Vienna Symphonic Library Forum
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  • mixer in all-digital environment?

    I'm looking to purchase a 24 channel mixer (digital/analogue?), but since everything I'd be mixing is digital, I'm worried about signal degradation. I'd have three computers with Gigastudio on them outputting to the mixer, which would subsequently output to my DAW. What would you folks suggest in this situation?

    Ideally I'd want to be able to output three stereo outputs from each Gigastudio (total 9 stereo pairs) and input those into my mixer. From there I could premix and add any other signals to the mix and then bus everything down and output the result to my DAW where I'd do a final mix/mastering.

    If anyone has any suggestions for me I'd greatly appreciate it.

  • I mix three Gigastudio returns (12 stereo tracks in total) in my sequencer. Very easy and low latency. What sequencer are you using?

    Do your Gigastudio machines have Adat outputs?

    Peter
    www.PeterRoos.com

  • Yes my Gigastudio machines have ADAT outputs (or should I say will). The sequencer I use tends to juggle back and forth between Cubase SX and Sibelius depending on how I'm feeling on a particular day. But for the sake of this forum lets just say its Cubase SX (soon to be Cubase SX 2.0).

    I've recently been given the notion to put Hammerfall HDSP96/52s in everything. Just plug the ADATs from the three Gigastudio machines into my DAW ADAT inputs. From there I could mix in Cubase SX, etc.

    If I go this route the price of a mixerboard and three of the more expensive HDSP96/52 cards are about comparable. My only question then would be, if I have this all digital setup, how would I monitor anything? I suppose I'd have to purchase one of those add-on cards for my DAW that'll give me 4 Analogue outputs. Any thoughts?

    Thanks!

  • I've been trying to find a way to do without my digital mixer for years!

    Somewhere on that confusing RME website I'm sure they have a D/A box that would do the trick.

  • So what you're saying is I'd need some sort of D/A converter to take the digital signal out of my DAW and get it to a set of monitors? Sorry for the clarification, I'm completely ignorant to D/A A/D convertors.

    Thanks!

  • I have the HDSP9652 in my DAW expanded with an AEB8-O and AEB8-I.
    The output unit is available for monitoring up to 8 mono channels / 4 stereo, while the card and the sequencer are processing 24 mono inputs / 12 stereo.

    I send the 4 stereo analog outputs to my analog Behringer mixer for monitoring. This multi channel monitor can be handy, for instance for having a hardware fader for the click track / metronome sound from Logic.

    When I need analog inputs, I switch a checkbox in the driver dialog and replace one Adat input with the analog inputs. I recently recorded a drum kit with 7 tracks, it worked great.

    My only complaint is that the AES8-O (the analog output unit) is NOISY in my PC, but it doesn't affect the input or recordings. it picks up quite some CPU noise. Maybe I can shield it or put the unit outside of the PC case.

    my setup is explained on www.peterroos.com/techinfo.html

    Peter

  • Thanks for the information, and great site by the way. As far as a mixer is concerned I'd like to stear clear of one. And I had planned on simply buying one of the RME expansion cards to give me some analogue I/Os to work with. Because it does sound exceedingly convienant to just route the mix that's coming into my DAW's ADATs to one of the analogue outputs and then straight to my monitors. But you saying they're noisy makes me rethink this. Should I still get the expansion card are would you recommend another method?

    Thanks!