Sales reps are confusing the hell out of me, RME HDSPe AES.

  • Thread starter Thread starter umair
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umair

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Hello all,
I just came back from Guitar Center and was told that in order to upgrade my current setup (HDSP 5296 Hammerfall with 2 ADI-8 Pros from RME) to 192Khz setup, I need to sell my gear and purchase an HDSPe AES. I asked if there are any other items required as I am a little bit out of the loop in recording since I have been out of it for a few years. I refused to believe that the one card was going to convert 16 channels of 192Khz analog audio. He is telling me that I just need a snake that has the AES style conenctor on one end and TRS on the other and plug it into my mixing board. He was telling me that he masters for major studios etc and is "sponsored" by Logic and seemed to know what he was talking about since he actually new what RME is. However, I still did not believe that technology has improved so much in 5 years that they can do that in a small little card where I have two rack mount units.

So... I just called sweetwater and they just told me the same thing. The rep sounded like he was not familiar with the product though and would email me back with a price. Am I missing something? I was under the impression that AES is a digital signal and is a format that some converters "export" out to instead of ADAT.


Ok so the question is, if this is really the case, 16 channels of RME quality AD conversion now costs 1200 bucks, when I spent over 5K just 7 yrs ago? Why would anyone purchase anything else? It just doesn't make sense. Or are both sales reps wrong? I can see at GC even though he is "sponsored" but not at sweetwater. They usually know what they are talking about... at least they did 7 yrs ago.

Really confused. I don't want to put my stuff up for sale, if its going to cost me a fortune to upgrade.

He also told me that there is no more nuendo and its now Cubase 5 and only costs $500 now. I guess I'll have to check on that as well.

Anyway, any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
All of these guys appear to be delusional or there might be a miscommunication somewhere. The card in question is a digital card that sends and receives digital audio in AES format. Unless you have a digital board, you still need a separate device to do the conversion from AES to Analog for you. The missing half of the answer is that in addition to the HDSPe AES you would need to purchase an ADI-8 QS in order to get 8 channels of conversion.

And the Nuendo stuff is bull too. It is alive and well, and more expensive than $500.

You need to deal with a knowledgeable dealer on this high end stuff like Wind Over the Earth, Vintage King, Sonic Circus, or Mercenary Audio.

You might also want to contact RME directly to get better answers. Call Synthax at 954-626-0674. They are the US distributors of RME and know what they are talking about.

Feel free to contact me if you have any more questions.
ben@theDAWstudio.com
 
Awesome. Thanks for the head's up.

I suspected that was the case. I don't have the budget for a 16 channel RME rig. I may end up keeping my current setup or it looks like a bunch of people are purchasing the Motu828 although I love RME. I just can't afford it being a "hobbyist". I don't do this professionally or warrant such an elaborate setup at this stage in my life. I guess it all depends on what I get offered for my current setup and if time opens up for me.

I normally don't do much shopping except online or second hand from ebay. I just went into GC thinking that there might be some deals and see what's new in recording. Never again.

I'll stick to the internet or give some of those shops you discussed. I thank you for your help and may email you.
 
If the only reason for upgrading is to move to 192, I would suggest that you stay with RME rather than downgrade to MOTU. I would rather record at 44.1 with an RME than record at 96 or 192 with a MOTU, or Presonus, or DIGI 003. And especially if you are a hobbyists, stick with 44.1 and your good converters. Don't worry about 192 for a while. I'd say only about 5% of Pro stuff is recorded at 192, 45% at 96, and 50% still at 44.1 or 48. The quality of the converter is still a bigger issue than sample rate.

I'm glad I could help and sorry if I am soapboxing.
 
Again, I initially shared your sentiments about the sampling rates. I guess I'm just getting talked into this upgrade to begin with. You know peer pressure.
I was happy enough as it is. I just don't want to be behind the curve. I only record my band and really that's been on hiatus for a while now.
 
Ok... one last question... if I can sell the RME rig hypothetically what do you think is the best 96Khz or above option for me for around $2K? I am looking for 16 in/out at 96Khz or better with RME type quality as far as conversion. The newer RME stuff is $1900 per 8 channels plus I would need to keep the hammerfall.

So what is the next option with no pre-amps and 16channels of high quality conversion. Does it exist for under 2K?

I am assuming the firewire stuff is more CPU intensive that the Hammerfall PCI card.
 
umair said:
Hello all,
I just came back from Guitar Center and was told that in order to upgrade my current setup (HDSP 5296 Hammerfall with 2 ADI-8 Pros from RME) to 192Khz setup, I need to sell my gear and purchase an HDSPe AES.
Click to expand...

why on earth would you want to do that? that hammerfall card is sweet.
 
umair said:
Again, I initially shared your sentiments about the sampling rates. I guess I'm just getting talked into this upgrade to begin with. You know peer pressure.
Click to expand...

lol. there you go. if you do decide to get rid of that card let me know.
 
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