Using 2 Aardvark Q10 silmutaneously: questions

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bucky g

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Hello.

After having done much research on the internet, and hearing some songs made using q10's (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/chucknkd/index2.html ) I'm interested in buying 2 units (I'll need 16 inputs) for recording my band live into nuendo . Here are some questions that I have:



1-- when using 2 q10's silmutaneously do you need to install 2 pci sound cards?

2--if I buy 2 units, is the second any cheaper because I do not need a second copy of cakewalk (and possibly a second pci card bundled with the q10)?

3---since inputs 1 through 4 have only one switch for phantom power is there any other way to independently control phantom power for these 4 channels ? ie, if I only need channels 1 and 2 (on unit 1) out of the sixteen total channels of both units to be phantom powered, am I then forfeiting the use of channels 3 and 4 on the 1st unit?

4--will there be any hardware/software upgrades to make the units 96k and still maintain the s/n headroom and distortion specs on the Aardvark website?

5--When using 2 q10's together, what will the software mixer(s) look like? Will they appear as two seperate 8 channel mixers like the screenshots on the web site, or will I see a graphic of a 16 channel mixer instead?

thanks in advance
 
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I have never seen a Q10 without the software package, so you'll probably have to pay the same price for both. Maybe you can sell the extra Cakewalk copy?

If you only need two channels of phantom power you can use inputs 1 and 2 with condensers and still inputs 3 and 4 with dynamic (or a microphone that doesn't need phantom power)

My advice would be to buy one Q10 first, before buying two. You computer might have problems or you might just not like it. It'd be better to learn with one and then get another one.
 
justwantyou2kno said:
If you only need two channels of phantom power you can use inputs 1 and 2 with condensers and still inputs 3 and 4 with dynamic (or a microphone that doesn't need phantom power)
Click to expand...

Just to show what a newbie I am... what happens when you plug a dynamic mic into an input that has phantom power enabled? Is it bad for the mic or does it alter the sound (or do you use the trim to compensate)?

thanks
 
bucky g said:
Just to show what a newbie I am... what happens when you plug a dynamic mic into an input that has phantom power enabled? Is it bad for the mic or does it alter the sound (or do you use the trim to compensate)?

thanks
Click to expand...

I can't speak for everything, but on the Q10 it won't hurt your dynamics if you plug them into inputs 1-4 and phantom power is on. I wouldn't go turning phantom power on if it's not needed though.

edit: I am pretty sure everything I am saying is correct, someone stop me if it isn't. If you want you can e-mail the guys at aardvark, they're good at replying quickly.
 
1 - I believe each breakout box requires a corresponding PCI card.

4 - as I understand it, the current drivers cause the Q10 to be able to work at 96K. The specs on the Q10 are not as complete as the specs on the DirectPro 24/96 so its hard to be sure, but I strongly suspect that the signal chain (preamps, converters) are essentially the same between the Q10 and the 24/96. The biggest differences are that the Q10 offers inserts on the first 4 channels and the two "guitar" inputs on the last two channels.

5 - I believe that the Q10 software will only show 8 channels at a time, and that there is a setting in the software to choose what card/input set is being addressed.

All of this is according to my best knowledge -- I don't have my Q10 yet, but its next on my purchase list, and I've been investigating it heavily.

-lee-
 
laptoppop is correct on all his assertions.

Also, the phantom power will NOT hurt mics that don't require them, even when plugged into imputs with the phantom power on.
 
thanks to everyone for all the input. this is a great message board. are there any other forums like this for home recording?

btw, any links for other quality sites with daw recording faq's, up to date articles, reviews, and/or tutorials would be much appreciated.
 
1-- when using 2 q10's silmutaneously do you need to install 2 pci sound cards?

Yes, each unit comes with it's own card

2--if I buy 2 units, is the second any cheaper because I do not need a second copy of cakewalk (and possibly a second pci card bundled with the q10)?

No. The cakewalk is basically included free to get you to upgrade to Sonar for about $200

3---since inputs 1 through 4 have only one switch for phantom power is there any other way to independently control phantom power for these 4 channels ? ie, if I only need channels 1 and 2 (on unit 1) out of the sixteen total channels of both units to be phantom powered, am I then forfeiting the use of channels 3 and 4 on the 1st unit?

Mics not requiring phantom power will operate correctly with phantom power on or off, so you will not lose any inputs.

4--will there be any hardware/software upgrades to make the units 96k and still maintain the s/n headroom and distortion specs on the Aardvark website?

Do not know

5--When using 2 q10's together, what will the software mixer(s) look like? Will they appear as two seperate 8 channel mixers like the screenshots on the web site, or will I see a graphic of a 16 channel mixer instead?

The appear either as two mixers with 8 inputs, or you can just open one and toggle between cards.

*Note*

There are not a lot of people posting their great stories about running two Q10's. I have two and have been struggling to get them stable for about a month now.
 
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