ProTools 9 is out.. Should I upgrade my interface now that's i'm free??

[samth3mancgp]

Hey everyone,

So I was sitting here last night procrastinating on some school-work and checked my e-mail. When I clicked on the typical periodic update from AVID my jaw dropped... ProTools 9?! Free from the hardware boundaries of the past, pro features included standard, higher track counts than every before.

My mind immediatley jumped to interfaces such as the Presonus firestudio Lightpipe model that has no onboard preamps and relys solely on external conversion and preamps. Another that popped into my mind was the BLA Signature Mod to a Digi 002 Rack.

I think that with this new freedom I am looking for a converter upgrade, because that is the weakest link in my recording chain right now. Right now an example of my optimum recording recording chain would be Neumann U87>Seventh Circle Millenia Clone>Project Mix converters (or Presonus via ADAT)>clocked with BLA Microclock MKII>into protools. The converters are definitely the weakest link in the chain. I don't have very much knowledge about converters and what makes a good or bad one, but I have read far and wide that your recording is only as good as the weakest link in your chain.

I just don't know how well my Project Mix A/D D/A stacks up against interfaces even in the same price range.

I want to try to avoid starting a mess of impulse purchases that may not be worth it in the end. I'm closer than I have ever been before to a pro quality recording chain (after that comes monitoring ) and I want to make good choices in getting there.

 

[benherron.rrr]

I think things like that come down to taste,
I was stunned when I read the news, and I feel like it had opened up a whole new world for me. I know I needed to move to Pro Tools to improve my work flow. But I spent ages weighing up the fact that I use Cubase and I love the system and the fact my options are endless, against the fact I would be downgrading in every way, low and behold after ordering my new Mbox Pro I hear about Pro Tools 9 which has irradicated all of the views I had going against Pro Tools.

But left me with the dilema of keeping the mbox pro on order (whenever I get it) and doing the crossover to 9 or canceling it and buying the full version and a nice new interface. I think I have decided to stick with the mbox as its a bit cheaper than my other options, or go pick up a regular mbox and wait for sme more funds so I can get another better interface.

I still have the same view on pro tools, its not worth getting unless you have a reason to use it. If your running pro tools now get the crossover version because upgrading is inevitable. And if you feel that you need better pre's then buy some. personally I think the project mix has decent pre's as it is. but they are ment to be flat as to get a good responce from anything (in theory) if you want to grow so you have pre amps that suit the situation then go a head, Its like findng a mic that suits your voice.

 

[samth3mancgp]

Yeah ProTools 9 has most definitely leveled the playing field. I am an M-powered 8.0.whatever it is now user and I have been a user since 7.3. I haven't even been with ProTools for but a couple of years but the drawbacks of all versions before 9 was just ridiculous.. I mean, even Garageband had automatic delay compensation before ProTools LE did. I bet the users that have been with ProTools for over a decade now had a heart attack when they saw that they have finally let us out of hardware prison.

Anyways..

I'm looking to upgrade my digital converters more than preamps. Like I said, they seem to be the weakest link in my recording chain at this point and they may be holding me back. I'm just looking for more advice from other's on what they think of the converters I have, and what a worth-while upgrade may be. I'm not very familiar with converters.

I'm already pretty happy with the pres I have and I will be getting even better ones soon. I have been avoiding the ProjectMix preamps at all costs actually. I use an ancient SoundCraft Series 1S board loaded with transformers on the input that add some some tasteful color to the analog front end. Its a very subtle, but noticeable difference in warmth, smoothness etc that starts to come across when stacking tracks. I'm going to be putting together some preamp clones from Seventh Circle soon which will provide me with stuff that's even a step up from the SoundCraft.

 

[samth3mancgp]

bump.

help a converter noob?

I'm in over my head here with ideas.