Question about dedicated digital hardware

[ardy77]

I have some hardware (2-3 years old) collecting dust...namely:

-Alesis CLX-440 digital compressor/expander
-Boss VF-1 24-bit multi-effects processor

My issue is about both of them being "digital"...I want to figure out how to use them both without using their 2-3 yr old inferior a/d converters. I think I am SOL on both since neither has a digital/spdif/adat INPUT....and only the Boss has a digital out.

Seems I am stuck using their a/d converters...and even worse, if I use the Alesis I dont even have a digital out option! ...so I guess I am forced to allow this thing to convert my analog audio to digital, compress it, convert back to analog before sending it out...a high price to pay for compression if you ask me...is this thought process correct???

I mean, I would prefer to use my emu 1820m converters and then somehow pass through these "digital" boxes using a digital signal...

If all of this is correct....then what good would dedicated digital hardware be without appropriate digital ins/outs??? you'de be better off using a plug-in within your DAW or using analog compression/effects prior to converting to digital....the only small benefit I see is that you don't tax your CPU...

just my 2 cents.

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

I don't know about the Boss unit, but that was a huge issue with the Alesis 440 when it came out.... (and probably why it didn't do well!) It was a digital box, but lacked all digital I/O, forcing unnecessary A/D/A conversions.

Unfortunately, you're stuck with going thru their converters unless you know enough electronics to be able to re-wire around the analog components and mount a digital interface on it....