Mixdown

[Brian01]

What would you want to mix down to from an ADAT XT20? And what would you use as a master (cd?)? We were considering going to a studio for mixdown. I was under the impression that you can loose a lot when you mix down to cd from 20 bit adat. Any experience? Thanks.

 

[Track Rat]

In a word, no, you don't lose a lot. If you mix in the digital domain, you wouldn't want to truncate 20 bits to 16, that's for sure. And sample rate is another matter.

 

[Brian01]

yes, what sample rate would be best? I am a bit new to the digital domain. We were thinking of mixing down to our 8 track reel to reel as people have said it can fatten things up (I think its 1/2 inch, although they were probably referring to mixing down to a 2 inch)

Our other choices were going to be mix down to CD, or go to a studio and have them mix down to another adat.

 

[fenix]

What are you people talking about?

Brian, CD is probably going to be optimal in your case. Almost all Print/Duplication facilities accept this media. I've never heard of a duplication facility accept 8 track r2r or adat tapes. You are not going to be loosing hardly anything since you are probably mixing in analog domain anyways.

BUT

if you are mixing with a digital mixer and want to keep it digital almost all throughout, you might want to consider mixdown to DAT (or even truncating to CD 16 bit as mentioned) as dupe companies accept this media as well.

The main thing to consider on mixing your project is how serious you want it.

 

[fenix]

one more thing, please do not mixdown to analog media. you already have your shit on adat, why would you want to degrade your sound?

It would be different if you were mixing down to half inch studer 2 track.