I went from an analog desk to digital to straight computer i/o. While I don’t miss the digital desk as compared to computer i/o, it was vastly superior to the analog desk. Don’t overlook the Panasonic/Rams DA7. That’s what I ended up with after test driving all the reasonable desks at the time like the 02r and the Mackie. The DA7 was thought out perfectly and worked in a more familiar “analog” mode than the others. The digital i/o options at the time gave you plenty of options to config.
As far as master clock, the DA7 had really solid timing so I just used that as word clock through all my external stuff and it worked perfectly. You also can chain DA7’s together if you need more i/o. I can’t recommend you check it out enough!
Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have as I’ve suffered through the step you are about to take and lived to talk about it!
James
From:
SergeModular@yahoogroups.com [mailto:
SergeModular@yahoogroups.com ] On Behalf Of darkstr1746@...
Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2005 5:56
PM
To: list; serge; list
Cc: synthsights
Subject: [SergeModular] analog
desk to digital desk. wha the hell?
This question could generate some long winded answers i'm sure ,so just keep responses as non technical as possible.
Who here has made the switch from straight up analog desk to a digital desk?. . like the Sony or Yamaha O2R. What were your first impressions about the learning curve and the difference in sonic quality? I say "first" impressions because i'm sure attitudes changed during the learning curve process.
How hard was it to learn how to record and mix useing sub menues and multiple layers? What about choices of I/O cards?
Who uses ADATS? or is that too old school?
When the O2r came out years ago, i thought about trading my mackie for one. But after taking the manual home for a weekend i determined that this method of mixing might be about as enjoyable as going to the dentist. It's years later and i'm approaching this paradigm again. My attitude is that it's still jive but i would like to cut down on the amount of workspace i'm taking up and and at the same time improve sonic quality so the digital mixer thingy is rearing it's ugly head again. So i'm soliciting opinions. I would especially like to hear from people who were (or still are) die hard analog desk fans who bit the bullet and made the change. I myself have a Soundcraft Spirit Ghost LE (32x8)
One last thing. The issue of master clock. What are the solutions to the master clock problem? or is there a problem at all anymore. Specificaly, i have more effects boxes than channel returns on a digital desk, so inputs will have to be by digital I/O. this requires that some device be the master. . . correct? I have a friend that uses a stand alone box that supplies the whole studio with master clock. Is this the way to go?
Keep your answers simple as possible. I'm an idiot.
kind regards
john duval