Understanding A/D to D/a convertors. I think I understand

[g335]

Ok

So I was asking questions about mic pres. So it seems that if I wanted to be super professional with recording, I would buy an expensive high quality mic pre and than connect it to a expensive high quality A/D D/A converter and than run it into the DAW. Correct?

The high end mic pres I notice do not have any firewire or usb connectivity.

 

[Big Boss Man]

If you are talking about something like Apogee's Rosetta/X-Series or Lynx Aurora, then yes. They just do the A/D D/A conversion. You need to provide separate mic preamps. They also require additional cards depending on how you want to connect to your computer. This type of setup gets expensive very fast. There is really no point unless you also have great mics, great preamps, and a great acoustics.

 

[g335]

If you are talking about something like Apogee's Rosetta/X-Series or Lynx Aurora, then yes. They just do the A/D D/A conversion. You need to provide separate mic preamps. They also require additional cards depending on how you want to connect to your computer. This type of setup gets expensive very fast. There is really no point unless you also have great mics, great preamps, and a great acoustics.

I have a studio being better at my center. It will have a separate sound room/control room. The room is being built with good acustics.

 

[Nelson89]

Designed by an acoustician? Bare in mind this sort of setup gets VERY expensive VERY fast...the Lynx Aurora stuff and the Apogee Rosetta stuff...these are probably the cheapest things on the list. You then have to look at mic pre's, vintech (neve clones for about $2000) or neves ($4000)...then there's the case of having some kind of console which will probably be the price of a new car for a mid-range model...there's a few ways you can go with it i guess. All of this however would depend on your budget. What's the ballpark figure we're talking about? I say this mainly because if its too low, there's no point in buying any of this stuff just yet.

 

[g335]

Designed by an acoustician? Bare in mind this sort of setup gets VERY expensive VERY fast...the Lynx Aurora stuff and the Apogee Rosetta stuff...these are probably the cheapest things on the list. You then have to look at mic pre's, vintech (neve clones for about $2000) or neves ($4000)...then there's the case of having some kind of console which will probably be the price of a new car for a mid-range model...there's a few ways you can go with it i guess. All of this however would depend on your budget. What's the ballpark figure we're talking about? I say this mainly because if its too low, there's no point in buying any of this stuff just yet.

Yes designed by a acousticians and some good engineers. Console? What kind of console would I have to have?

 

[JBernard]

yes and here's why.

most pre's come without any kind of A/D for a few reasons...
1. cost
2. some a/d's add their own sonic signature
3. not smart to bundle together a/d if the user has 20K in it already and doesnt need it right?

 

[Nelson89]

Consoles can range anywhere from a TL Audio M4 which will go around 12k to some newer SSL consoles which will set you back about 23k all the way to special built consoles costing you in excess of 100k....how long is a piece of string...It all depends on what you want to do with it. The console itself would take the role of a lot of your pre's, you're summing, your outboard EQs etc etc...much more old school and still considered superior, but comes at a big price that some believe isn't entirely worth it. Hence newer cheaper SSL consoles etc to keep up with the moving market.

 

[g335]

Consoles can range anywhere from a TL Audio M4 which will go around 12k to some newer SSL consoles which will set you back about 23k all the way to special built consoles costing you in excess of 100k....how long is a piece of string...It all depends on what you want to do with it. The console itself would take the role of a lot of your pre's, you're summing, your outboard EQs etc etc...much more old school and still considered superior, but comes at a big price that some believe isn't entirely worth it. Hence newer cheaper SSL consoles etc to keep up with the moving market.

Ok that is expensive, so the ones mentioned before with the separate A/D to D/A, I can use those without consoles correct?

 

[Nelson89]

You can use any A/D to D/A without a console...i just mentioned consoles because when you start to go that way, thats more or less the next step. There's no point in having the best quality converter's in the world if you plan to pair it with subpar gear. I think in your price range the mid range stuff will be good enough in its quality/price ratio. Once you get to that midrange, you're more than capable of achieving a very professional recording, its all about using your gear properly.

The midrange stuff like your RME, or even the m-audio profire 2626 which i've mentioned in a few of these threads now due to its routing capabilities give you the ability to integrate many different things into the studio. These are also expandable enough to keep you happy for a few years. Pairing this with maybe 1 or 2 high end pre's will get you even closer to a fully professional sound.

I wouldn't attempt to start investing in the high end stuff until you have either a number of years to slowly build it, or have quite a bit of money to begin with, i.e. in the 50k+ range - mainly since you wanna be pairing good converters with good pre's straight away, so your up front cost is already sitting at over 15k.

The idea of a console is merely just a cheaper option when it comes to high end stuff, as even though it seems expensive, it does the job of rack gear that would cost multiple times that...hence their wide use amongst most professional studio's.

 

[g335]

You can use any A/D to D/A without a console...i just mentioned consoles because when you start to go that way, thats more or less the next step. There's no point in having the best quality converter's in the world if you plan to pair it with subpar gear. I think in your price range the mid range stuff will be good enough in its quality/price ratio. Once you get to that midrange, you're more than capable of achieving a very professional recording, its all about using your gear properly.

The midrange stuff like your RME, or even the m-audio profire 2626 which i've mentioned in a few of these threads now due to its routing capabilities give you the ability to integrate many different things into the studio. These are also expandable enough to keep you happy for a few years. Pairing this with maybe 1 or 2 high end pre's will get you even closer to a fully professional sound.

I wouldn't attempt to start investing in the high end stuff until you have either a number of years to slowly build it, or have quite a bit of money to begin with, i.e. in the 50k+ range - mainly since you wanna be pairing good converters with good pre's straight away, so your up front cost is already sitting at over 15k.

The idea of a console is merely just a cheaper option when it comes to high end stuff, as even though it seems expensive, it does the job of rack gear that would cost multiple times that...hence their wide use amongst most professional studio's.

Ok

I will look more into the ones you mentioned.

Thanks

 

[kludge]

If you want to be super professional, you need to practice. Gear doesn't matter nearly as much as learning to use what you have. Countless classic records were recorded without super-high-end gear. Start with amazing songs played by amazing musicians, and learn to make the best of them.

THEN worry about high end gear.

 

[LSchefman]

>>Gear doesn't matter nearly as much as learning to use what you have.<<

+1

I've been using midlevel converters for 10 years and make a fine living doing music for TV commercials, shows, films. My clients are very happy.

Beyond a certain point, t's not about the gear.