Mackie 8 bus and Delta 1010

[Cult_Status02]

I have been thinking of the best way to incorporate the Mackie 8 bus, which I have wanted for a while, into my DAW. Do you guys think I should use a 24 track digital recorder, or 3 Delta 1010s?

Do the 1010s, or just having 3 of them working at once, create latency issues that anyone has noticed.
If you had a choice, what would you get, 3 Deltas or a digital 24-track like an Alesis or Mackie?

 

[ChuckU]

I just sold 2 Delta 1010's to members of this board. They were set up in a configuration with my 32x8 Bus. I'll be replacing the 1010's with something firewire because I'd like to be able to break the rackmount out and record remote to a laptop now & then (RME 800 and Mackie 1200F look attractive - on the less expensive side Presonus Firestudio or MOTU 8Pre or 828). Part of my reasoning on this is the fact that newer motherboards max out at 3, sometimes 2 PCI slots.

As for my configuration, I never felt the need for more than 16 simultaneous analog inputs (typical band - 8 drum tracks, 2 guitar, 2 keyboard, bass, scratch vocal - that's 14), so I never bought a third Delta. On my board, I connect whatever line & mic inputs I need to channels 1-16. Out of the 8-Bus direct outs 1-16 I go into the 1010's. Those are permanently connected.

I come out of the 1010's in their respective out 1-2's where, by the Delta software mixer I designate as the Main Outs for the cards. Those four outputs go into the board's line ins 29-32 (these 4 channels on a different bus than the other inputs). This allows me to control the level out of the Deltas to the board's main out and to the monitors.

I'm sure there are many different ways to configure. I just went with what I felt was the easiest for me.

As for the Mackie/Alesis 24 track option, I like the PC option because I know my software (Sonar) and I understand PC's to some degree.

 

[Cult_Status02]

Thanks a lot. I was thinking maybe just two Deltas would suffice. But I kind of wanted to send each out to the same in channel (channel 1 in 1, out 1) so I could mix using the board. I wanted to use the board instead of shelling out more money for a control surface. But perhaps a control surface or more mouse-mixing will be needed.

I think I will rethink using 3 1010s because perhaps my comp may have trouble with 3 of them.

One more thing, in the manual I read for the Mackie 24.8 bus, it said something about a automation: "There is an optional MIDI automated mixing capability that will be available for the Mackie 8 bus series consoles..." But I have not been able to find anything on this, anyone know anything?

 

[Ears]

I've been runnung a 2408 and expansion with 2-1010LT UNITS.
I have external mic pres that I patch through a xlr bay and into the 1010LT's and monitor from them out to the Mackie, where I can add my external Lexicon reverbs etc.
I am not a fan of PC compression and the only reverb I have found that I like in the PC is the CSR by IKMultimedia. So I personally like the Mackie to route all. It has such a great monitor section. I wouldn't advise feeding the card from the 8 buss though. You will lose a lot of clarity, even though it is a non colored board.
My opinion.

Thanks a lot. I was thinking maybe just two Deltas would suffice. But I kind of wanted to send each out to the same in channel (channel 1 in 1, out 1) so I could mix using the board. I wanted to use the board instead of shelling out more money for a control surface. But perhaps a control surface or more mouse-mixing will be needed.

I think I will rethink using 3 1010s because perhaps my comp may have trouble with 3 of them.

One more thing, in the manual I read for the Mackie 24.8 bus, it said something about a automation: "There is an optional MIDI automated mixing capability that will be available for the Mackie 8 bus series consoles..." But I have not been able to find anything on this, anyone know anything?

 

[coolsoundman]

Can anyone post a hook-up diagram using the 32x8 and the 1010 audio interface?

 

[Ears]

well
There is a few ways you can do this
Direct out from each channe of the Mackie, ( I recommend), if you are using the mic pres on the Mackie, (I don't) to the corresponding input of the 1010, or the 8 busses out from your Mackie to the audio 8 inputs of the 1010. This will allow you to montior (or not monitor) because in the Mackie you can tell each channel to path to any output of the 8 buss or stereo master out. The only issue with this second option is you are going through the sum amps of the Mackie before the 1010 and you may not want to add this analogue loss to your input.

The outputs of your 1010, bring them to 8 more inputs on your mixer where you can now have a monitor in or monitor out depending on what fader you choose. You also have EQ on the way and EQ on the way out. YOu also have insert for compressors, eq etc on the the way in and the same on the way back.
The only caviat here is make sure you dont monitor both at once as you may get a feedback loop if you are using the 8 buss for the outputs or playback of the 1010, . Make sure the channels you are using for the output of the 1010, (lets say 9 through 16 for example on the Mackie)don't send the signal a second time out the 8 buss, only the stereo out buss to your speakers.

I have 2 x24 channels so I just don't use the 8 buss for the PC at all and have it hardwired to an analogue 8 track in case I want to warm something up.


So, the best clear signal is the direct out of your Mackie 1 to 1 in the 1010, 2 to 2 in the 1010 etc....all the way to 8 or 16 if you have two 1010s.
Then back again, 1 (1010) to 9 of the mackie and 2-10 of the mackie..all the way to channel 16 or 24 depending on how many 1010s...

Benefits
2 insert points, no real signal loss, and if you have outboard effects, you can run any sources of reverb or delays through the many sends of the Mackie, and use a mix down device like a CD burner, Dat etc. That is what I do.
The Mackie really just becomes a monitor control as you can still automate your mix in the PC right?

Hope this helps. Let me know if it is confusing.
Lou