was at Fletcher's studio a few months ago and he does still use RADAR Nyquist system. RADAR is still the best sounding system out there and I have no idea as to why so many people still stick to Pro Tools other than the fact that they have so much $$$ invested that they really can't change.
 
I don't get out as often as I should these days... been busy as a mofo [you'll see why on or about 15 April]... at any rate, the RADAR converters and storage sound extraordinary.

There is math involved with the storage process... so even when using the RADAR converters in front of Alsihad [its been years since I used that word... damn it feels good!!] you'll notice a difference in the depth and feel of the audio.

The only thing I've found that comes close to RADAR is our Apogee/Logic rig. Sometimes we use the RADAR converters for the recording, transfer to Logic via AES/EBU add more tracks than the RADAR can sustain then use the RADAR and Apogee DA-16x converters come mix time... the audio is not an impediment to achieving what I want at that point [mostly my engineering skills are the impediment... but I'm getting better every day... I think].

We've done a bunch of stuff through the Apogee AD-16x's as well [like when the RADAR unit is out on demo] and I really have no arguments with the overall sound of the product [BTW, you can replace the "Mother of Alsihad" (Shiti-Design) converters with the Apogees and get your "Alsihad" system to sound WAY clearer and more opulent].

As for the quality of the audio with these devices allowing you to discern the subtle differences between mics and pre's and compressors, etc... of course they will. The better the resolution of your recording format the more subtlety you'll be able to detect from the other tools in your arsenal. Eventually you'll get to the point where you'll be able to get great depth and space in your recording which will support the music's emotional impact in no small way.

Remember, we're working with music here... and music is raw emotion. The song is the song, but when done well, the audio can reinforce the emotion of the musical performance and make the music even more relevant in the ears of even an untrained listener who is hearing the presentation over an MP-3 file.

I hope this is of some assistance.

Peace.
 
Fletcher said:
I don't get out as often as I should these days... been busy as a mofo [you'll see why on or about 15 April]... at any rate, the RADAR converters and storage sound extraordinary.

There is math involved with the storage process... so even when using the RADAR converters in front of Alsihad [its been years since I used that word... damn it feels good!!] you'll notice a difference in the depth and feel of the audio.

The only thing I've found that comes close to RADAR is our Apogee/Logic rig. Sometimes we use the RADAR converters for the recording, transfer to Logic via AES/EBU add more tracks than the RADAR can sustain then use the RADAR and Apogee DA-16x converters come mix time... the audio is not an impediment to achieving what I want at that point [mostly my engineering skills are the impediment... but I'm getting better every day... I think].

We've done a bunch of stuff through the Apogee AD-16x's as well [like when the RADAR unit is out on demo] and I really have no arguments with the overall sound of the product [BTW, you can replace the "Mother of Alsihad" (Shiti-Design) converters with the Apogees and get your "Alsihad" system to sound WAY clearer and more opulent].

As for the quality of the audio with these devices allowing you to discern the subtle differences between mics and pre's and compressors, etc... of course they will. The better the resolution of your recording format the more subtlety you'll be able to detect from the other tools in your arsenal. Eventually you'll get to the point where you'll be able to get great depth and space in your recording which will support the music's emotional impact in no small way.

Remember, we're working with music here... and music is raw emotion. The song is the song, but when done well, the audio can reinforce the emotion of the musical performance and make the music even more relevant in the ears of even an untrained listener who is hearing the presentation over an MP-3 file.

I hope this is of some assistance.

Peace.
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Thanks for the responses guys. Very helpful indeed.


Fletcher, good to hear that life has kept you busy. I always try to take that as a great sign in our industry. I meant to tell you how the Rupert Neve interview was a miraculous thing to read.

Great information, conformation and valid points.

As for the quality of the audio with these devices allowing you to discern the subtle differences between mics and pre's and compressors, etc... of course they will. The better the resolution of your recording format the more subtlety you'll be able to detect from the other tools in your arsenal. Eventually you'll get to the point where you'll be able to get great depth and space in your recording which will support the music's emotional impact in no small way.
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It reflects my point exactly, trying to get the audio as clear as possible so I don't have to worry about imaging and all the things that come with subpar resolution issues. They always say, "a great engineer is a product of adversity", but it's all about those expensive toys...

To concur, I figure my attention should be better spent on more important aspects of production. Not on my AD/DA bottlenecking my rig.

I figure it's not so much the 20k investment that worries me, it's the spending 20k on something that will let me down that worries me.

Of course, hands on would be the next step.
 
so is it OK if i start referring to Pro Tools as Alsihad to sound cool?
 
zed32 said:
so is it OK if i start referring to Pro Tools as Alsihad to sound cool?
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Please don't. Let's keep that over at "the place whose name shall not be uttered".
 
Have any of you gentlemen compared the Lynx Studio Technology with the Apogee? I have the Lynx Two-C at home and the converters sound great but I don't have suitable equipment or an apogee to compare them to.
 
LeeRosario said:
I figure it's not so much the 20k investment that worries me, it's the spending 20k on something that will let me down that worries me.
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Well it won't let you down... and FWIW its about time for me to flip my unit for a new one [I do that about every 6 months]... its a RADAR V "Nyquist" with an AES I/O board [which can be easily removed though I have found it to be exceptionally useful]. It will include fresh drives [the ones that come with my new unit] and a new locator/remote [its just easier for me to give you the new one that comes with my new unit than to give you the one I've been using for the last 5 or so years]. I think its going to go for like $16-17k... I'll have to check with the accounting department. If you're interested shoot me an email at Fletcher@mercenary.com

zed32 said:
so is it OK if i start referring to Pro Tools as Alsihad to sound cool?
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Absolutely... the permutations are: Alsihad: the system. Mother of Alsihad: company that makes the system. Alsihah: one who operates the system.

timboZ said:
Fletcher said:
[you'll see why on or about 15 April]
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I'll bet is has to do with the IRS... .. :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :D
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Actually it doesn't... and I just heard that the date I mentioned has been pushed back a week to 10 days... before May 1st is the new target date [for the moment]
 
NYMorningstar said:
Have any of you gentlemen compared the Lynx Studio Technology with the Apogee? I have the Lynx Two-C at home and the converters sound great but I don't have suitable equipment or an apogee to compare them to.
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No, but I agree they sound great. :)
 
I am pretty happy with mytek...though I am only using it for 2-track capturing; haven't tried it though a protools rig.
 
Ah yes, I have my peepers on a Radar system or Mytek. I wonder which one I'll be able to afford first! :rolleyes:

So this Alsihad, how is it pronounced, I was reading it as Al-c-had, but then I started thinking maybe Alls I Had, like it's Alls I had. Help me out here, I wanna be cool and use it! :)
 
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